Securing the payment for the sale of our VW California

[pips123]

Hi we have recently put an ad on this site for the sale of our California. We have been contacted by a couple of scammers . We hear of elaborate scams where sellers release their van but somehow never secure the money (e.g the paypal payment is received but later withdrawn).
We would like to know which payment type is 100% secure . Is a payment made into our bank account and shown as received on our bank app completely safe , once received ? Anyone with bad experiences? And more importantly, any advise for a 100% secure transaction ? Thanks Pip

 

[flying banana]

its a tricky one. but a proper bank transfer from bank to bank should be best. contact your bank for more advice using their online chat service

 

[Van Diesel VW]

Ask for cash, would not accept Paypal for this type of transaction. Don’t hand over keys logbook etc until money has cleared into your own bank account. Personnel would avoid this type of hassle and either sell to motorway or a VW dealer, will get a bit less but at least you should not get scammed.

 

[Mr T]

Ask for cash, would not accept Paypal for this type of transaction. Don’t hand over keys logbook etc until money has cleared into your own bank account. Personnel would avoid this type of hassle and either sell to motorway or a VW dealer, will get a bit less but at least you should not get scammed.

I wouldn’t necessarily trust cash, certainly not for a large sum, unless the buyer went to the bank with me and waited while I paid it in to ensure there were no issues. Then hand the keys over at that point.
Bank transfer is the preferred method. I’ve both sold and purchased California’s and have had no issues dealing with payment by bank transfer. You may need to discuss with your bank first, depending on the value of transaction.

 

[Mattsv]

As an ex-risk manager for a bank my preferred option would be an immediate payment in to my account (not BACS) - absolutely not paypal though.

Do not release anything until you have logged in and seen the payment showing in your account - or ring your bank and get confirmation. Some scammers will show you a fake 'receipt' from their account to - supposedly show that the payment has been sent/credited to your account'.

Any references to 'out of the country' and 'courier' then run a mile and hit the block button.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Instant bank transfer; Don’t let the van go until you see the money in your account on your banking app.

Also worth carrying out KYC checks. Check that they are who they say they are. Get them to show some photo ID and check that the name & address tallies with details on 192 website, which pulls data from the electoral register:
Also never show any buyer the second/spare set of keys, until they have purchased. Some scammers will switch the spare keys during a viewing, and then come back later and steal the van with the switched keys.

 

[Azteccamper]

When we purchased ours from someone on this site we prearranged a meeting at the bank where they transferred our money into his account. Barclays said it could take a few hours but took about 30 mins to show on his account. He was still nervous about handing me the keys and logbook!

 

[OxonCalifornia]

Ask for cash, would not accept Paypal for this type of transaction. Don’t hand over keys logbook etc until money has cleared into your own bank account. Personnel would avoid this type of hassle and either sell to motorway or a VW dealer, will get a bit less but at least you should not get scammed.

Definitely don't ask for a suitcase full of cash...this isn't the 70's and asking for trouble! I cant believe someone has actually suggested that! Whats next gold bars?

 

[dspuk]

As an ex-risk manager for a bank my preferred option would be an immediate payment in to my account (not BACS) - absolutely not paypal though.

Do not release anything until you have logged in and seen the payment showing in your account - or ring your bank and get confirmation. Some scammers will show you a fake 'receipt' from their account to - supposedly show that the payment has been sent/credited to your account'.

Any references to 'out of the country' and 'courier' then run a mile and hit the block button.

Exactly as @Mattsv says - immediate transfer into account verified in your app, not theirs. Paypal is madness. We had a neighbour scammed (just an iPhone, so not a van) by being shown the payment on their app, which was fake. I bought something at the weekend (only 1K), used immediate payment with my app, they verified with theirs, all done in 30 seconds.

 

[calimera]

Hi we have recently put an ad on this site for the sale of our California. We have been contacted by a couple of scammers . We hear of elaborate scams where sellers release their van but somehow never secure the money (e.g the paypal payment is received but later withdrawn).
We would like to know which payment type is 100% secure . Is a payment made into our bank account and shown as received on our bank app completely safe , once received ? Anyone with bad experiences? And more importantly, any advise for a 100% secure transaction ? Thanks Pip

Thank you for thread. We are thinking of selling our Cali. Will phone our bank for advice.
How did you know some of the phone callers were scammers ?

 

[ArunAlec]

I wouldn’t necessarily trust cash, certainly not for a large sum, unless the buyer went to the bank with me and waited while I paid it in to ensure there were no issues. Then hand the keys over at that point.
Bank transfer is the preferred method. I’ve both sold and purchased California’s and have had no issues dealing with payment by bank transfer. You may need to discuss with your bank first, depending on the value of transaction.

Definitely don‘t trust cash! Even if it’s from a bank.
Some years back I drew out £3k over the counter at my bank with the intention of buying a car (cheap). I didn’t buy the car and returned the cash (£50 notes) to my bank to pay into my account only to be told that some of the banknotes were forged and that the police had been called!
Needless to say I wasn’t impressed and said I wasn’t hanging around for the police! ( I worked opposite the bank so wasn’t exactly going into hiding).
As I left the police were parking, so I asked if they were responding to the “forged £50s”. Told them I was happy to “name the source of my dodgy notes” and gave them the bank’s details!
After a lot of complaining the bank “as a matter of goodwill“ credited my account with the loss, but would not accept my account of their error.

