Ran a carfax on my new 80

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Such a line of BS! The guy is obviously in on it. I would call the authorities and have them advise you. Id get your $1000 back asap though. Google "odometer fraud Texas" and find out who to call. It is federal offense so you might find a number to call in the blue section of the phone book (it's blue in my book anyway, Fed/Gov) or speak to some one competent at MVS. Depending on who the title is signed by (odometer statement) that person could be held responsible for odometer fraud but I think you said it was left in the old owners name. If you don't have an odometer statement signed by the dealer or the guy then they have most likely covered there asses well enough and you just have to get your $1000 back and report there "operation" to who ever will listen. Lesson learned. Now time to go shopping for another 80! :cheers: Good luck man and you didn't do so bad considering he doesn't have your $5K. ;)
 
BigSur said:
Now this is the weird part, i have the truck, i have the title signed by the owner, i have the sheet for the DMV to tranfer the title signed by the owner, i only gave the guy $1000 cash (but was going to give the rest tomorrow) i didn't sign a single piece of paper so they don't have anything with my signature on it. ...
...

This would be a great truck for a $1000 plus the truck drives like a top. Not a single problem with the exception of the speedo.
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Great. So your ethics are flexible enough to allow you to basically steal the truck? Take it back explain your concerns. Get a refund and look for another truck. Also alert the authorities so it doesn't happen to another future cruiserhead. You have an obligation to alert the authorities now since you are aware of it. Otherwise you're simply turning your back, ignoring it and allowing it to continue.

THIS BELONGS IN CHAT. There is no tech here.
 
Unless you can afford to lose $1k for "principle", take it back, get your money back, then report them. Pictures would definitely help. My guess is the guy you are buying from is the "mom and pop" dealer (or related), and knows exactly what he is doing.
 
Contacted the attorney general and since this is a private seller they sent me to a investigation unit in dallas...so i called that number and its a recorded message saying leave your name and address and we will send you a complaint form. SO WHAT'S THE POINT if i can't talk to anyone? This normal? I mean some one here is breaking the law but it seems as though its not a big deal. Rediculous!
 
firetruck41 said:
Unless you can afford to lose $1k for "principle", take it back, get your money back, then report them. Pictures would definitely help. My guess is the guy you are buying from is the "mom and pop" dealer (or related), and knows exactly what he is doing.
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I agree. Get your cash back first unless you want to risk never seeing it again.
Report the bastids. Find a new rig...carfax it before you give them $$$ :D
 
Just a few comments:

1) Take the vehicle back and get your money back. Keeping it and not paying the rest makes you no better than the guy who sold it to you.

2) The AG doesn't care about the odometer issue because it is not worth trying to prosecute it. You have no proof that this guy rolled it back or that he had actual knowledge it was rolled back. Did he know, yep, but that does not get you a conviction.

3) You may get further by going to whatever agency licenses care dealers in Texas and reporting this guy working as an unlicenced car dealer. Public agencies tend to get pretty worked up when an individual is supposed to be licenced and has failed to pay the fees and get the licence.

4) The police don't car, this is a civil matter as far as they are concerned. The D.A. doesn't care, convicting an unlicenced car dealer of odo fraud doesn't get him re-elected, putting robbers, drug dealers, and other violent criminals behind bars does.
 
My opinion...

1. Notify the seller that you are returning the truck and that you want your money back. All of it, and if you paid in cash then you want cash. If you paid with a check then you want your check back. If he has cashed your check then you need cash.
2. When your money is ready, take the truck back to the seller and return all paperwork; get your cash.
3. Go home, lick your wounds, and start looking for another 80 with your newfound knowledge and experience.
4. Forget "calling the authorities" and all the things that this suggests. You will quickly become frustrated with the bureaucracy and their ambivilance to your plight. Doing the right thing and stopping this guy and everyone like him is a fantasy. Move on as life is too short to waste time on this crap.


It is inconceivable to me for anyone to pay more than $50 for a vehicle and *not* get a CarFax. They are not perfect but, in this case you could have saved yourself a lot of hassle for $20. Many Cruiserheads will run one for you and you won't have to get a subscription.

Sorry this didn't work out but hang in there. :D
-B-
 
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Beowulf said:
My opinion...

1. Notify the seller that you are returning the truck and that you want your money back. All of it, and if you paid in cash then you want cash. If you paid with a check then you want your check back. If he has cashed your check then you need cash.
2. When your money is ready, take the truck back to the seller and return all paperwork; get your cash.
3. Go home, lick your wounds, and start looking for another 80 with your newfound knowledge and experience.
4. Forget "calling the authorities" and all the things that this suggests. You will quickly become frustrated with the bureaucracy and their ambivilance to your plight. Doing the right thing and stopping this guy and everyone like him is a fantasy. Move on as life is too short to waste time on this crap.


It is inconceivable to me for anyone to pay more than $50 for a vehicle and *not* get a CarFax. They are not perfect but, in this case you could have saved yourself a lot of hassle for $20. Many Cruiserheads will run one for you and you won't have to get a subscription.

Sorry this didn't work out but hang in there. :D
-B-
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Agree with all but 4. Being complacent will get you no where and is VERY dangerous in the grand scheme of things. Even if you can't prove his criminal intentions and get this particular fellow in the trouble he deserves, if enough people complain or file complaints people of authority will look (the system as a whole not just this guy). Make noise! It takes strength in numbers to accomplish anything.
 
the odo is actually not a big deal anymore as it is considered exempt after it is 10 years old. dont know if odometer fraud would hold up in this instance. the worst thing is that he misrepresented it to you. i wouldnt waste my time with the authorities, i would get my cash back and get out of the deal.
 
