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Unsigned title on "Lemon" that I just bought

B

ButtonPuncher

Veteran CEG'er
Joined
Aug 15, 2002
Messages
536
Location
Southeast WI
I just bought a car from a used car dealer. On the way home the speedometer/odometer and fuel gauge stopped working. When I got home, I realized that the dealer never signed over the title to me. I did sign a purchase contract and gave him a cashiers check.

What are my rights for returning this car and getting my money back? He took my money but never gave me a completed title. Am I essentially driving a stolen car? :shocked: :help:

Since the title was never signed over, does it mean that the sale is incomplete and the purchase contract means nothing?

I don't want to sink a bunch of money into fixing the electrical problems. I just want my friggin money back.

BTW, this is in Wisconsin.

I'm going to call the WisDOT Dealer Section tomorrow. Hopefully that can give me some answers. I've already checked this out...

Problem Used Car

Purchase Cancellation

This is soo screwed up.

Thanks,
BP
 
What I think...
technically if you signed a contract agree'ing to buy the car, that means your buying it, regardless of if the title is swapped over yet.

according to the links you posted...
you can cancel the agreement but will most likely be assessed a fee. This can't exceed 5% of the total purchase price of the car.

Where did you get the car from?
 
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I got it from this place called Southern Wisconsin Auto and Tire. The car was posted up for sale on eBay. I won the auction.

To tell you the truth, I'd pay the 5% just to get out of a potential money pit. That would only be about $80. Versus the hundreds needed to fix a bizzare electrical problem.


I'm soo pissed at myself for not just walking away. The ebay description was complete bullcrap. The car had hail damage, the fan switch only worked on high, and the radio was dead. All of which wasn't mentioned in the ad. It was listed as "No major scratches dents."

The guy gave me quite a bit back for the problems listed above but never said anything about the gauge cluster.

BP
 
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In Iowa there is a 3 day lemon law on ALL cars purchased from a dealer.

If something major happens, they are required to purchase the vehicle back within the 72hr timeframe.

Wish I knew about that when I bought an 85 Subaru RX 4x4 Turbo for $500 from a "suspect" dealer (just wanted a cheap car to deliver pizza in)... had it for 2 hours and the engine started to eat the bearings. Was full of oil the whole time. Pulled the pan and there was at least 1/4" of shavings at the bottom.

Got $35 for it at the junkyard since it had good rubber :blackeye:
 
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Ouch.

Yeah, in WI if the car is sold "as is", you have no way to get anything from the dealer. No 3 day, not even 24 hours. If it bursts into flames 50ft out of the lot, the only thing that you can do is take the dealer to court.

BP
 
I'm trying to get a daily driver back. I've found it next to impossible to get anything done on my MTX with it being my only car.

I also want to get a 98+ Zetec because I can throw the blower on with no modifications. ;)

BP
 
I return the car Saturday morning so it isn't over yet. But the guy has told me he will give me my money back and I've saved all of the emails. If he doesn't, at least I have something to go on if i need to take legal action.

Yeah, the more that I think about it, this could have been really bad.

I still can't believe how dumb that I was being. There were tons of signs that I completely ignored.

You live, you learn.


BP
 
Believe me, I would if I could've but it is 180 miles away and they are only open 'til 6pm. I haven't been able to sleep all week because of this.

He has said that he is giving me my original cashiers check back. That's quite a relief. I don't have to worry about a shady dealership's check bouncing.

BP
 
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