Defrauded by NY used car salesman who sold me a salvaged car.Please help
- From: Gilbert <martsadowski@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:30:50 GMT
I purchased a used 2001 Toyota Corolla on May 9, 2006 from a used
car salesman in NY. The car I purchased was advertised (along with
other cars) on Craigslist.com and the salesman included the
picture of the car, VIN# and description of the car's excellent
condition.
I subsequently obtained a Carfax for that car a few days later. It
reported no problems at all. Then I went up to see the salesman
(operates out of his own house) and had a car checked out by an
independent mechanic, whom I paid. I was told by mechanic the car
is in excellent condition.
I purchased the car for $7000 (cash) and paid the salesman
additional $600 for the NYS taxes and the car inspection. He gave
me a bill of sale for a purchase of used car and it was checked
off that I'm buying the car "as is". He inspected the car in a
local gas station and issued me a temporary registration sticker.
The salesman handed over to me the clean title, showing previous
owners in NJ and no problems with the car.
He also wrote up a NYS DMV Retail Bill of Sale at the time of
purchase.
According to the title -the car was driven in Northern NJ and
there was no record of any salvage, lien or other impropriety
mentioned.
When I went to a local DMV in Queens, NY to register the car - I
was able to obtain a 2 year registration without a problem.
I also turned over to the DMV the title given to me by the dealer
and was told that the new title in my name will be mailed in 2
months time.
I had Geico insure my car after providing them with a VIN# -
without a problem
2 months later I received a letter from the DMV Albany, NY Salvage
Car Unit. The letter informed me that my car has a salvage history
and needs to be inspected by DMV Auto Theft Unit before the new,
salvage title can be reissued in my name.
I was shocked by the DMV findings. I spoke to Albany Salvage DMV
unit that send me that notice and explained the circumstances
under which I purchased the car. I paid the $150 fee and they made
an appointment for me to see a car inspector. Unfortunately the
inspection could not be carried out since I did not have the
invoices of the parts that were used to repair my car and did not
have the Insurance company accident/salvage report.
I contacted the salesman. I told him that I must hand in the
original parts invoices and Insurance accident/salvage report to
DMV Auto Theft Inspection Unit in order for them to inspect it and
to issue the new salvage title in my name.
He admitted that he lied to me about the status of the car and
also told me that he has all original invoices of parts and the
Insurance accident/salvage report for my car. I was also shocked
to hear him say that he purchased the wrecked car and fixed it
himself. It turns out that he owns a salvage/repair shop ( I found
out through the internet) and had my car fixed there ( I can see
it from the parts invoices that parts for my car were sold to that
shop, under his name and he signed these invoices himself)
This guy has been selling a lot of cars through NY's
Craigslist.com and Internet for a long time and I'm sure that he's
been defrauding lots of innocent buyers.
He actually had a nerve to complain to me that he never had a
problem with a transfer of salvaged title to a clean title in the
past until, as he told me "they just changed the law and closed
the loophole". I can just imagine how many other people who bought
from this guy in the past are driving salvaged, potentially
dangerous cars without realizing it!
I received all original invoices of the car parts and the Allstate
insurance report from the salesman in the mail. It shows that my
car's front end was totaled and the car was declared a total loss
by Allstate. There is also a record of air bags taken from another
Corolla and placed into my car.
Now I'm finding out that NY DMV Inspection unit does not allow
another car's air bags to be installed into a salvaged car. The
airbags must be purchased new from the dealer. In my case that
would be a $3000 additional expense.
The bottom line is - I was defrauded. I can't pass the inspection,
also meaning that I cannot get the title in my name or re-register
the car and the used car salesman will not give me the money back.
I feel that I was wronged by several parties listed below:
NY State used car salesman that sold me the car .
Autobody shop (owned or co-owned by my salesman) that
reconstructed this salvaged NJ car without notifying NY DMV and
DMV of NY for not having the info regarding the salvage status of
my car at the time of purchase (they issued a 2 year registration
to me without a problem the day I purchased the car).
Insurance company that sold this salvaged car and possibly failed
to report it salvaged right away.
Carfax who reported no problems and who "guarantees" its results -
or they will buy back the car. - I do not seem to get through to
anyone there.
The local mechanic whom I paid to check the car prior to purchase
and who assured me it's fine.
My Geico insurance Co who insured the car when I gave them the VIN
at the time of purchase and told me there are no problems with the
car.
Thank you so much for taking your time reading all this! Please
tell me what I can do to recover the money. I pumped additional
$1500 into the car (minor repairs, stereo, speakers) and now I
don't even own it! Please help
.
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