So In late July some guy agreed to buy my '69 Mercedes Benz 250 for $2600. He gave me $600 deposit and agreed to give me the rest in a week when he picked the car up. He called me about 1-2 months ago and said he was going to come over and give me more money, never showed. I sent him an email a few days ago, stating the car must be paid in full by this Friday and picked up, or he loses his deposit. Nothing. Now it’s winter, I would have a hard time re-selling the car because nobody wants to buy a classic car in November. I’d have to take a loss if I resold it. The other option would be to have the car towed to a garage (no reg, insurance) and pay to have it stored all winter. It’s at my mom’s house where I no longer live, and it can’t stay there.
His receipt states “$600 deposit out of $2600” or something like that. I have the transferable registration still, that acts as a title for cars of that age. I have his name, know that he lives in Lakeview, and could probably track him down. What I want to know is:
-What do I do legally?
-Has anyone been through this before?
I’m sick of looking at this car, I want my money, and I don’t want to get fucked legally if he comes back in June 2009 looking for his car. Thanks in advance!
legally: only thing i can think of is to save any documentation stating anything the guy said to you. if nothing save your email and print it out for urself incase this guy decides one day that he wants to take u to court for this money seeing maybe he might not get it back. do u have any documentation stating when he made his first payment for it? if so that would help you in the long run. now im probably stating the obvious but figured id say something to try and help
Get the guys address, go to the post office, send the guy a registered letter stating he has to pay for the car in full by such and such date or he loses the deposit. Keep a copy of said letter, with the delivery confirmation you’ll get with the registered letter, and you’re done.
lGet the guys address, go to the post office, send the guy a registered letter stating he has to pay for the car in full by such and such date or he loses the deposit. Keep a copy of said letter, with the delivery confirmation you’ll get with the registered letter, and you’re done.
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lol what did you before public schools
its been 5 months since the guy left the deposit, he already lost the 600
the OP wants to get rid of the car and re-interest the guy who lost the deposit
have it delivered to his house with a note for the tow truck driver reading : if no one answers leave in it the yard.
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Something tells me he would like to get the remainder of his money before doing something like that :ham:.
As JayS stated, registered letter with return receipt is the best way to go. Give him a set date. If the letter is returned undeliverable, check the local laws.
Thanks for the advice. I found his cell number and called, it was off so I left a message. Now I just have his name and cell number, so I’m sure the Nyspeed detectives could find his address if needed. I’ll see if he calls me tomorrow and go from there.
its been 5 months since the guy left the deposit, he already lost the 600
the OP wants to get rid of the car and re-interest the guy who lost the deposit
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And he has no contract stating when the rest of the money was due, just a hand written receipt stating 600 was a deposit on the rest owed. If he gets rid of the car and the guy comes looking for it he could easily end up in court.
My suggestion was in the interest of him covering his ass, and requires very little time, effort, or money. This is a sue happy world and poor assholes who have to put a $2600 on layaway and then start making excuses about coming up with the rest of the money are statistically more likely to be sue happy than most.
Thats why when I take a deposit I give a receipt of the deposit and the balance due by XX date otherwise the vehicle will be put back up for sale and XX% of the deposit will be held/returned.
Problem is I really don’t get to keep a free $600. Anyone who has tried to sell a classic car in the winter knows why. After dealing with a bunch of “I’ll buy it if can you store it for the winter” people I’ll be lucky to get $2k for it. Last time I tried it I got so fed up I traded the car to a friend. Come spring, I started getting constant emails from people looking at the old thread asking if the car was still for sale. 8 months later. I asked them where they were last winter, LOL.
i think there is a place on the fair grounds that will store it all winter for 200 plus tax…
put it in storage and up for sale again…make sure you send him a letter to cover yourself though.
Use the $600 toward storage for the season, and whatever it costs take it out of his deposit. This way it doesn’t really “cost” you anything to hold on to it. Worst case senario, he paid for your winter storage.