Selling A Car - How To Get Paid?

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I'm in the process of selling our family car.

 

How do people normally take payment?

 

I don't particularly want to take cash (£6k), I'm pretty sure Paypal only does up to £1700, i'm not taking a cheque, i'm with RBS and usually electronic transfers take a day to show up on my online banking.

 

 

The first viewer is coming tonight and i'm hopeful that if it's the model/price he's after then he'll take it as it's in good condition, looked after, low mileage, FSH etc etc, he'll want to buy it. He sounds keen and also a decent guy from brief conversation.

 

What's the best option to protect myself and a buyer?

 

Looking on t'internet CHAPS transfer looks an option and I could put into my Halifax account but costs the buyer £25, and even then can take a day to show up, do you have them sitting waiting until it shows up?

 

 

What's my best option?

 

TIA

[GLPoomobile 958]

Most banks have Faster Payments service these days. You may have to elect to add that to your account, but it's not a chargeable extra. Of course the other party would need the Faster Payments Service on their account too. But doing a bank transfer this way the payment should show up within two hours. This is how I took payment for my 205 the other week as I feel like it's the most secure way (e.g. the payment can't be reversed, only you as the payee can refund it).

 

As handy as Paypal is, I don't trust them. Last thing I'd want is to sell a car and then have the buyer make some dirty claim with Paypal and get it refunded. Not sure if that sort of nonsense is just an eBay thing though.

[GLPoomobile 958]

And another thing, at that sort of price range, would a buyer be expecting to turn up, do the deal and drive away on that one visit? Apart from payment they've insurance and tax to sort out, and if they come on their own by car they'll have to return again to pick up the new car. Depends on the situation. The Saab I bought on Friday, I went down to Galashiels to look at it, bought it, then had to go back the day after on the train, which would have been enough time for payment to clear if I'd done a transfer.

[dcc 855]

Internet transfer, it will go as a faster payment. This will show in your account within 2 hours.

 

Recently sold some items of value where the buyer sent a cheque, it's cleared without issue (a car in ome case and an engine in another), though sending the items before receieving payment is something which I wouldn't personally do any more, having had my hand bitten fairly recently, by members of the '205 community' no less.

 

Having purchased a car recently the seller was able to see I had transfered him the cash 2 minutes after I sent it while stood next to him.

 

Your best bet is to tell the buyer that you're only willing to release the car after you have the goods.

 

Fyi RBS supports faster payment

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

And another thing, at that sort of price range, would a buyer be expecting to turn up, do the deal and drive away on that one visit? Apart from payment they've insurance and tax to sort out, and if they come on their own by car they'll have to return again to pick up the new car. Depends on the situation. The Saab I bought on Friday, I went down to Galashiels to look at it, bought it, then had to go back the day after on the train, which would have been enough time for payment to clear if I'd done a transfer.

Ah, never thought that he wouldn't be able to take two cars away lol

 

Thanks guys, I've got the bird on the "Faster Payment" case with her bank.

 

I suppose he should leave £100 deposit, and i'll give him a receipt if he thinks i'm dodgy.

Edited February 13, 2017 by dobboy

[nomis 12]

I'd say internet banking with faster payments. I did that when I bought a few years back and got the guy I was buying from to watch me do the transfer (thus proving it was done) then he opened his internet banking up and we checked it was in there.

 

Last time I sold a car I took cash. I did worry about counterfeiting obviously but got the guy to show me photo ID / address and took a picture of it and got him to sign something. I then did a copy of my photo ID for him and signed something too.

 

Wouldn't stop fraud but puts a good barrier up and at least gives the impression of a person being traceable.

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

When I've bought stuff of any value I've had the buyer come with me to the bank, and I've drawn the money out in front of him, then he knows its kosher.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

When I've bought stuff of any value I've had the buyer come with me to the bank, and I've drawn the money out in front of him, then he knows its kosher.

Cool. The bank actually offer a service that buyer and seller can both appear and they'll count/check for counterfeits, but i'd rather be all set for out of hours.

 

We've got an account set up now for instant transfer, so hopefully it'll do the trick.

 

 

I had this car on Gumtree for a week and never got anything. So I asked a local car dealer if he'd sell it for me but he didn't want to, but he suggested putting it on Autotrader (and not Pistonheads), which I did on Thursday (£55 gulp!) and got three phone calls on Saturday. Seems a worthy investment if it goes. The car dealer guy said if someone's looking for an Audi they won't look for one on Gumtree.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Car is sold!

