Sep 28, 2006 06:13 AM
3492 Views
(Updated Sep 28, 2006 06:21 AM)
I read an ad in the newspaper that a retired senior government officer was selling his car. So I went ahead and contacted him. He informed that he was moving overseas and actually had two Maruti 800 cars and I could choose any one. I liked one and negotiated the price.
He was kind enough to lower the price, and as he wanted his used seat covers, he give me a thousand rupees back so that I could purchase tnew ones. He even gave me 500 rupees s for some petrorol on the way back home.
As for the Registration papers, he informed that his neighbour was in the RTO and hence he could get me the papers transferred in a day or two to save me the trouble. I agreed. He informed that as the duplicate key was in a locker, he would give that to me shortly.
Shortly afterwards after having purchased the car, it broke down on the road and needed a replacement for the water body. The mechanic informed, that actually the engine was quite dead and needed a major overhaul. When I contacted the old man, he was rude and also refused to hand over the duplicate key.
As for the papers, yes, he did get them transferred in my name. But when I got them checked by the RTO, I found that the car had been through three users before me. This old man was a used car dealer operating from a posh home in a south Delhi posh locality.
The very next week, I had to give the car for major engine overhaul, spent a lot of money and discovered that the car had been involved in an accident, had a repaired hind shockers, the doors were old replacement from some other vehicle etc.
I trusted this old man and he took full advantage to con me.
Lesson learnt. do not take a seller on the face value. have the car inspected by a known mechanic
