So, Your Going To Buy Something Off Ebay........

andybriggs · January 18, 2004

Dont know if any of you were in there bidding against me for the following reg: L3XDS at the end of November last year, but I had the highest bid at the end of the auction, (£735.00) but it hadn't reached the 'reserve'. Not to be out done, I emailed the seller to see how far off the reserve I was and to see if we could 'come to an arangement'. The outcome was he agreed to sell to me for £820.00 so, after recieving copies of his log book & MOT, I sent of a cheque which he duly cashed. He was then supposed to transfer the plate from his LS400 onto a retention certificate & send that to me. He phoned the week before Christmas to say if I sent hime my Tax Disc, MOT & Log book, (& £80.00 transfer fee), he would sort it all ou in one transaction thus I would get the plate in time for Xmas. This didnt happen, but I thought with the Xmas hols etc. I would leave it untill after the New Year.

well I have been emailing the guy and sent letters but he seems to have disapeared off the face of the earth, so this morning I reported it to the police who are treating it as quite a serious crime, as it involves my vehicle documents. They did say however that the guy may have just gone away for a week or so and didnt think on leting me know, but the plate IS still registered on his car.

So moral of the story..... LISTEN TO WHAT eBay SAYS, and if you see an LS400 with the L3XDS (looks like L3XUS), please key it for me.

:iraqi-info-minister: :tsktsk:

Bazza · January 18, 2004

as you have a copy of his log book etc:

look up his phone number and try and ring him

he may have lost use of his computer etc:

you shouldnt have sent your tax disc off, it leaves you without and liable to prosecution,

hope it is a mistake and not another rip off merchant

let eBay know

Mr_Sunseeker · January 19, 2004

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Mr_Sunseeker · January 19, 2004

Someone serious and committed to selling (not just thinking about it) their plate will have the plate taken off their vehicle and put on retention ready to sell easily and quickly.

I'd always steer clear if they haven't bothered to remove the mark from their car, yet advertise it. It shows they aren't organised. And it means you'll definetley have a long wait. Even if it is a genuine buy, the time it takes DVLA to post him the documents after he goes to the DVLA and pays to take it off his car is several weeks sometimes. Then he has to post it to you...

So that's what could have happened in your case, it's possible he has been to the DVLA and even paid them, but sometimes they will take 3+ weeks to send him the new reg for his car and the retention cert.

So as a guideline always buy a plate that's on retention, not one that's still on a car, or be prepared to be patient and very careful.

ukgs300 · January 20, 2004

you can request the members info off eBay like adresses and phone number so you can contact them if you like

andybriggs · January 23, 2004

I still have all his details exept phone number and have passed them on to the police, watch this space for an outcome. (By the way, if you see the plate on a Black Mk2 GS DONT key that one, its mine :duh: )

Andy