Tips on Buying Cars: motorcycle purchase, ge money bank, small claims court

Question
We paid for a motorcycle from a local woman.  We got a bill of sale on March 2.  Since then we have been waiting for a title.  She has a loan with the GE money bank, Orlando, FL.  She keeps telling us she has paid the loan and the bank is not sending the title.  We are thinking we will have to take her to small claims court.  What should we have done in this situation?  Is there anyway we can check if she has really paid the bank?  She did mention that is was part of her bankruptcy in the past.

Answer
Cathy,

You are kind of in a pickle.  Yes your only option seems to be to take her to small claims court.  I would call GE Money Bank and tell them the situation.  They can look everything up by the Serial Number on the bike.  Here is the problem though, they will more than likely not release any information to you because of privacy reasons.  However, I would at least try.  Technically she can not sell the vehicle without purifying the lien first, so you would be entitled to your money back, if she still has it if the courts find in your favor, which more than likely they will.  Court is really your only option at this point.  

As for what you should have done, well there isn't much.  That is one of the risks associated with buying private party.  There is no grantee that the seller or the buyer will hold up to their end of the bargin so to speak.  

I wish you all the luck, it sounds like a horrible situation to find yourself in.

Let me know how it turns out and if I can be of any other assistance.

Thanks - Jb