 

He left £200 deposit and is arranging a bank transfer at a pre defined time when he's organised to collect.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Listen to this one/Scam chaps..... (not related to any of the above)

 

 

So I found a car advertised I was interested in, based in Bedfordshire, an R53 Mini Cooper Works GP, going for £6k. This is a £12k car normally. It was advertised on a website I haven't really seen before. Each of these cars are individually numbered, and there was only 2000 of them built worldwide, and the number of the car is on the roof.

 

(http://uk.bebuu.com/vehicles/ad/267810/2006-mini-cooper-s-jcw)

 

 

So I thought, oh this is a bargain! (but had my suspicions), i'm gonna enquire about it but if it's genuine it's probably already away.

 

Here's the email trail/responses......

 

Hi and sorry for the delay,

Thank you for your e-mail. My car you inquiring about is still available, it has full service history, HPI clear, no accidents, no outstanding finance. I'm an Aircraft Technician for the Royal Air Force bases, currently deployed in Germany. My car is for sale in UK so I can sell it in the next days! I'm sorry, but I don't have Network Coverage on my iphone in this area.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards, Sarah

 

 

So, I could see the actual number of the car (0704) from one of the pictures. So done a little investigative work on the car on the GP owners club and on eBay, and found it on eBay from December Sold, and the advert on Bebuu had used the same pictures and exact same mileage.

There was the mobile phone number for the seller. So I thought I'd phone him and try get an idea of the condition and find out more history about it.

 

Lol, I said, this may sound be strange but did you used to have GP0704 and sell it on eBay?, he said yeah but the buyer appeared and was very pernickety and never took it. He then said, I've still got it and i'll be selling it in the spring. I told him i'd seen it advertised and he said well it's not me that's selling it, and it's obviously a scam and goes on all the time!, but when I do sell it i'll be looking for £12k. We blethered for a bit and I thought thank feck I phoned him.

 

 

So..... I had previously sent another email previously to the "Sarah" who's advertising the car asking more about it..... and this is what I got back.

 

 

" This is number 0704 of 2000 in the world. Before leaving the country, I've arranged a secure transaction with Payoneer Escrow. I will cover the Payoneer Escrow fees, so we will be covered. The ad was listed locally, but I've moved my car to our base at RAF Menwith Hill,Harrogate HG3 2RL, for safety reasons. As you can see in the attached Payoneer Escrow terms and conditions, you'll have the chance to check my car first and I will be paid once you agree to buy it, after your full inspection. My car will be transported to your address along with both keys, insured, full service history, V5c logbook signed by me and ready to be registered in your name. You can read more on their website: https://escrow.payoneer.com/escrow/how-escrow-works I will get back to you with more info."

 

then another..... with an actual photo of "Sarahs/Someones" UK Passport! (Registered in Edinburgh).

 

"Payoneer Escrow will provide a 5 days inspection period. If you find any issues with my car, you have the right to reject it and your transfer will be refunded, in maximum 48 hours by Payoneer Escrow. I will cover the return shipping fees. Your payment, will be transferred to Payoneer Escrow. I will be paid by Payoneer Escrow only after you will be satisfied with this purchase.

If you wish to proceed with this sale please reply with your full name, address and your phone number, so I can start the Payoneer Escrow transaction. I've attached you a copy of my passport, so you can have my full details. Sorry for the long e-mails.

Regards, Sarah"

 

 

Obviously it's a scam but it just goes to show the Cyber Crime we're up against, and the stories they can make up!

 

I ran an IP checker tool on their emails and if I've done it right it came from Califonia somewhere..... I was expecting Nigeria.

 

I'm tempted to keep Sarah going, by telling "him" that I can view the car in Harrogate anytime that suits, but it'll be next week before I can transfer the funds.

[tartanbloke 35 1 Cars]

Go on, waste his time and have some fun at the same point.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Go on, waste his time and have some fun at the same point.

I've done this it's worth a laugh.

Read this

 

 

http://www.419eater.com/html/john_boko.htm

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I've done this it's worth a laugh.

Read this

 

 

http://www.419eater.com/html/john_boko.htm

 

That was brilliant!

[GilesW 41]

This scam has been going on Gumtree for years.

And looking at the car ads now on Facebook I'd suggest it's now on there too.

 

The old rule - if it looks too good to be true......