Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I recently bought a car that was advertised as a good little runner on kibkom. I arranged to meet the seller who took me for a test drive. The car was working perfectly, perhaps the ac need a recharge he said and that there was a problem with the glove box. Nothing major.

On collection of the car, we were supposed to meet at the golf club. However, We got a message to say that he had had a change of plan and that he would just leave the car at the golf club for us, key on the back wheel. When we got there, the car / key was there as stated but the car would not start. We called him, no answer. Then we got a text message to say disconnect the battery and reconnect it.... but we couldn’t even get into the car bonnet as the switch was broken. At this point I called a garage to come and help me out.

The car was towed away and after a weeks investigation, they cannot fix it. It has an electrical problem as someone has taken parts from the car. I need to get the car towed to the Citroen dealership in Lefkosa for them to look at. After the parts are replaced it was also need reprogramming apparently.

So, what do I do?

Do I spend more money on trying to get it repaired? I could spend lots of money and it still might not work!

Do I just cut my losses and try and sell it for spare parts / scrap value and put this down to a learning curve. I am well aware that people have and will lost a lot more money than £1500.

Do I have any legal leg to stand on or am I waisting my time involving the law out here? I know his name and his area but not his actual address?

Firstly, it looks like this guy only joined the forum to sell on a car - contact Soner and let him know what has happened as it is his forum and he may wish to take further action.

Second, whose name is the car registered in now?

Third, was his name the one previous in the log book - or have you bought a stolen car?

Before you sell it for spares wait to see if anyone on the forum knows of a good garage that can fix Citroen's spares for them are not cheap as I know from experience.

Most vehicles out here are sold as seen so I doubt you would have any legal comeback but if the seller refuses to contact you then there must be something you can do about it - the telephone provide will have his address as will the Muhtar in his area - unless of course he is living here illegally as well!!

Best of luck but I would not hold out much hope.

Looks like you have been sold a wrong un by someone who cannot be tracked

Car is now registered in my name. Originally the car was not registered to the seller but there was no problem when changing registration as the third party had completed the transfer form and we had a copy of his ID card.

People can always be tracked! The seller has put the advert for the car on this forum - must have an email address, has a phone, has to have an address, has arrived here will be on the immigration system. Just at the very least! Once you are registered electronically anywhere you can never hide away if you need to be found!

So you actually purchased the car from the person who had there name on the log book before you, by law anyway, the person you paid for the car was never the legal owner and therein lies the problem with any form of legal come back I am sorry to say.

waddo wrote:People can always be tracked! The seller has put the advert for the car on this forum - must have an email address, has a phone, has to have an address, has arrived here will be on the immigration system. Just at the very least! Once you are registered electronically anywhere you can never hide away if you need to be found!

So you actually purchased the car from the person who had there name on the log book before you, by law anyway, the person you paid for the car was never the legal owner and therein lies the problem with any form of legal come back I am sorry to say.

Yeah, I thought as much. Just got to put it down to experience and learn from it I guess.

Dodgy second hand car dealers will never register a car in the UK either.
Generally if you pull up at a house to buy privately always be suspicious if the seller meets you outside and never invites you in.

Why would a car dealer register a car in their name when they are expecting (hoping) to only have it few days/weeks there is nothing dodgy about this unless they are purporting to be the actual owner?
Sorry but why would you invite a complete stranger into your house if they turned up supposedly 'to look at a car'.
It seems that Trigger was very naive indeed as it sounds like he gave the seller the money on the understanding that he would get the car later - why would somebody do this?

Trigger I have sent you an email.

ozankoys wrote:Why would a car dealer register a car in their name when they are expecting (hoping) to only have it few days/weeks there is nothing dodgy about this unless they are purporting to be the actual owner?
Sorry but why would you invite a complete stranger into your house if they turned up supposedly 'to look at a car'.
It seems that Trigger was very naive indeed as it sounds like he gave the seller the money on the understanding that he would get the car later - why would somebody do this?

Niave indeed but quite clever tricked. We paid a reserve of £250 via bank transfer and asked if we could pay the rest via bank transfer on collection. This bit he disagreed to as he said he would have no method of checking it had gone in the bank when he was at the golf club. So we transferred it the day before.

As you say niave but there were other factors. I needed a car for the visit of my daughter and the hire car was due to return the day after. So perhaps a rushed decision. Also, he wanted the payiment in £ so could not think of another way to get the money on time whilst out here. On top of it all, I wouldn’t have thought somebody would be sad enough to concoct such a story for the sum of £1500. My mistake.

Anyway, onwards and upwards. We will learn from this and I am a big believer in karma. What goes around comes around. Any advice on Citroen dealerships would be appreciated. With the amount of old cars running about on the island, surely someone can fix it???

And with regards to our first two weeks living on the island... absolutely love it. Like any country, it’s not perfect, but it is beautiful and has some very welcoming people who have helped us out.

Thanks and have a good weekend people.

ozankoys wrote:Why would a car dealer register a car in their name when they are expecting (hoping) to only have it few days/weeks there is nothing dodgy about this unless they are purporting to be the actual owner?

Generally you'll find the dodgy ones pretend it is their car and its a private sale. If it was your car why wouldn't you put it in your name.

ozankoys wrote: Sorry but why would you invite a complete stranger into your house if they turned up supposedly 'to look at a car'.

You wouldn't be suspicious if someone was supposedly outside their house and after you agreed to buy the car wanted to fill in the paperwork on the bonnet of the car rather than in their kitchen?

Couple of things I would think of. 1 Name and shame both owner and seller. 2. Get a second opinion from another garage, for general stuff I use Ziggy in Alsancak if it is electronic I would use Erdogus nearby. The latter has computer access. I would also go and chat to either an Advocate or the police, clearly you have been duped, admittedly naively but you never know. The police can be quite helpful and on occasion will go and have a chat and in this case when you did not really "take delivery" of the car.