This mechanic I hired told me he’s buying cars with liens still on them then filing for abandoned title and then getting the title 20 days later free & clear. He told me he’s buying cars that people are fixing to get repossessed and picking them up for almost nothing. The people know they are going to get repossessed so it’s nothing to lose for them. Like 2008 Honda Accords for $1,500. He said the banks are too backed up to get back to the DMV in time and he gets the titles free & clear. Is this true? Is he really getting away with this? Not that I want to do it but he told me he knows people out there that have some of these cars for sale.
He told me he would sell me the 2008 HOnda Accord 27K miles for $5,000 with clear title, go with me to DMV to be sure it is a good transaction if I send 2 good referrals of people who are willing to sell their cars with leins to him. I’m so not going to do this because this has to be illegal! But it would be nice to get that car for 5k. Also, I don’t know anyone who has a car that’s going to be repossessed. He’s probably going to end up in jail but it sounds like he’s advertising his mobile mechanic stuff on craigslist then after the job is done, sit with the car owners and shoot the s**t and gradually bring up his scheme asking for referrals for these soon-to- be repossessed cars. BTW – I also have this question under Law & Ethics – if you want to see other user’s answers.
NO he’s not putting the leins on. He’s soliciting people that are late on their car payments and letting them get repossessed. THe people are handing over & keys and he knows there is like a $10,000 -$15,000 lien on it still. THen goes to DMV, files for abanded title hides the car, and gets the title free & clear cause the bank doesn’t claim the ownership of the car. Literally he’s beating the system and the baks are too backed up to get it in time!
He pays like $1,000 – $2,000 for a $15,000 car. The people are upside down so they can’t sell it for what’s owed and it’s going to be repo soon so they don”t care and they are getting free money.
HE’S NOT PUTTING A MECHANIC LEIN ON PEOPLE’s CARS. HE’s NOT EVEN WORKING ON THEIR CARS. PLEASE READ before answering.
WHO EVEN BRINGS THEIR SOON-TO-BE REPOSSESSES CAR IN FOR REPAIR AND NOT PAY AND LEAVE IT. THAT MAKES NO SENSE. YOU GUYS AREN’T UNDERSTANDING WHAT I’M SAYING.
Otto – He says it takes him 20 days to get it. So he’s not just walking in and out.
Didn’t I mention 20 days in the first paragraph?
6 Responses
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flutterby Says:
sounds about right.
is it legal? i don’t know. -
cboath315_2000 Says:
Sounds legal to me. A mechanic can place a lien against a vehicle they’ve done repairs on and haven’t received payment. Of course the original owner doesn’t get off the hook. Since there’s no vehicle to repossess, the bank keeps the original owner on the hook for the entire loan amount.
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oklatom Says:
No it’s not legal, it’s abuse of the system. It’s one thing to have someone bring in a car for repair and not pay for it and not pick it up. Then it’s perfectly appropriate for the mechanic to be able to do a mechanic’s lien and get title in lieu of his time and storage.
It is not appropriate to go out and give John Doe $1500 for a car about to be repossessed, hide it, and then claim it was brought in for repairs. I’d suggest contacting the attorney general in your state and making them aware of this. It gives us all a bad name.
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Sage Says:
He’s gaming the system. And while he may be getting away with it, it’s certainly mucking around in some VERY murky karma at best. He may very-well be entitled to place a lien of the vehicle, but if the bank, state DMV, or any government agency who may have found itself having a hand in any one of the banks and/or finance companies it has bailed-out, decide to look into it further and decides that by proposing a way to “beat the system” and is performing work (or claiming to) exclusively for the purpose of placing a lien, they may very well conclude a conspiracy to defraud exists, especially if he’s “hiding” the cars to make them harder to repossess.
He, and perhaps anyone he obtained the cars from and anyone who knowingly bought one, may find themselves not just being on the hook for the civil liability but having to defend themselves against (or cop a plea to) charges of conspiracy, handling, theft, and or fraud.
Just because a handful of greedy banks and just-as-greedy borrowers have brought the country to the brink of financial collapse doesn’t mean it’s okay to “jump on board”. Just like voting, no one person’s vote is likely to change the outcome, but nobody can change anything if they don’t happen to vote. And those who rationalize it’s okay to steal from “them” do so for one simple reason. They’ve never once considered risking the commitment, sacrifices, or investment required to build a legitimate enterprise of his own. Parasites seem perfectly content being what they are.
Being one of the 50% who actually PAYS federal income tax each year, funding the operation, defense, infrastructure, and social programs the OTHER 50% get to enjoy, I’m one of the people who ultimately pays the price for your acquaintance’s immoral, unethical, and probably illegal activity. So, if you’d like to share a little more information about this rising automobile mogul or his accomplices, I’m sure a long line of volunteers would be only too willing to help ensure they reap the rewards they deserve.
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N Says:
The guy will end up in prison.
These are NOT abandoned cars.
He is going to be arrested and sued eventually.
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Otto Says:
I call B.S on this one. You don’t just walk into the DMV and come out with paperwork saying you own a car unless you have the CLEAR title in hand when you go in. I still say he is lying.
