Posts
1968
Joined
7/21/2011
Location
Galesburg, IL, USA
Edited Date/Time
1/26/2012 9:13pm
I recently sold a used Honda CR250 to guy. it ran good and everything he bought it in cash no big deal. I gave him the registration and papers for the bike which he didn't really look at that well, he basically just threw them in his truck and we loaded the bike up for him. we chatted a bit before he left, he told me he was going to take the bike riding that weekend and then he was going on a vaction for a week after that.
About 10 days later, i got a text from him saying he needed a bill of sale to go along with the registration because after he looked at the registration closer, he found it had not been signed over correctly from the previous sellers. I tell him no big deal and I would get a bill of sale wrote up. He came by later that day. I gave him the bill of sale, he read it and then declined to sign off on it.
At that point he lifts up his shirt and shows me a badge and says hes an off-duty cop. He goes into this story about how it is required for him to have every auto, bike, toy, etc. registered with the state but he can't register the bike because of the problems with the registration and he is worried it might be stolen, even though the registration papers match the bike. I 100% know the bike is not stolen and I bought it through a legit transaction. I offer to get the title straightened out or offered to apply for a bonded title for the bike because i'm thinking he wants to keep the bike since he got it at a pretty good price. He says no to all that and says he just wants to return it for his money back. Starting to get kind of pissy with him, I just told him yea whatever just to bring it back and ill refund his money and i'll get the title straightened out myself.
Well all this started in early september. it seems everytime i set up a time with him to return the bike he makes an excuse why he can't come and keeps re-scheduling. It seems he's just jerking me around because he's a cop and might think he has something since the registration was not signed correctly. I have a gut feeling he's just been riding the bike and is going to return it when the cold weather comes here soon. I guess it's partially my fault because I did not look at the papers close enough before I sent him off with it, but i feel like the way he's dragging this whole deal out is not right. If it was within a cuple days after the transaction he made a return...yea no big deal. But it sucks because I had already used the money from the bike sale to buy materials to finish off my garage (the only reason i sold the bike in the first place) so I had to do some begging and borrowing to get his return money and now it's just sitting.
About 10 days later, i got a text from him saying he needed a bill of sale to go along with the registration because after he looked at the registration closer, he found it had not been signed over correctly from the previous sellers. I tell him no big deal and I would get a bill of sale wrote up. He came by later that day. I gave him the bill of sale, he read it and then declined to sign off on it.
At that point he lifts up his shirt and shows me a badge and says hes an off-duty cop. He goes into this story about how it is required for him to have every auto, bike, toy, etc. registered with the state but he can't register the bike because of the problems with the registration and he is worried it might be stolen, even though the registration papers match the bike. I 100% know the bike is not stolen and I bought it through a legit transaction. I offer to get the title straightened out or offered to apply for a bonded title for the bike because i'm thinking he wants to keep the bike since he got it at a pretty good price. He says no to all that and says he just wants to return it for his money back. Starting to get kind of pissy with him, I just told him yea whatever just to bring it back and ill refund his money and i'll get the title straightened out myself.
Well all this started in early september. it seems everytime i set up a time with him to return the bike he makes an excuse why he can't come and keeps re-scheduling. It seems he's just jerking me around because he's a cop and might think he has something since the registration was not signed correctly. I have a gut feeling he's just been riding the bike and is going to return it when the cold weather comes here soon. I guess it's partially my fault because I did not look at the papers close enough before I sent him off with it, but i feel like the way he's dragging this whole deal out is not right. If it was within a cuple days after the transaction he made a return...yea no big deal. But it sucks because I had already used the money from the bike sale to buy materials to finish off my garage (the only reason i sold the bike in the first place) so I had to do some begging and borrowing to get his return money and now it's just sitting.
How do i go about finding out if he's really a cop without coming across as a dick face and pissing him off?
Sounds like he is jerking you around.
Call your local Police/Sheriff's office/precinct...to find out if he is indeed a cop.
Contact the Chief......
Galesburg Police Chief
David Christensen
Phone: 309-343-9151
Fax: 309-343-1507
davesc@ci.galesburg.il.us
Knox country sheriff's office. Phone: (309) 343-9151
Here is a whole list of more people you can contact...
http://www.knoxcountysheriffil.com/page_view681a.html?id=1
BTW,what is the guys name?
I can try and see if I can get you anymore info on him.
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Good luck man
Tell him to pound sand, you're done with him.
By the way, if you didn't do a bill of sale at time of sale, ummm ask him how he can prove you sold him the bike. Cash deal, so he paid $1 for the bike.
Write up a detailed report of everything...from how you obtained the bike to the sale etc.....times & dates.
Do not leave anything out.
Make sure to go into great detail.....
Make copies of it...Then take the report down to your nearest State prosecutors office and give it to them and explain the situation,just as you would do with a bad check/bounced check someone gave you. It will help cover you if he ever tries to screw with you...regarding this situation.
The prosecutor...may also research more into him for you and if he isn't a cop,they will bust him.
Some times if a cop is trying to abuse his power or use his power to harass...going over the agencies head straight to the DA's office is a smart move.Because the end result is you will have to deal with them anyway.
I'd probably call him so I'd be more prepared for the conversation. Plan it out and lead him into stating or agreeing to all that has transpired so far.
Put your phone on speaker and use sound recorder on your PC to save the conversation. At least you'll have the truth if he pushes his weight around.
It would be prudent to work with him on any title issues under normal circumstances, but the way he is behaving he doesn't deserve it. Let him figure it out.
He cancelled a return on tuesday evening, and re-scheduled to return it tomorrow night. If he flakes out again, im done playing this game. I will then follow all your advice and get in contact with my local police and DMV.
Like someone said it doesn't matter if he was a cop or not. it pissed me off that he stated he was a cop. It really did feel like an attempt at intimidation. The situation still would have been the same regardless of if he was a cop or not and I strongly feel he had no justice in bringing that matter into the situation.
Pit Row
https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck
Tell him to piss off.
That said, when selling a vehicle, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS provide a bill of sale and CLEARLY write on it "SOLD AS IS" this way you are absolved from any buyers remorse or if he blows it up on his first kick. Once it leaves your property, it's his problem.
By the way, I'd still call your local PD, provide his name and verify if he is truly a police officer. If he is not at that PD, ask if they can check a local or state database for his name. If he doesn't pop up on the grid, tell him the go the fuck away or you will report him for impersonating a police officer and flashing a badge.....you know, sorta like "Pullin a Bubba"
The transaction took place the week of the 19th-25th of september and he has had the bike since. He first contacted me about a return on october 6th.
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