General Chat

My niece is trying to sell her car - placed an ad in Autotrader. Two companies called Vehicle Match and Car Wise contacted her claiming to have definite buyers for her car but she had to put up £100 for the contact. Being young and inexperienced she coughed up, and predictably there is no buyer, and her money has been swallowed by the scammers. Seems like there's nothing she can do to get her money back - unless you wonderful folks know otherwise?? Autotrader and the police don't want to know - she has contacted trading standards, but doesn't hold out much hope of success - does she just have to write it down to experience?

Contact Watchdog - they may be interested.

Sympathies but: Repeat after me: NEVER pay commission in advance. Report it to the Police as a theft.

Heather- thanks for sympathy. Debby - thanks - think that's part of her plan. Brian - I'm with you there - guess the young have to learn by experience. She was so excited to have 'found' a 'buyer' that her normal common sense seems to have deserted her!!

It was on TV recently that there was a similar scam with house sales....a firm contacts you and gurantee a sale after you pay them £600 0r so for a survey.......but the offers that come are nowhere near the true value of your property

I hope she has also contacted Autotrader to inform them, and to tell them she has informed trading standards. She could also try writing a letter to her local paper to warn people against being caught out. The more publicity there is against these people the less chance there is of catching someone else. Ann Glos

This scam has been going on for years, we had one when we sold my car a few months ago, I just told hubby to put the phone down on them. You can put 'no agents' on the end of the advert to try and deter them. How did she pay? If with credit or visa debit card may be some come back through them, if cheque must have been an address to send it to. Ros.

Ann, She has been in touch with Autotrader, but since the companies got her number from the ad, they say it is not their problem. Ros, The companies claim that by sending them money she was buying an ad for her car on their website and so they won't return the money. Niece's Mum is doing all she can to fight her corner, but it feels very much like shutting door after horse has bolted.

Think some of these companies have already been on watchdog.

agree with Jess these companies have already been featured on watch dog!!!!!

This was on TV only the other week about the car scam, cant remember if it was Watchdog or rogue traders something along that line, interviewed the guy running the scam as well, only a youngester,suex

Watchdog warned about this a few weeks back - get in contact they maybe able to help - I think police would be interested. Lin

Thanks all, am seeing niece on Sat. so will pass on all advice.