turboRS

Are you legally allowed to sell off a car to recover money owed??

Basically car has been sat in workshop for nearly 6 months now.
Customer hasn't turned up about it nor the friend who got me the car / job!!
Car owes me some money for parts plus the fact that it has been a major obstruction in the shop as it needs an engine and is a pusher!
I have threatened to sell it but no one seems to be bothered and it is now pissing me off!!
Tempted to leave it outside but dont want it broken into etc!!!

Car in question is an E46 320d Compact in mint condition exterior and interior with 18" BMW alloys and cream leathers.
Any ideas what they are worth?

Oranoco

I believe you can't just sell the vehicle as it's not yours to sell. You'd have to do it through the courts. It's very shakey ground and you need to seek proper legal advice before doing anything.

botters

iTrader: (2)

my old boss did it to a customer who had not paid after 6 months, customer took boss to court and customer won my boss ended up paying for the car, compensation loss of earnings etc...

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

How secure is your workshop area?
I'd be tempted to say your pushing it outside and it's staying there for good,leave it a few days and take the goodies off and scrap it,not your responsibility then.
Trying to sell it would be a nightmare,but selling bits on eBay would be easy,even take the goodies and partially burn it,claim kids did it then scrap it,believe me the filth aren't interested,I had sone little scroat try and nick my impreza from outside my unit,had plenty of witnesses etc and they never even came too look at it,gave me a crime number and spent at least an hour at the computer to tell me yes it was a silver scooby!!
Put the phone down in the end and fixed it for about £50,found the alarm in the yard and soldered it back in,in fact I gained as the little cunt stole a battery out of someone else's car to try and start it as the one in it was flat!!!

cutch

iTrader: (1)

as above, break the parts, then weigh in the shell, apply for the logbook fromt he post office....

Java=Blue

find out where the guy lives and dump it on his driveway... or just leave it outside. if it gets broken into its hardly your fault if youve tried to get them to recover it

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

But he needs cash back from parts etc.

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Can you read?

focusv8

You need to notify the owner of the car in writing that it has incurred and is incurring storage costs.
Also that there is an outstanding debt for the cost of repairs.
Give an up to date total.
And give notice of your intention to dispose of the car to recoup some or all of the costs, any residue will be forwarded to him/her.
Set a time limit, eg. 14 days.

Wait for his / her reply and at that time ask for the V5.
If no reply give notice of your intention to apply for a duplicate V5 and to then sell the "Car".

You get into trouble when you don't give notice of your intentions.

.

Oranoco

Whilst it's with him he has a "duty of care" if it goed walkies the cars owner would be within their rights to claim from his insurance

cos 4x4

goto small claims court and file a pertion there.as im aware we had soimething similar in work with old fitters who kept the van cause they claimed they were owed moneys police involved so we had to pay them to get the van back the same might apply to this either that or applyfor the log book and then sell it on

Oranoco

Log book only makes you the registered keeper and does not make you the legal owner.

turboRS

agreed.

thanx for the replies chaps.
dont wanna be a nasty bastard but sometimes you have no choice!!
Some people obviously have too much money to give a shit where their car is??

Maxwell

Phone the police and tell them the car is illegally parked on your property and they will contact the dva for registered keepers details. And if it is untaxed or even uninsured, they will impound it. You might take a loss but at least it will be space for potential work.