Sold The Car on Facebook without Having The Buyer Details. - Need Suggestions

Hi everyone.

I’m in a situation that I sold my car via Facebook on 30 September 2018 wasn't aware of having buyers information (name, address and licence no.).

After 1 day I realised I need his details for disposal and try to contact him though FB but he is not responding. Immediately I contacted NSW services, just found out buyer hasn't transferred the car yet to his name. Called Service NSW, they said they can't do anything without buyers information. Went to police they can't do anything.

Only information I have is his facebook profile name which is blocked my FB, sent few messages as well. He seen the messages but not given any reply to. I have the screenshots.

Please advise me how to overcome from this situation.

Thank you.

Comments

  • +120

    Wow

    • +18

      Do the needful

      • +1

        For the same

        • Regarding the same*

      • +1

        Good noon

    • +7

      OP should put this video on repeat

    • +14

      Hijacking top post

      Ask Service NSW to reprint your registration if you don't have a copy.

      Fill in the very bottom, the notice of disposal, only. The top part, with the buyers info, is the buyers responsibility, not yours.

      Hand back the notice of disposal to the clerk at the Service NSW.

      That's it.

      Don't cancel the rego, that's fraud.

      • +1

        Hijacking top post

        Not if 'Hide All Child Comments' feature is implemented.

        • It's already been implemented.

          https://i.imgur.com/nnzuY0X.png
          https://i.imgur.com/x4UjYdd.png

          Can expand any parent comment as necessary. Or revert it to show all child comments instantly.

          There will be times when it will be useful, and when it can do it across multiple pages of comments it will be much better - currently it just does it for the current page.

      • +6

        Hijacking the hijack of the top post

        @This Guy:

        You’re wrong.

        Here is a photo of the back of a NSW rego form…

        Part A is the “Notice of Disposal” part (The top part, not "the bottom part"). This is the part you fill out and hand in as notice of disposal.
        Part B (the actual bottom part.) is the rego transfer. This part is the buyers responsibility…

        If you notice, Part A has a few sections that you are required to get… (ie: * Mandatory Fields)

        * Buyers license No.
        * Buyers DOB.
        * Buyers Name.
        * Buyers address.

        There is a big warning at the top of the disposal section that says what is * Mandatory information and that a disposal cannot be done if that information is missing…

        So no, you are wrong. OP cannot just hand it back, because OP does not have all the mandatory information to be able to just hand it back.

        Here is a PDF copy of the "Notice of Disposal" form with all the information that is required to dispose of a motor vehicle through the RMS…

        * Mandatory Fields- the Notice of Disposal cannot be recorded if all the mandatory fields are not completed.

        * Full name:
        * Selling Price or Market Value:
        * Address Details:
        * Suburb:
        * Individuals:
        Buyer's Licence/Customer Card No./DOB

        The only part you got right was the "Don't cancel the rego" part.

        • Thank you!

          I realised that my info was about a decade out of date around an hour after I posted. I was going to ask Mods to delete, but I though relying on Cunningham's Law was a better solution! Notice of Disposal used to be part B. I am old.

          The only part you got right was the "Don't cancel the rego" part.

          To be fair to me, I only screwed up this:

          Fill in the very bottom, the notice of disposal, only. The top part, with the buyers info, is the buyers responsibility, not yours.

          Seriously, thank you. I realised I screwed up after edit locked. I needed you to post so everyone got good advice!!!

    • +2

      IT'S NOT A TOOMAH

  • +23

    I would suggest doing a stat dec immediately (ie. before the fines start clocking up) outlining the situation - you found buyer X through Facebook, sold car, weren't aware you needed his details for form, not responding to further contact, etc.

    Then provide this to Service NSW or RTA or whoever and try to see if they can progress it from there.

    • +20

      Immediately

      Is a great idea, because you want any stat dec to pre-date any possible fines so that it doesn't look like OP is trying to get out of them.

      Conversely, maybe OP got into a huge accident between 30 Sep and now, and actually is trying to get out of liability by saying the car was already sold. /tinfoil

  • +11

    I would definitely go back to service NSW & explain the situation again. They may not be able to transfer the rego but may be able to cancel it & remove your name. Something needs to be done.

    • +4

      This is a really good idea. Cancel the rego and get some $ since you still own it.
      You've been paid for the car I assume so it's only the rego that is of any concern.

    • +5

      Or just report the car stolen.

    • Dont think you can cancel the rego without plates ??

      • You can't, I've bought cars from interstate and you need to mail them the plates.

  • +9

    Wow

  • +32

    Next time please post questions like these only because you are asking for a "friend"! Never get yourself involved!!

    • +13

      Always say it’s “for a friend” and always attach a really low quality MS Paint drawing to seal the deal…

  • +16

    You can cancel the rego. This would put the car on cops radar.

    • +1

      Yes, if still the registered owner this sounds like the only option now.

      If only OP has asked on OzB what they needed to do when selling a car via Facebook.

      • +17

        Or read the instructions on the rego paper.

