Buying a bike but the owner is in prison!

GeneralXcepti... · Nova Slayer Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Karma :

I saw an add for a fairly new CBR6RR. Phoned the guy up and it turns out that it's not his bike but his mates. His mate has been sent down and he's selling it for him because the Mrs of the fella doing time needs some cash.

The bike's mint, both keys, service book etc is all there and the V5 has the name of his mate and the address where the bike is kept. Did a check on it and nothing came up on that either. It all looks legit but my scam radar is going off big time!

I think the scam maybe that I'm being asked to part with cash when the owner isn't giving consent to sell it. I mean where would I stand if I buy the bike and ahem 6 - 12 months later (depending on good behavior) the fella comes out of clink and says where the fug is my bike, rings the old bill and says that it was taken without the owners consent?

After all, I've never met the bloke so how do I know he's given consent to sell it and I'm pretty sure he won't be signing the V5!

Time to walk away me thinks. It's a lovely bike for the right sort of money but there's plenty more CBR's in the autotrader sea, unless anyone out there has experience of this sort of thing and can allay my fears?

Cheers

Gen

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

See if you can contact the guy in prison. It shouldn't be too much of a problem if you get his name and the prison he's in.
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mooserx · Nearly there... Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Karma :

Surely if you pay for it you'll get a receipt and the v5 will be in your name, and i could be wrong, but does that not show a legal sale? OH yeah, the registered keeper (the jailbird) will need to sign the v5 as well when the sale happens.

Could be a scam, could be a genuine sale, i reckon its pretty hard to tell. My intuition would tell me it seems like a little bit hard work for a sale when as you say there are plenty about.
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Feasty · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Karma :

Walk away... even if you can get hold of the bloke behind bars, what if the bike is being sold without his consent? You'll be opening an even bigger mess by dropping his 'mate' and missus in it.
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Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

mooserx · Nearly there... Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Karma :

GeneralXcepti... · Nova Slayer Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Karma :

Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'll walk away from this one.

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Probably wise. If the guy got out of prison he might report it stolen by his wife since he, the legal owner, hadn't sold it. I dunno if there's some sposal law that might have a bearing but it seems to me that she's technically taking someone else's property for her own. You couldn't even claim ignorance since it'll be obvious that it's registered to a male owner.
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132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good Very Happy

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

If they were being dishonest, wouldn't his mate just pretend to be the owner of the bike?

The V5 does not mean you are the legal owner. Maybe his wife would have the legal right to sell anyway, if he is in prison?

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

MattEMulsion · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Karma :

If its cheap enough then I would be tempted to follow it up with a view to buying it in the end. If the price is on par with similar bikes elsewhere for sale then go for an easier/safer option from elsewhere. Thumbs Up

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Pickledswede · Traffic Copper Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Karma :

There's a case like this we're studying in law. Some guys tried to sell the convicts furniture while he was in prison. They got done because they had 'appropriated' (a key element of theft) the furniture by assuming the right to sell, even though they hadn't actually shifted it yet.

They got done for theft, the buyer I think got done for handling stolen goods.

Be aware that even if the guy in prison consents to the sale, but the seller has no intention of handing the money over, it can still be a theft!

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

MaybeGuy · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Karma :

you cant get done for handling stolen goods if you can prove you didnt know they were stolen (ie: with the advert).

they can however, just take it off you if it is stolen and you wont get a penny back unless you sue the theif guy.
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Pickledswede · Traffic Copper Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Karma :

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

I have always understood that the distinction is whether you paid a price you'd reasonably expect to pay for something in that condition, so if you paid £20 for a £300 mountain bike you'd definately be bang to rights for handling but if you paid £250 you could reasonably count that as a bargain price for a straight item.
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132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good Very Happy

the grim reaper · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Karma :

blutonium92 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Karma :

lol very strange situation, the owned behind bars would have to sign the V5 so like.. his mate would have to go visit him.
Though tbh its not worth the hassle even if it was legit. plenty more fish in the sea, just look on ebay and you'll always find what you want in a month or so.
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Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

If it sounds too good to be true...It probably is.

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Noxious89123 · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Karma :

For all the hassle, there are plenty more fish in the sea... Or CBRs on the net.
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rs125tuning · L Plate Warrior Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Karma :

Ant · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

that would be worse than shagging his wife while he's in prison!
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Neorion · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Karma :

do his Mrs in the Gary, chuck her a nice dinner and a few quid and promise to take her out on the bike Wink

Or is there more to it?

They dont look like they are from shameless do they?
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

If the bike and the price are right visit the guy in prision go with the mate take the V5 get it signed. Sorted.
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