Can I go to jail if i purchased a car from a private buy and this person still owes on a car ?
Im so scared because this lady sold me her car with out telling me she owed on the car. The bank is calling me threatening me....but im confused as to how they got my information. Can i get in trouble? I need help bad. Can i sue her? i put so much money into the car and now these people whom i do not know is trying to take this car from me!!!!!!
2008-09-29T08:39:55Z
I have a title...I never said I didn't have it.
2008-09-30T07:39:34Z
UPDATE......I got a message on my cell this morning...it was quite disturbing actually...this guy was telling me that i had to drop the car off at the ladies home for them to pick up the car. but I said I'd rather them get the car from my home because who knows what this lady is up to. He basically said its now a federal law if I dont return the car to her I would have the police at my home to lock me up....Im only 22 I just got out of the navy and I really dont know where I can find any help. Now this lady is making it really hard to get in touch with her. Is it wise for me to drop the car off at the dealer thats on the back of the car? I dont really know what to do....FYI I actually spent over 1000 dollars. so is that small claims or what...sorry for my grammar but im just venting also....
thanks for everyone's help
J L2008-09-29T08:58:42Z
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Look on the title if there is a lien record on it then you may have a problem. What bank is it that is calling you? We had a customer trade in a car one time who had gone to a title lender. you know we use your title for cash. the customer went to the tag office got a replacement title because the lender never recorded a lien. They called us saying they were owed money we told them we have a clean title and no lien if you don't record it its not legal. contact the DMV and see if there is a lien on the car if there is ask why the title you have shows no lien.
Some states the owner has the title even though there is a lien on the car/others the lien holder keeps the title until it is paid off. Does the title have a lien on it? (That you didn't say) If it doesn't, she may have gotten a personal loan, or the lien hlder never put their name on as lien holder. And this lady has nothing to lose, she probably gave them your name or address. She got your money...you have the bank's car!! You won't necessarily get into trouble, you will just get the car taken away from you. I don't think you will go to jail. The only reason I can think of would be being in possession of stolen property. You didn't steal the car, you bought the car from her, you paid her for it. Just because she didn't pay for fully, shouldn't effect you in that respect. Or if she had the title, and it didn't have a lien on it, how are you supposed to know if she owes anything or anybody money. If the bank takes the car, you have legal rights to sue her and take her to court, if it is worth it. Small claims court, otherwise you will probably have to hire an attorney if it is a high dollar amount. But the bank will get the car one way or another. And they will sell it at auction to get their money back. Try to talk to the bank about this, tell them what happened and ask them what your options are. At this point you have nothing to lose in seeing if they will work with you. If they don't understand or won't work with you, then by all means sue the lady!!
People are assuming that you don't have a title because if there was a lien on it, the lienholder would still have the title.
Is the title legit? Is a lienholder listed on the title? If no lienholder is listed, how do you have the title if there is a lien on it? These are all questions to ask the person threatening you.
It could be a big scam. Could they have gotten your information from the person who sold you the car? And perhaps the lady and the person threatening you are trying to get more money out of you?
You bought a car from a person who had no right to sell it to you. The contract is between this person and her bank, and has nothing to do with you. As far as the lender is concerned, you are in possession of their property and they have a legal right to recover it. You would have to sue the seller in civil court to try and get your money back.
Your first clue should have been the fact that the seller didn't give you the title when you bought the car.
Edit: Oh you have a title? My bad. Does it list a lienholder?
Did you get a title to the vehicle? If so, then she has a personal loan not a car loan. There's nothing to worry about, you did nothing wrong. If you didn't get a certificate of title, then you must return the car and sue her for the money.