A local Delmar resident went to Schaefer & Strominger Dodge some time ago and traded in their 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup Truck for a 2008. They consummated the deal and took their new vehicle home and left their trade in behind, as they sold it to the Dealer.
Now, months later, the former owner of the Dodge Truck that had been traded in received a call from someone stating there are Court Documents telling them they owe $2,000.00 in storage fees for their vehicle.
They claimed that they found the vehicle abandoned on the side of the road, this company got the vehicle and have had it in storage ever since. They instructed the former owner to simply sign the court documents and pay the fees.
You have to wonder just how many people out there that are getting the very same phone calls? I instructed this person to call the Police, (since they have documents proving they traded it in) and then contact the States Attorney's Office.
Not that there will be a whole lot of people experiencing this same situation, you just never know, therefore we're exposing it.
This happened to my son more than a year after he bought a new car. Before the title was transferred to a new owner, the old car was stolen. It was found abandoned on the streets of Washington, D.C.. Apparently someone was driving it around on stolen tags and abandoned it when it broke down.
ReplyDeleteA trace of the VIN will lead back to the LAST registered owner. The vehicle is in limbo until the dealer finds a buyer who re-titles it.
it's a civil matter. the sa office and the police are not going to get involved. Hire an attorney
ReplyDeleteYou have documents given to you showing what you traded in. Once you prove that, you are off the hook.
ReplyDeleteIt is disturbing though, but not that hard to remedy.
pay the fines/fees, get the title back, I'll give ya 3grand for the truck....
ReplyDeleteIt still registered to your name. Pay the fines and you will have two trucks.
ReplyDeleteThis car is obviously held by a towing company. Maybe you should call them and offer half the storage bill and I'm sure theyll take it.
ReplyDeleteWe something like this happen when we traded in a car to a local dealership that is still in business. We got a call from the OCPD telling us that our car had been sitting on a street untagged for quite some time. We told them that we had traded it in. They explained that they ran the Vinn and we were the last registered owners. We didn't hear anything else about the car. My husband did ask--what if the car had been used to commit crime, would we have someone looking to arrest us?? They didn't really have much to say--just offered some sympathy.
ReplyDeleteI assume with this person who wrote in could take the court date, come with documentation, and not be held liable. Of course, going to court is a pain...... I wouldn't pay a thing. It sounds like the storage company just wants money from somebody and they don't care who.
Just produce your purchase paperwork which shows the vehicle you traded in! That's ALL you have to do!
ReplyDeleteDon't pay anybody ANYTHING!