Help! Stupid Freeper needs advice!

me | 10/19/09 | freemike

[freemike]

Well, here it is. I was looking for a second car, just an around town beater. Finally thought I found a half decent 95 grand am for 1500. High miles, not attractive but new inspection and new tires. It ran well. They guy at the little lot was sooo nice. Introduced me to his wife. Had the wife bring out their 9 mo. old little girl. Seemed like the just your average good joe. Well, I made an offer of 1300. and he agreed. Paid 1100. cash and the rest in check. (cont. below)

[freemike]

I asked if he could drive it home to my house and I would bring him back. He said fine. I signed papers and he said after 6pm(about 40 more minutes from the time we were finished) he and his wife would bring it by my place and drop it off and I would not need to bring him back. Sounded great. I waited and waited. Never arrived. He called and said the headlights didn't work and would fix them tomorrow and then drop it off(they worked fine when I was there). What could I do?? So, I agreed. He assured me he'd take care of it and didn't want to give me the car with lights broken. After our call, I decided to google his name. Freakin great! He and his wife are under investigation for child porn, drugs and everything else. All over the freakin news sites here locally! He's called the scum of the earth!! Now I am wondering just whether I will even get the car,, I realized I left without a bill of sale because he said he would put all of that into the car when he brought it to the house. But,, for all I know everything he said could be true,, but for all I know he is switching the tires that were on the car(they were brand new!), will take my money and be done and what do I have??? He's got the paper work. There were several other people in his place of business that witnessed what was going on,,??? Any advice for a morn. I cannot believe I did this!!! This guy was such a good talker. I have been looking at cars for over 2 weeks ( Look, I know the price range is crap,, we are talking an around the town car and one for my 16 year old to learn on!) What can I do legally if this guy switches tires, or takes my cash and I never get the car. He could say he doesn't even know me!! What in the world have I done?? !! (Sorry, I am in the emotion of it all and it makes me mad!!)

[Pearls Before Swine]

Why haven’t you cancelled the check? —although if I were him, I would have cashed it as soon as possible.

[driftdiver]

good luck, I’d bet you’re screwed but you should show up there tomorrow morning.

[cripplecreek]

Personally I’d check with police to make sure they aren’t going to seize the car for evidence or something.

[Paved Paradise]

Please tell me you are under 21 years old, please.

[Paved Paradise]

Good point.

[count-your-change]

go get the car.

[Carley]

Be thankful it is only money scammed from you. It could have been a lot worse. Make a police report immediately.

Be glad you didn’t give him a check or he’d be into your checking account by now.

Good luck. Life’s lesson learned.

[Carley]

oops. I see you did give him a check. Call your bank first thing in the morning and stop payment and get a new checking account too.

[Paved Paradise]

On a more serious note, although that is a lot of money to lose (if you do lose it and it’s not looking too good based on this guy’s record), consider that you could have written a check for twice that had it been a different car. Lesson learned. Pricey but not the worst. Many people lose far, far more. Just ask the folks who invested with Madak (or whatever his name is since I forgot already).

[stuartcr]

If you need to go on an anonymous internet forum, to get help for this, then I’m afraid it’s probably too late.

[pandoraou812]

Call the police & make a report tonight . If he is involved with all these illegal things then the police know all about him. Cancel the check right away. I doubt any of the people at his business or where you were will stand by you... Good luck!

[freemike]

jeeze,, I know. I feel like I want to vomit!

[Brilliant]

Cancel the check. Sue him for the title if you dare. How do you prove you paid him cash?

[LongElegantLegs]

Get a friend and go get the car!

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

They found your car......

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366224/posts

[Paladin2]

That’s the lesson I learned when I bought my second house (it wasn’t that big of an issue as it turned out) - take immediate possession of a purchase.

[VRWCTexan]

File a police report - make a record

You may be able to get some recovery down the road

[MindBender26]

Cars are titled. Taking the car without a title will do you no good.

If you paid by check, stop the check immediately. In some cases, you can actually ‘reverse’ a check up to 10 days after it cleared.

If that fails, call your local district attorney. If they are after him for one type of crime, they would probably be interested in another. Even better, tell him you will do so if he does not return $. But do not put that threat into writing!

I always buy everything on my AMEX card. That way, up until 6 months after a transaction, I can reverse the charge. NEVER use a PayPal draft from your bank account! Use PP to put it onto a credit card.

[Dysart]

If you can wire me just 2 grand I can help you.