QuestionLast week on Craigslist I found an older Motorhome for sale for only $1000. It said it needed work, and wasn't driveable. That was all OK with me since I wanted something cheap that I could fix up the way I wanted it. I called and met with the seller who owned a trailer park that the RV was parked in.
I inspected it and wanted it because it really was a great deal. I told him. He said that it ran pretty rough because of old gas and being parked for 12 years. I said that at least I wanted to hear it run no matter what it sounded like before I gave him the other $500. He said , No Problem. We agreed that it being Wed. he would get the key to me, so I could hear it run, and if not satisfied with it he would return the $500 that I paid him that day as a down payment. He said he wanted the other $500 paid by the following Monday and everything finalized and RV removed from trailer park by Monday night.
Well, for the next 4 days I called and left messages for him to get the key and he finally called me on Sunday night, the night before the deadline. He said that his mechanic had lost the keys. He seemed to be acting different now, saying that since I couldn't hear it run he would gladly give me my money back. I told him, No, I want it regardless and would pay him off the next day and move it out of the park. He kept hinting that he would give me my money back and it would be no problem for him because someone else said they would buy it as is. I said No, I wanted it anyway and, as per our agreement I would take care of everything the following day. He said OK but didn't seem to happy about it.
Monday I hired a mechanic for $150 for the day to help me get it running, as towing expenses started at $300 to have it moved. We found numerous things wrong with it that were clearly sabotage by someone. Carburetor had been partially taken apart and a small hole knocked into the side, brakes were non-existent but were fine before, fuel line was cut, etc. I started feeling strongly that this guy or his other potential buyer were dead set on me not buying it. I spent another $100 that day to get everything I needed to get it running and towards evening decided it was too dangerous to drive. So I spent another $319 to have it towed home.
I started getting more suspicious when I found that the ad was still on Craigslist after 5 days of having a deposit on it.
Talked to him Tuesday after numerous calls and he said he would call me the next morning before noon, bring the title over. I told him I had his other $500 for him. He said OK. Took the day off of work Tuesday, waited till Noon, No call, spent the rest of the day calling every 2 hours and leaving messages.
I felt like a Chump putting up with this guys BS. Took the next day off of work also(Today), called 3 times, left messages, still no return call.
I knew that he was a real estate broker here in Tucson, so I did a search on the internet and found that he owned over 13 million dollars worth of property. I also found out from tenants at the park that others had come to look at the RV after me, and the only way they could have known the location of it would be him telling them where it was.
I'm thinking that someone else, after seeing what a good deal this was offered him more money for it than what we agreed on and what he advertised it for, and he was trying to get me out of the picture.
Now it's Friday and after numerous calls to him, still no return call. I'm starting to come unglued here. I Do Not want my money back. I want to pay him off and receive my title.
What I need to know is, after all of the money, and the time and untold amounts of energy that I've put into it, has he got a right to do this to me ? I love this RV and am already working on the cabinets and wiring. I have a receipt from the first day saying I paid $500 down with the final $500 owed on Monday. Even though I've done everything that I was supposed to do for my half of the deal, if he decides to sell it to someone else for more money or whatever reason, can he legally get out of our deal?
I know that at this point if he's running a game on me it'll take a couple of Sheriffs to take the vehicle back. Thank You . I'm Desperate for any encouragement or light at the end of this tunnel. Joe
AnswerHi Joe,
Dude! I'm very sorry to hear about all this grief! I'm guessing you're correct in all of your assumptions too! This is really outside my area of expertise, but I'll tell you what I think I would do. I'd probably try the State's Attorney General's consumer protection office. Maybe even the local police department. Good luck!
Aaron
