kompressede

Sounds good, where is the car located?

55fanatic

massapequa

starbrite

I'm still wondering why this guy stated the Title and the Vin #'s are the same.

That's never, ever been the case here. Ask him to fax a copy of the title to you (which, of course, shouldn't show any open liens on the car)

outrun

When there is doubt, there is no doubt.

jpohl402

No kidding

jay_55

SMELLS LIKE A BIG SCAM!!!!

keep your cash and find another car homie.

55fanatic

A BIG ****AYU!!! To TD Bank in NY. Came and saw my car today. Flew in to JFK on the JetBlue shuttle bank Check in hand. We go to the dudes house, I saw the car, it's clean. Has two blemishes on the interior that PPI didn't mention, I can fix one, the other was getting replaced any ways.

We go to the bank and we see one teller that the seller spoke to, and brought another one in that my bank called. The one teller that he spoke to was like, I can't do anything for you, and the guy my bank spoke to was like "oh yeah, some university called me yesterday saying one of there patron's was coming in with a check.

I was like, was it MIT? He was like yeah how'd you know? Told him he was an idiot.

So to get us out of the bank(since at this point we were causing a scene) one of the tellers is like this is fake, I wouldn't take it. This sent the seller over the edge... He was like let's go. So we went outside and We talked and agreed that we would try another branch. Went to another branch and they were like this isn't what our bank checks look like, it's fake

We spent the next 3 or 4 hours arguing in a parking lot trying to come up with ways to buy/sell the car. Finally I decided I would just fly back down when my bank was open, so Friday, I will hopefully be buying my damn car

djrabbi

Didn't we tell you not to go with it anymore? I say still walk away and buy my car lol

55fanatic

Lol I'm actually a lot more at ease now that I have seen the car, met the owner, and saw legit title and all. If my credit union was open today to verify the check's validity, I would be back in Boston right now

djrabbi

Hahaha yeah man.

novae500

Well Ateast you got the car checked out. Now when you get back home het the bank mgr at your bank to phone the branch mgr of one of the ones you saw to let them know and verify check. Usually bank mgr from one bank to another will validate the funds and let the bank tellers a heads up so when he customer comes in its a smooth transaction. Sucks you have to fly again in

outrun

OP =

uberwag

Hey guys
Just went through this myself with a car cross-country. Try escrow.com, worked well for me. Gives you a chance to pay the escrow, buyer ships the car, when you accept delivery the escrow will release funds to seller. Cost about 200 for 20,000 transaction. If not as advertised, you can send it back and the money will get released back to you

55fanatic

Actually not, I've been around the block buying cars before and on this forum, this being my 10th in the last 5 years and for any of the OG members, was one of the folks who helped get a member refunded money by a wheel scammer.

I asked what the policy on title #s was... I saw the title today and everything checked out

55fanatic

You know I thought about doing this in the 11th hour, but didn't know enough about the service. I guess it's a growing concern but to be honest I've never dealt with such a nervous seller. Lesson learned for next time. I originally made the suggestion about completing the purchase this week when we could confirm the funds and it turns out we'll be doing it anyway

vettdvr

This is the way to go. I bought an airplane last year this way. The excrow service holds and verify's the funds. They won't release until you have inspected the vehicle and paperwork in person. They YOU have to release the funds after the vehicle passes your inspection.

This way the seller has a verfication the funds are available and the deal is real and you are protected from fraud. The cost was about $500 to buy a plane and should be cheaper for a car of less value than the plane. IF the seller doesn't want to use an escrow account it is probably Fraud. The buyer pays the escrow fees normally.

starbrite

Wow!...that's a bunch of sales tax you've paid in 5 years.

I'm a little confused though. You stated the bank check was from your credit union, yet TD Bank teller stated that their checks don't look like that ??

groove66

That sucks. I actually did something similar/ went to my local bank made sure I told my teller and supervisor that i was going to another state to look at car and will be drawing out $20,000 in portland.

but it went smooth for me. car was what I was looking for, and their bank was the same as mine so it made it easy.

hope everything works out

55fanatic

Yeah, the teller we were working with only had her own bank's checks to compare it to, so when it looked different, it was fake, lol

55fanatic

While I love my small credit union, if I had one of the big banks, I prolly wouldnt have had this issue either

kompressede

Hey in the end if you like the car thats all that matters. Maybe a few headaches to get it, but just enjoy it.

WHTEVO

Why not just go to a local "big bank", such as Wells F, in your area that is also available to him in his area, start up an account and deposit X amount into that account, then fly to wherever the car is located, you both go into said bank, and make the withdrawal. I have done this before and never had an issue since both parties are there in person at the bank and the seller receives a check directly from the bank. Just an idea since it sounds like you have had nothing but bad luck. Good luck.

Aaron

lowprofile

LMK, when you are coming down to pick up your E.
If you have time, stop at "All American" for lunch (Merrick Rd in Massapequa).

lowprofile

LMK, when you are coming down to pick up your E.
If you have time, stop at "All American" for lunch (Merrick Rd in Massapequa).

Kropf

On a Wednesday afternoon in September, I scheduled a Wire Transfer from my Credit Union in New York to the seller's Credit Union in Texas. Being too late for a same day transaction, it was expected to arrive on Thursday and I was assured by the Texas C.U. Manager that she would not release the funds to the seller until I met them Friday morning in person and I approved of the purchase. When I arrived at the C.U. on Friday morning, the C.U. still did not have the funds, but within an hour or so, their associate bank received the funds and completed the transfer, and the title was released by the C.U., signed by the seller, and safely into my possession along with the vehicle. (I still took a risk in case the Manager did NOT hold the funds until I got there to approve the purchase.)

A month later, also on a Friday when I was selling a car to a Texas buyer who came to New York, he had brought a Cashier's Check from his Bank of America. We were told by my Credit Union in New York that even verifying funds Friday morning would NOT remove my risk that the buyer could drive away with my vehicle and title, and then issue a Stop Payment on that check. I was also told that even Certified Checks can have Stop Payments, so they are not really any safer. What DID work very well for us is that the buyer and I went to a local Bank of America branch, he had his Cashier's check voided out as not-need, and simply withdrew the cash and handed it to me, and I signed the title over to him.

I liked WHTEVO's suggestion above to find a 'big bank' in the seller's area, and have the cash available for withdrawal at that bank if the buyer wants to proceed with the purchase (after final inspection of vehicle and title (and lein release document(s) if any liens are listed on the title)).

(And no, the VIN number is NOT the Title's "Document No." in New York.)