80me said:
Make noise! It takes strength in numbers to accomplish anything.
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"Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and exhurberance."

I know it seems cynical but at my stage in life it's simply not worth it to try to "fix" this situation. It's a 15 yo vehicle with a lot of miles and not worth a lot of money. He is going to waste a lot of effort trying to get some government employee(s) motivated to do something and it's not obvious to me what we expect the authorities to do....
Take away this guy's dealer license? (He doesn't have one... it's a private sale.)
Slam the inspection station? (If a 15yo vehicle is exempt from odo checks where is the grievance?)
Sue the PO. (He didn't do anything or make any claims.)
Arrest the Mom & Pop? (No mention of any fraudulant or forged documents.)

His best course of action is to protect his $1,000 and to move on. I don't know about you, but I would have considered this a cheap lesson when I was his age.

I will agree 100% that there are times to go to battle for what's right. This just isn't one of those times and I've learned through the years to choose my battles wisely. Grendel taught me this. :D

-B-
 
I know he doesn't have a case to sue anyone or to indict anyone criminally (for lack of documentation alone) but if there presence is made known by filing a complaint or calling anyone who will listen that is a start. I wouldn't exert effort to the point it would negatively impact my life but I would make some calls and help to expose the scum who is involved in such practice.

I agree lesson learned and with little loss. I wouldn't take a back seat but it wouldn't drive me nuts either.
 
I just took a college level basic law class (dual enrollment) , and this is one of the common things that we learned. (given i am in no form an expert on this, but i did learn a few things)

Offer and acceptance. If you both agreed to the written contract, and you both signed the contract, and you offered him $1000 for it now with the promise to pay it back later, and he said "fine" and he did not ratify (change) the contract in writing, stating specifically that you had to pay him later, you are not liable for the $3,000. actually "fine/okay" is considered an oral agreement (and it is valid) in which case the contract was ratified, but either way, you are not responsible for the 3k.

I agree with beowulf, i dont really think its worth the hassle to press charges on anyone, simply because of the time and money involved. for what its worth, just do whatever you can do keep the cruiser, and if you dont want it because you have better things to do with $1000, then sell it on e bay, no problem.

Again, it was just a basic law class that I took so there may be flaws in my comment. (for what its worth I did get in 'A' in the class.) I will see my professor tommrow and show him your post. (if you havent done anything by then)
 
You have some information correct but I believe you are missing some of the basics.

The buyer made an offer to purchase the vehicle for $5000; $1000 now plus $4000 "later." They both agreed (ratified) this verbal agreement. The seller is responsible for delivering the vehicle & title (which he did) and the buyer is responsible for paying the agreed purchase price ($5000.)

The buyer's "out" is that the vehicle was misrepresented which the seller verbally acknowledged when confronted with the Carfax.

Time for everyone to gather their possessions, go to their respective corners, and leave the building. Call it a draw.

-B-
 
Beowulf said:
My opinion...

1. Notify the seller that you are returning the truck and that you want your money back. All of it, and if you paid in cash then you want cash. If you paid with a check then you want your check back. If he has cashed your check then you need cash.
2. When your money is ready, take the truck back to the seller and return all paperwork; get your cash.
3. Go home, lick your wounds, and start looking for another 80 with your newfound knowledge and experience.
4. Forget "calling the authorities" and all the things that this suggests. You will quickly become frustrated with the bureaucracy and their ambivilance to your plight. Doing the right thing and stopping this guy and everyone like him is a fantasy. Move on as life is too short to waste time on this crap.


It is inconceivable to me for anyone to pay more than $50 for a vehicle and *not* get a CarFax. They are not perfect but, in this case you could have saved yourself a lot of hassle for $20. Many Cruiserheads will run one for you and you won't have to get a subscription.

Sorry this didn't work out but hang in there. :D
-B-
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Best advice so far. I know in Missouri the Highway Patrol would handle this type of investigation because I work with them often. I do not know how Texas would though. I also know in Missouri once the vehicle is 10 years or older you don't even have to put the mileage on the title - it doesn't even matter anymore. I seriously doubt you are going to get anywhere with law enforcement on this - it is a used car, there really is no true "loss" at this point - I would hate to see someone else end up in your shoes though at some point down the road. Good luck and do what you think is best and will help you sleep better at night!!!!
 
Beo, no doubt that your suggestion is the easiest thing to do.

However, as somebody smarter than I once said:

"all it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing..." or something like that....

Would you like to be the next cruiserhead scammed by these guys...?
 
Don't they just shoot folks first in Texas, then start an investigation?

Get your money back in a safe manner (cash or your original check) and be thankful. If you want to pursue things with the authorities, god speed my friend.
 
e9999 said:
Would you like to be the next cruiserhead scammed by these guys...?
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Not likely 'cause I would notice a non-working speedometer and I would run a Carfax and do other sanity checks before any money changed hands.

I get the point though.... really, I do. :beer:

Now if you want to talk about injustice and a bunch of crooks taking money from the naive public then let's hi-jack this thread and I'll tell you about the $1,500 or so that I "lost" (never stood a chance, actually) to the legalized bandits in Las Vegas last weekend. :crybaby:

And if anyone wants to crusade for me, I'll give you all the details. :D
-B-
 
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