    • +7

      This. Cancel the rego immediately and write a stat dec with the situation for RMS

  • +21

    You are going to have heaps of paperwork coming through the post soon. Speeding tickets, parking tickets, eTag fines and the like.

    Have fun !

    • +11

      OP, don't forget to remove the car from your eTag account

    • It could be a challenge but you can go to court and show some sort of proof that you sold the car. It will be good enough to get you off the fines.

      • The fines that don't exist?….yet.

        Of course that time will come.

    • +1

      Hi whats a E tag ?? In SA never heard of this

      • +1

        Toll detection and payment device

        • +1

          Oh thx we don't have anything like that in SA

          • -1

            @Rasberry66: One day when you get some freeways you'll know.

            • +1

              @smartazz104: I could never understand why they call these FREEWAYS

            • @smartazz104: We have freeways motorway & expressway here & DONT have to pay to use them No wonder it costs so much to live in the eastern States & our rego & fuel is alot cheaper than your states as well

              Freeways should be free for everyone in every state

            • @smartazz104: Its not the getting part, its the part when the government sells it off to a private buyer in order to recoup the cost that we pay tax for anyways.
              Speak about double dipping…

  • +11

    Dude

    • +4

      no, it's Wow

  • +30

    The negligence here is next level.

    • +2

      I didn't know what "taking it to the next level" meant before this thread… lol

      • +14

        It's over 9000!

  • +11

    Wow

  • +5

    Honestly, wow.

  • +5

    Report stolen

    • +9

      Very very bad idea .
      That would be a false police report. OP would be in much more trouble than the person who bought the car; and failed to lodge tranfer of ownership papers promptly.

      • I disagree. Afaik the car is stolen, op has proof he is the legitimate owner and he can't find his car.

        The money paid can be just an unidentified gift.

        • Except that OP has written records of selling the car…

          • @[Deactivated]: It's not disposed yet, it's still his car.

            • @[Deactivated]: Vehicle registration is not equivalent to ownership.

  • Hahaha

  • +4

    This isn't where I left my car…

    • +1

      Dude, where's my car?

  • +6

    My suggestion would be to just cancel the registration if he won’t reply to you. Then it won’t be in your name.

    • +1

      It will still be in OPs name as last registered by/owner. Only way to remove name is to lodge notice of disposal.

      If OP cancels rego, and buyer keeps driving and gets any camera tickets, OP will also get driving unregistered/uninsured vehicle ticket.

    • +1

      & maybe getting some rego $ back to cover all the fines that the OP will be copping from now on

  • +13

    Another day on OzB, another new member doing a one post wonder about something to do with cars and how they F***ked up

  • +1

    Wow

  • +9

    Wonder if the buyer isn't responding because he works on an oil rig?

    • +4

      Or perhaps hes on his way back to his palace in Nigeria and can't respond.

    • +2

      Plot twist - buyer paid via paypal using a stolen credit card.

  • +7

    Please tell me you at least got the money for the car?

    • +30

      buyer showed him bank transfer "receipt"

      • +1

        Lol

      • +3

        Gold! we can expect another thread soon

        "Sold a car via facebook, got the bank transfer receipt but no record in the bank, HELP!"

  • +3

    wasn't aware of having buyers information (name, address and licence no.).

    Are you saying that you gave a stranger your vehicle and the registration certificate without writing down their particulars?

    • -6

      I know his name I don’t know his surname

      • +2

        How don't you know his surname? Look it up on facebook?

      • Did you not take a photo of his driver's license when he took it for a test drive?

  • +8

    Thanks for your comments
    Spoke to RMS Assitence they said lodge a disposal with a minimum requirement as name and rego number and date of sale it will be a unkown sale but still it will be helpful for some extent and it will be unregistered or not tranfered on records now i need to lodge a disposal lets check my luck

  • Did you at least get some money for the car…?

    • +8

      A payment of eleventy hundred eneloops will be arriving by post tomorrow.

      • +1

        LOLed so hard at this

      • Or an account on Banggood or should that be Goodbang?!

    • +1

      Probably did the old schedule payment, send screenshot of receipt and cancel payment trick….

  • +1

    Cancel rego and use the refund to get some reddit legal advice. IANAL.

    • I don't think you get a refund unless you surrender the plates?

      • That's more than likely the case. I've never done it before.

        • In SA to cancel the reg you have to hand in plates & I just bought a new car & have persy plates an transferring them to new car was a bloody nightmare having to either get new plates for the old car $22 or cancel it but had to get car wholesaler to email Service SA Gawler ( ezy reg SA ) to say that it was fine to cancel the rego as they will put new plates on when they sell/auction it just so I can keep my persy plates. Car wholesaler didn't want to help me out so the Service SA manager rang them & got them to fill out forms for it, if it wasn't for her id lost my plates

          So good luck 😊

    • Username checks out.

  • +6

    Can't buy common sense either

  • Not 100% sure about NSW, but in some states the buyer has a week to put the car in his name. Blocking you off Facebook is not a good sign. Did you have all the other paperwork? Like the Green slip etc? It's best to go in to your transport department with the buyer and get this done for your peace of mind. Australian law will actually put the legal liability on you. I think you have to say that the PLATES are lost or stolen. Then go from there.

