Posted on 09/23/2022 4:21:06 PM PDT by Not_Who_U_Think
Fellow FReepers, I welcome any and all advice on a sticky situation.
I sold a small camping trailer through FB Marketplace. The buyer, a guy about 30, was almost obnoxious in pleading to come see it. After others fell through, I gave him the address and he came over. He was enthusiastic, but seemed somewhat naive to camping. We got along well.
He had asked before if I would take a Zelle bank transfer, I pointed out that the $3000 price was more than Zelle would allow. So how about cash? He agreed, texted me that he was at the bank before arriving, but shows up with a $1000 in cash and then wants to do Zelle for the difference. Whatever, I guess, we do the transfer, I take his cash, we sign a bill of sale that I've prepared and I sign over the title.
All good. And then...
He says he's having transmission trouble, he's going to have it worked on next week, but he's afraid to pull the camper home today. Can he leave it here until his car is fixed? The camper is sitting beside the driveway, a little in the way, but I agree and he leaves.
For the first week, he's responsive but vague, bad sensors, parts on order, sorry for the trouble.
It's now over two weeks. I'm still getting the runaround about repairs, but I'm not sure why. During our transaction he mused about where could park it at his apartment complex, and I suspect that may be part of this.
But it just reeks of a con somehow. In the meantime, I've put a lock on the hitch, so that it can't easily be moved while I'm not home.
So FReepers, I'm trying to figure out what to do. I've never had a situation like this!
I've gave him an ultimatum a few days ago to get it moved by 9/30, and if not I would take to a storage lot. But that means I would have to pay the rent, for at least a month or two, and then what if he still doesn't show?
He got all his money. Look up Zelle transfers.
You got the money you requested for the camper right?
You are correct sir. I tried to think of some place I could park it before selling it, and in retrospect I could have parked it for a storage fee. It would have been a hassle but safer and would have avoided this.
Did he pay the balance owed?
Okay, so you have received all of the money. Contact the buyer, and ask him what the issue is with him taking the camper home. Tell him that unless he comes and takes it home you will start charging him a storage fee.
Yes, it all was completed at the sale. The problem is, I’ve got the money and the camper! :)
I should be more accurate.
“Someone you don’t know well enough and trust to a very high degree”
Those folks you’re ok with, you know them and they therefore are vetted.
Poloce stations are great places to meet. Often they have areas set aside for this very purpose.
Duly noted. My bad.
“ask him what the issue is with him taking the camper home.”
Since he says he can’t haul it due to car problems, I’ve thought about offering to take it to him, but the problem is that he lives at least an hour or possibly two away. He just might agree!
Please be very careful moving forward with this situation no matter what you decide to do.
Easiest way to handle it is to give him a reasonable time to remove it. If it’s still there after that time, tow it into the street and leave it. The police will have it towed and if the title is now in his name, will notify him that it’s been impounded. If he fails to claim it, it will be sold at auction.
You won’t have to deal with a storage lot or tow company. The city will tow it as being abandoned.
If you already have the payment, why not inform him you’ll tow it to his address?
If it smells like a duck, walks like a duck, its a duck!
As a Real estate professional, I have access to something called Forewarn. It is a system app that we use to research people before showing them houses. I can background check him if you wish?
The Zelle transaction goes through your cell phone straight into your own bank account, within minutes. The sender does not get any information about your bank account. I use it to send my grandchildren money for birthdays and Christmas.
I would close any accounts/credit cards or put a hold on them that are associated with Zelle.
Wrong post
“I’ve got the money and the camper!”
Hmm. 1. Offer to cancel the transaction and to return his money for 10% processing fee. 2. Offer to have it towed to another place within five miles. 3. Have a policeman visit to make a report of unwanted stuff on your property. 4. Pray that St. Jude solves this impossible problem. 5. Tell him to please remove the trailer soon, like in the next two weeks.
If it truly is somebody in dire straights, be patient.
5 days at best. Outside of that get it away from you.
You are dealing with a bum.
Put a sign in the window, haul me and its yours. I am sure that there is a homeless person who could make that their home.
After this long a time, you should proceed as though a strange trailer of unknown provenance had simply materialized on your property.
Regards,
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