Scrap car scam?

celica1994

A friend just informed me there that he got a letter from a solicitor about a car he scrapped with one of these "cash for cars" type of people basically saying that the car was in an accident and if he or another named person was liable for the accident? apparently he handed over the logbook cause he thought it was needed for an end of life cert. obviously the car was never scrapped or the ownership even changed, is there anything he can do about this and is he liable? any advise is appreciated!

Constant Curiosity

many threads about this on here, it's a common story, yes he is liable, go to oath commisioner ASAP, the rest after that... or just <snip, don't advise breaking laws>

celica1994

shame theres no way he cant prove he didnt own the car, but im reckoning the other named person had to give details to someone ie gardai or the victim and thats where they got the name from.

wexie

Did he not get anything at all to indicate he sold the car? receipt? bill of sale?

granturismo

Ask the cash for car company for a certificate of destruction (unlikey this will happen).

Did your friend check if the solicitor is legit?

Go to a solicitor or peace commissioner and swear out an affidavit, stating when and where the car was sold, who it was sold to. Then send a copy of this to the solicitor and add a copy of the receipt - your friend did get and kept a receipt which detailed the make, model and reg of the car. Keep all original documents.

wexie

or even would there be records to be had from the insurance company when he changed over / cancelled the policy?
(if there was one that is, I appreciate car may not have been on the road at the time)

celica1994

wexie wrote: »

or even would there be records to be had from the insurance company when he changed over / cancelled the policy?
(if there was one that is, I appreciate car may not have been on the road at the time)

thats not a bad idea either,could get a copy of that to prove he changed insurance. i think the solicitor letter was legit alright!

wexie

celica1994 wrote: »

thats not a bad idea either,could get a copy of that to prove he changed insurance. i think the solicitor letter was legit alright!

Maybe not a bad idea to get ahead of this and let the gards know that someone, somewhere knowingly gave them false details.

They may not take your friends word for it but it'd be handy to have it on record at least that he let them know.

Beyond that I guess it'd be trying to get as much information about the accident as he can : when, where, what

And take it from there, where was he at the time, can he prove it etc. etc. etc.

Good luck with it all.

(and for the love off all that's good and holy have a chat with him about how not to sell a car!! Although I'd imagine after this it may no longer be necessary)

celica1994

wexie wrote: »

Maybe not a bad idea to get ahead of this and let the gards know that someone, somewhere knowingly gave them false details.

They may not take your friends word for it but it'd be handy to have it on record at least that he let them know.

Beyond that I guess it'd be trying to get as much information about the accident as he can : when, where, what

And take it from there, where was he at the time, can he prove it etc. etc. etc.

Good luck with it all.

(and for the love off all that's good and holy have a chat with him about how not to sell a car!! Although I'd imagine after this it may no longer be necessary)

i told him not to give away the logbook when selling a car but i think he took it it was all legit! id be more worried the car is still going around in his name

Del2005

celica1994 wrote: »

A friend just informed me there that he got a letter from a solicitor about a car he scrapped with one of these "cash for cars" type of people basically saying that the car was in an accident and if he or another named person was liable for the accident? apparently he handed over the logbook cause he thought it was needed for an end of life cert. obviously the car was never scrapped or the ownership even changed, is there anything he can do about this and is he liable? any advise is appreciated!

Sounds like a scam of some sort. If it's a hit and run when they have the reg it should be the MIBI contacting the registered owner. If they don't have the reg how did they get the OP's details. I'd wait and see what happens if I do nothing.

Atlantic Dawn

wexie wrote: »

Did he not get anything at all to indicate he sold the car? receipt? bill of sale?

9 out of 10 times these 'Cash For Cars' operators are operating with just a mobile phone number and are untracable as they are not a legitimate business. Handing over your cars logbook to such an operator is only asking for trouble.

newmember2

Maybe I'm thick but your friend wasn't driving the car - how would he be liable? Also, why would it be a solicitor contacting him and how would the solicitor know who the registered owner is? What was the request of the solicitor?

celica1994

newmember? wrote: »

Maybe I'm thick but your friend wasn't driving the car - how would he be liable? Also, why would it be a solicitor contacting him and how would the solicitor know who the registered owner is? What was the request of the solicitor?

think its cause they never changed ownership.,the new guy plowed a car out of it, and his name was still on the car and the new guy ran

newmember2

celica1994 wrote: »

...and his name was still on the car and the new guy ran

Where was his name - scrawled on the bonnet? If anything it would be the gardai looking for him for leaving the scene of an accident. Contact them and see if the 'accident' was reported.