    • +1

      I think this is the form you need. Link Technically the buyer is not cooperating to have the plates returned, so not sure if you need to go to the police as well.

  • Wo

    • +1

      Wu-Tang

  • +1

    how much did you sell it for? buyer just handed over several thousand in cash?

    • +1

      What's wrong with paying cash?

      • Some people are socially not normal and think $1,000+ is a HUGH some of money, very sad.

        • +2

          Yeah it's strange, I've bought all my cars in cash. Perhaps they think it's better to buy their high yield amgs on finance

          • +1

            @brendanm: I sell some stuff regularly on Gumtree and the amount of times people ask to pay by Bank Deposit / PayPal when getting a physical item is frankly concerning. People want a physical item, for virtual cash that takes 24 hours to clear (Bank Transfer) which is a liability.

            It makes absolutely no sense what so ever, I just can't believe there are people with that sort of IQ that think it's normal, and acceptable to obtain physical items like an iPhone and transfer the $1,000 by Bank Transfer and get upset when you say no… Imagine having that type of IQ

            • @Xiaomi: …not if your require payment first.

              yes let's take money from a stranger and give my car registered in my name to a stranger and not even confirm the stranger's name…

              let's not talk about IQ.

              you gonna do a serious transaction like a car sale, sure take cash, but I'd be documenting the transaction. what if the seller reports the car stolen? no record anywhere of the transaction and payment?

              again, let's not talk about IQ

  • +3

    Is NSW registration different to other states? Can't you just cancel the registration, leaving the car in limbo and whoever gets caught driving it gets booked for driving sn unregistered car?
    If you have conversations about the sale , that should give you dates to prove you weren't in possession of the car if any fines arise

    • Should be able to do this. Would be quite mean though, if the person who bought it is just perhaps short of cash to pay transfer fee straight away. Only go the mean route as last resort.

      • The buyer lost the nice option when they cut contact IMO.

  • +3

    I sold a car, and similarly, I was unpleasantly-surprised, when I checked with RTA and it was still in my name . It means any traffic cam fines or tolls will be sent my way :/ Not cool.
    The person who bought the car, would have actually f—cked themselves though, because when it came time for rego renewal, they wont possibly be able to renew rego, since they do not have any ownership, according to RTA records.
    I looked around and found the original sale document, and submitted it to RTA.
    Hopefully you have SOMETHING ? Some kind of signed paperwork to show sale ? Even if all you have is paypal documentation, inside paypal you can print invoice etc (hopefully paypal invoice states what payment was for) .
    The longer the buyer leaves it, it will cost them extra $$ when they do change over rego papers, because there is about $180 extra charge, when notice of change in ownership is not filed within certain amount of days.
    Perhaps remind the buyer, of the hassles they will have in future when they need to renew rego
    Start a secondary facebook, using disposable email, and contact them that way
    Maybe send a friends request add, with important info, emphasise they you dont want any hassles for them when they try to renew rego in the future.
    Also remind them of the legal issues, Im pretty sure that it is somewhat illegal (not a major crime, but still a crime of sorts) to be driving round a vehicle for several months, without declaring your ownership to appripriate authorities such as RTA.
    If any issue of a fine does come up in the future, you should be 100% honest, and I would expect whomever reads your appeal, will be thinking 'you idiot' but if you tell the whole truth, well they would probably dismiss any fine or toll.
    If they were to run up a massive amount of fines and tolls, maybe the vehicle would be taken to pay the fines, and perhaps it would be a more serious issue for police to feel a need for follow up, if and when the new owner runs up lots of fines on that number plate.
    They might just not have the $$ to pay the tranfer fee at RTA, especially if enough time has passed (I think it is 14 or 21 days) where they would now have to pay an extra amount of about $180 just for being overdue in submitted ownership transfer notice, and paying the tax on it.
    It is tax evasion to some extent, so you could I guess contact tax department. Your meant to pay some tax when changing ownership.
    Try to contact, and be nice and understanding first
    And try to learn from this in the future. Should keep proper receipts for everything, when dealing with strangers (and yes, facebook profiles are strangers, even if they have 500 facebook friends and 3 mutual facebook friends).

  • +5

    I was once the dastardly scoundrel who bought a car from someone for $1000 who was moving back to NZ the following week. Had all his details and the Transfer filled out properly… but when I went to get the RWC, 3 mechanics laughed in my face.

    So I left it in his name - no speeding fines, parking tickets, tolls. It was magic. I only had to make sure it was never towed, because I'd never see it again

    When the rego was up, I discovered that you can lodge a change of address online with Name / DOB and Licence number (all of which were on the Transfer paper). So I put down my PO Box, asked for a new sticker to be sent out, and changed it back again.

    That car lasted me 3 years before it finally died. Thanks Nigel, wherever you are

    • +6

      Location sounds right

    • so dont you need RWC for rego renew?

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