Giving damaged to car to wreckers in lieu of fees (is this legal?)

Cave Fire on 31/08/2014 - 21:16
Last edited 31/08/2014 - 21:25

tldr; gave car to wreckers five years ago in lieu of fees. Were the wreckers legally allowed to do this?

Ok, I used to own a 92 Q series Silvia that got damaged in a single vehicle accident in Algester, Brisbane in 2009. The cops ordered the wreckers to move my car an impound lot in a nearby suburb, despite the fact that it was closer to tow the vehicle to my own home. The charge was $210 for the pickup plus an extra $180 or so for clearing the road (despite the fact there was very little debris). The next day I went back into the wreckers and the lady there offered me the option of giving them the damaged vehicle instead of paying the fees they were charging. The total fees came close to $500. They would then auction the vehicle off to recover there costs. The previous night the car would turn on, but since going to the wreckers, it wasn't even doing that. I think the battery may have been disconnected. The car also had a twisted wheel, one door had a large scrape as it had landed on that side. Engine was okay as far as I could tell. At the time, I felt it would be too much to fix, say another $700 - $1200 plus another tow back home. I decided to let it go. Looking back now, was this even legal for the wreckers to offer this to me? If not, is there anything I can really do? I have thought about letting the police know that their contractors are offering this option, in the hope that other people don't fall for this.

Automotive

Comments

  • sraymond on 31/08/2014 - 21:22
    +10

    So, this has been keeping you awake at night for the last five years………surely you have moved on.

    • RockyRaccoon on 01/09/2014 - 08:45
      +1

      ROFL, this is probably a scam scheme set up by underworld figures to fund terrorism. how can you move on from that :)

  • Richfield on 31/08/2014 - 21:23
    +2

    Why would it be illegal?

  • mskeggs on 31/08/2014 - 21:23
    +1

    Why do you think this would be illegal?
    i'll give you $1 for your current car.
    Making the offer is not illegal, it is entirely up to you whether you take it or not.
    I agree it is a bit skeezy, but just about everything about the motor industry is skeezy.

  • Cave Fire on 31/08/2014 - 21:32

    I'm having other issues with sale of another car that was still registered, but sold without plates. Turns out according to the police, even if you take the plates off (in QLD) the vehicle is still registered and needs to be sold with a RWC, as it is not deregistered.

  • isthisreally_me on 31/08/2014 - 21:39
    +1

    No reason it should be illegal.
    You owed the towing company a certain amount of money for a service you were required to take (ie move the car after a crash). They offered you an alternative to a cash payment, you could have said no ill take the car and fix it and then sell it, here's your $500, but instead you accepted their offer of barter. I wish I could walk into Myer and give them an old motorbike of mine for a brand new PC. Barter is a legitimate way of trading and some small businesses do indeed use it. As I see it the matter is closed.

  • Shadow54 on 01/09/2014 - 14:50

    The part that raises questions for me is the behaviour of the police. Were you given the option to have the vehicle towed to your place? Were you given the option to employ your own towing contractor? Did you agree to pay the towing and storage fees and were these fees disclosed to you at the time of the accident?
    I would not be surprised if the wrecker and some of the local coppers are working together on this scheme…..
    If you think this is farfetched, you may wish to recall the cash for broken windows scam tha that some bent coppers in Victoria were working with some local glaziers….

  • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2014 - 12:25

    It wasn't impounded that night for a reason, was it?

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