Is this right...?

mxtech1
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1968
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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.
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reded
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10/20/2011 6:35am
I'd find out if he's actually a cop and if he's not I'd tell him to eat shit, might do it even if he is a cop. Buyer beware mf'er!
mxtech1
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Galesburg, IL, USA
10/20/2011 6:38am
I guess my only concern is if it's really my fault because I gave him invalid registration and did not do a bill of sale at the time of the transaction? If he has something on me there i'm not sure i can legally do anything but accept his request for a return.

How do i go about finding out if he's really a cop without coming across as a dick face and pissing him off?
newmann
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10/20/2011 6:40am
You should call the police and report it stolen.
FastEddy
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💀, FL, USA
10/20/2011 6:42am Edited Date/Time 10/20/2011 6:53am
Find out if he is really a cop and contact his Sargent....or superior and let them know what it is up.
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.

The Shop

reded
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10/20/2011 6:42am
You've apparently got his name, I'm sure you could do a search for a list of police officers in the town that he's from. If it comes down to me or him I doubt I'd have a problem asking him for his badge number so that I could be sure he's legit.
seth505
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SD, CA, USA
10/20/2011 6:43am Edited Date/Time 10/20/2011 6:43am
You aren't a motorcycle/car dealer, there isn't a 30 or 60 day satisfaction clause....tell him to GFY

Good luck man
karterron
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Oswego, IL, USA
10/20/2011 6:45am
If he's a cop, he can easily run that VIN number and find out if it's stolen. If it's never been reported stolen, there is nothing he can do to you. And I would be willing to be it wasn't and that's why he's jerking you around now. Being a cop, he ran that VIN the minute he got suspicious.

Tell him to pound sand, you're done with him.
MotoChief
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Guantanamo Bay, CU
10/20/2011 6:45am Edited Date/Time 10/20/2011 6:45am
If he is a cop, he is using his position to intimidate you in a personal buisness transaction. That is a big no no. I would tell him that if the bike is not at _________ place at ______ time and in the same condition as the when it was sold then the sale is final. If he continues to avoid you and tries to intimidate, I would call the police and report what is going on and ask them what to do.
10/20/2011 6:48am Edited Date/Time 10/20/2011 6:57am
I'm from up there, and it is not a requirement to register offroad bikes. So you can tell him, even though he is a cop, he has no recourse. If you were a dealer it would be different. But until he proves the bike was stolen, he has no recourse. Even if stolen, he would now have to go to court. Tell him, time has passed the time limit anyways, and that you don't have to give him his money back. Tell him, even as an officer, his only recourse, since it is not stolen, he can ONLY take you to court in a lawsuit. There is no law, ask him for the exact law, that says you have to register an offroad closed course race motocross bike.

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.
Mr. Ted
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Atoka, TN, USA
Fantasy
10/20/2011 6:49am
Number one, get his badge number or at least what department he works for and confirm he is a cop. If you know his name and maybe have an address, you should be able to track it. Especially if you go to the cops and say this guy presented himself as an officer and is threating to take action and I need to confirm he is in fact an officer. Unless he is James Stewart, they generally don't take kindly to people impersonating. If he has had the bike for this long, who knows what he has done to it. He could have run it in circles with no oil in the tranny and then blame it on you, etc. Or scam someone into buying it and bla bla bla. I would also say the sale was completed on this date, you accepted delivery, paid and sale is complete. If you had any concerns about the title, they should have been resolved prior to the sale. As a law enforcement officer, you would, of course, want to be sure anything you purchased isn't stolen and should have researched the title, etc, prior to accepting the goods. No refunds, returns or exchanges accepted. Have a nice day and enjoy the bike. I would also report it as being sold to the dmv, to cover your ass. Then tell him, I have given you pleanty of opportunity to resolve now GFY.
FastEddy
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10/20/2011 7:04am Edited Date/Time 10/20/2011 7:13am
Also, if for some reason the local Police do not cooperate with you (happens from time to time in rinky dink towns).
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.
10/20/2011 7:08am
Doesn't matter if the guy is a cop or not. He doesn't want to sign the bill of sale? then have the bike registered to your name and declare it stolen to the police. Then say you saw it in the back of a truck and describe his. You'll get it back, won't have to refund his money, and sell it to someone else.
424
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USA
10/20/2011 7:16am
I don't care who or what he is. Once he left with it, I'd tell him it's his. He could have f'ed it up and just looking for a way out. You did nothing wrong. It's also his responsibility to cover his ass at the sale. Just tell him he bought it with the papers provided that day. He should have looked them over and expressed his problem then.

