Everything I have checked out, rings true, but.....

Yes and its that 'but' isn't it....if the car's kosher why is it going cheap enough to tempt you more than others, in fact why is it cheap at all?

I have no axe to grind either way, i drove a transporter for years and was unfortunate enough to be on several fast removals of stock from large car dealerships that went out of business, sometimes there would be people there in tears who had only the day before put deposits down on cars, this instances were rare but they happened to genuine decent people and someone must have know that these places were going bust even as they accepted hard earned deposits from these distressed people, some heads needed cracking.

Just be careful, thats all.

Edited by Honestjohn on 27/10/2014 at 07:50

I suspect this is the UK division of a US company and the website has not been fully converted. The c/o address is a firm of chartered accountants so you could check with them. I think they are legit, but I can think of better ways to secure client money. Not sure I would do it this way but can see what they are trying to achieve.

Edited by Honestjohn on 27/10/2014 at 07:52

No chance.

If you are dead set on dealing with them, then offer to put the money into a solicitors escrow account, with a solicitor of your choosing, rather than to the company. State that you are uncomfortable doing it another way. Their reply will tell you all you need to know.

Basically, this is how this scam works : They haven't stolen a car as yet, but they've identified a car to steal. They've also identified another, identical-looking car, and noted the numberplates, and had a set made up. Probably got the keys cloned for the target car already. They wait for you to agree the sale, and pay into the 'company' account (which will have to be a different account, due to sudden, unexplained 'issues' with the 'official' company account). Now, they go steal that car, put the plates on it for the non-stolen car, and deliver it to you. No tax disc these days, so one less thing for you to check out. Also, they won't have the V5 (the owner has mislaid it in packing for the move) - but hey, that's fine, you can apply for it !

In most cases, you don't bother with the inspection, just apply for the V5. You've insured the car (not an issue, it isn't stolen, and if it shows up twice on insurers databases, they assume the old owner has sold it to you, and not cancelled as yet). Only when the letter from DVLA to the 'old' owner arrives, saying you've applied for a V5, do the problems start. Now DVLA get in touch with you, come and inspect the car, and you find that the VIN plates are those on a stolen car. You lose car, the money is long gone, and you are screwed.

If you DO get an inspection, then you still don't have the V5, so the AA/RAC can't check that the VIN/engine plates match the numberplate anyway. In addition, the V5 serial number is an essential part of getting full cover from HPI, etc, so without that you aren't covered by them for that either.

Whichever route you use, you are screwed. They took your greed (ripping off a desperate seller) and used it against you.

Edited by Honestjohn on 27/10/2014 at 07:52