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Does this deal sound dodgy?

My partner and I are buying a car from a garage in Derby, and have paid a £500 deposit by credit card. The car belongs to the garage owners wife, but is being sold through the garage. The car has £3300 outstanding finance, which the owner has been up front about and claims he will pay off with the money we give him for the car.

I have asked if we can pay the finance company directly for the car, and the owner of the garage has said that wont be possible as the sale needs to go through the business. I then asked if they could pay off the car before we picked it up and parted with any further cash. He said that he was not prepared or able to do this.

Do you think we should pull out of buying the car? We want to trust the guy, but think that £3190 is more money than we can afford to lose!

Asked on 23 October 2012 by stelliff

Answered by Honest John
I don't like this at all. The guy has a garage. Therefore it has assets. Therefore he should be able to pay off the loan before he sells the car to you. He cannot transfer legal title to you without paying off the loan. Tell him the only way you will buy is with clear title confirmed by the finance company and if he won't deal, get your credit card deposit back and get his ability to take credit card payments blacked.

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