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.
mattmatt300
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Rockmart, GA, USA
10/20/2011 7:22am
i think youre thinking too much into it. tell him to enjoy his new bike and not contact you anymore. thats all
500guy
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10/20/2011 7:24am
He paid you and left with the bike and paper work, tell him to pound sand and if he contacts you again you will call his commanding officer.
GrapeApe
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Mc Kinney, TX, USA
10/20/2011 7:26am
i think youre thinking too much into it. tell him to enjoy his new bike and not contact you anymore. thats all
This^^^

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.
Chili
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Winnipeg, CA
10/20/2011 7:28am
500guy wrote:
He paid you and left with the bike and paper work, tell him to pound sand and if he contacts you again you will call his...
He paid you and left with the bike and paper work, tell him to pound sand and if he contacts you again you will call his commanding officer.
^^^This.
mxtech1
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Galesburg, IL, USA
10/20/2011 7:29am Edited Date/Time 10/20/2011 7:32am
Thanks for the help guys. My main concern was that if he had some info on the bike or something that he was witholding from me, which i doubt is true, because like I said i have no suspsicions that the bike has ever been reported stolen. I don't want any legal issues over something so stupid, its just not worth it. That's why i have bent over backwards to accomodate him and accept a return.

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.
10/20/2011 7:34am
I'm taking contract law right now and I'm 99% certain that you guys have created a contract that has been fully performed and can not be rebuked due to some insignificant technicality. Let him know that if he has any more questions he should contact your attorney.
10/20/2011 7:36am
DON'T GIVE HIM BACK THE MONEY.
MXD
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10/20/2011 7:39am
How long has the guy had your bike? Tell him if he wants his money back to go ask a judge. Then tell him if he contacts you again you'll slap a restraining order on him.
BuDz34
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Heilwood, PA, USA
10/20/2011 7:42am
thats a shady deal... tell him to get bent!
10/20/2011 7:44am
Man, why would you want a bike back that you don't know how he treated???? The only reason in my mind, is that you have not told us everything. If you had the registration, and even though not in your name, I don't get your side of giving him it back tomorrow or any other day. If you have a registration, it means it's not stolen. I'm gonna call it as I see it. Either you tell him, no, or there is more to the story. JMHO.
Chris O'Neal
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Essex, CT, USA
10/20/2011 7:48am
This guy is trying to screw you over. No way would I take the bike back after he rode it.
GrapeApe
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Mc Kinney, TX, USA
10/20/2011 7:55am
Do not take the bike back, do not return the money. You have done absolutely nothing wrong, unless as miedoso sugguests there are facts that are being withheld regarding the title.
huck
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10/20/2011 7:55am Edited Date/Time 10/20/2011 7:57am
mxtech1 wrote:
Thanks for the help guys. My main concern was that if he had some info on the bike or something that he was witholding from me...
Thanks for the help guys. My main concern was that if he had some info on the bike or something that he was witholding from me, which i doubt is true, because like I said i have no suspsicions that the bike has ever been reported stolen. I don't want any legal issues over something so stupid, its just not worth it. That's why i have bent over backwards to accomodate him and accept a return.

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.
Why even try and meet with him? Tell him he bought it.... If there are any legal issues, you were not aware of them and have no problems.
flarider
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Daytona Beach, FL, USA
10/20/2011 8:00am
500guy wrote:
He paid you and left with the bike and paper work, tell him to pound sand and if he contacts you again you will call his...
He paid you and left with the bike and paper work, tell him to pound sand and if he contacts you again you will call his commanding officer.
WINNER

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"
keinz
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10/20/2011 8:01am
Living in AmericaLaughing
mxtech1
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1968
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Galesburg, IL, USA
10/20/2011 8:07am
Like I said...i'm just trying to avoid legal action over a dirt bike. I HAD no problem returning his money because I know the bike will re-sell easily because I have it priced below average for a quick sale becuse I needed the money for my garage. At this point i'm fed up. I was trying to be accomodating because yes he did intimidate me with the fact that he involvled his status as a cop. I think now i just need to stand up for myself and deal with anything that happens after that because I haven't done anything wrong. I'm not witholding information, i described the events as they happened. I figured I would tell the story, and I did without bias towards either party and get the feelings of a neutral party (you guys)

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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