 

[B J G]

Definitely don‘t trust cash! Even if it’s from a bank.
Some years back I drew out £3k over the counter at my bank with the intention of buying a car (cheap). I didn’t buy the car and returned the cash (£50 notes) to my bank to pay into my account only to be told that some of the banknotes were forged and that the police had been called!
Needless to say I wasn’t impressed and said I wasn’t hanging around for the police! ( I worked opposite the bank so wasn’t exactly going into hiding).
As I left the police were parking, so I asked if they were responding to the “forged £50s”. Told them I was happy to “name the source of my dodgy notes” and gave them the bank’s details!
After a lot of complaining the bank “as a matter of goodwill“ credited my account with the loss, but would not accept my account of their error.

On the cash issue, when collecting an Ebay purchase the seller told me about his neighbour who had sold his BMW for Cash only to later find that he had a substantial wad of very good forged notes.

 

[JimP1992]

Request a bank transfers from a known bank (Barclays, NatWest, YB). Ask for ID and take photo copies if they agree. Call your bank to confirm the transaction has gone through and cleared before releasing keys.

I wouldn’t be discouraged selling privately at all… you get a feel for people, and can tell for the most part who’s genuine and who’s not. If something feels off, walk away. Personally, I would not take cash.

 

[Jay586]

I've sold my last few cars & vans privately. It's always been a good experience.

The last chap transferred the cash in two transactions to my account, then popped along a couple of days later to collect. I must look trustworthy, as it was a good amount of cash.

But yes, bank transfer is the only way to do it really. The van before, the nice couple did the bank transfer, went off for coffee until it went through & then drove the van away.

 

[rabshakeh]

Bitcoin is an option, wait for at least three confirmations before you give the keys.

 

[G3WRT]

Hi we have recently put an ad on this site for the sale of our California. We have been contacted by a couple of scammers . We hear of elaborate scams where sellers release their van but somehow never secure the money (e.g the paypal payment is received but later withdrawn).
We would like to know which payment type is 100% secure . Is a payment made into our bank account and shown as received on our bank app completely safe , once received ? Anyone with bad experiences? And more importantly, any advise for a 100% secure transaction ? Thanks Pip

Delusional people can arrive , they suggest 1k less, and assume that is accepted without agreement. that is their mindset.
You have to be on the case 100% there is no such thing as honest people.
The experience just taints everything you ever then do. They arrived next morning before I was up. Wife was up.
Thats the resultant. 1k down the drain.

bad people.

 

[big-cali-al8989]

I purchased our California from a private seller, via 3 bank app transfers. Sent an initial small deposit to secure it until I could collect. Then when I met at the sellers home, I inspected the van, test drove (I had already insured it for collecting it) and when I was satisfied, I transferred the balance from my bank app in 2 separate transfers due to a single transaction limit.

Very smooth transaction and the seller and I discussed all details of payment before I sent the deposit. He confirmed on his own bank app all payments had arrived. As a seller, protect yourself and insist on bank transfer of balance before the v5 and keys are in the possession of the potential buyer. Genuine buyers will have no problem with this.

Good luck with selling your California

 

[Jimgee]

Agree with all the advice given on seeing the £ in your account before handing over physical possession of anything you’re selling but the references to physical V5Cs are a bit archaic. Most buyers (certainly me!) will insist on receiving the confirmation of transfer there and then as it can all be done instantaneously online rather than via snail mail which takes weeks.

 

[RonB]

I purchased our California from a private seller, via 3 bank app transfers. Sent an initial small deposit to secure it until I could collect. Then when I met at the sellers home, I inspected the van, test drove (I had already insured it for collecting it) and when I was satisfied, I transferred the balance from my bank app in 2 separate transfers due to a single transaction limit.

Very smooth transaction and the seller and I discussed all details of payment before I sent the deposit. He confirmed on his own bank app all payments had arrived. As a seller, protect yourself and insist on bank transfer of balance before the v5 and keys are in the possession of the potential buyer. Genuine buyers will have no problem with this.

Good luck with selling your California

Very good and welcome advice overall on this thread. As someone who may consider selling in the future, the above post mentions test driving a vehicle. My own insurance only covers 2 named drivers, I’m assuming the potential buyer must arrange their own cover and be able to verify this to the seller. Any advice would be welcome? Thanks

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Personally, I wouldn't dream of trusting anyone with amounts in the tens of thousands. It represents such a large sum of cash for me that I would take the hit and sell to Motorway as I did with my Mercedes car. Yes you lose a small percentage, and they're tricky on the details, and sometimes try to reduce the payment on collection, but by standing firm I received the offered price by BACS before the vehicle was collected. In fact once I'd handed over the V5 and keys, etc, they left the car parked in my cul-de-sac for a week before it was collected!

 

[calimera]

This thread is very helpful. We are still swinging between selling privately or though one of the online sites. Have approached a dealer ,still awaiting response.

Higher valuation from another site than motorway.

 

[VanBlancLives]

Higher valuation from another site than motorway.

Don't be taken in by valuations. You will get what actual buyers are prepared to bid less deductions for imperfections.

 

[Daveb999]

I purchased our California from a private seller, via 3 bank app transfers. Sent an initial small deposit to secure it until I could collect. Then when I met at the sellers home, I inspected the van, test drove (I had already insured it for collecting it) and when I was satisfied, I transferred the balance from my bank app in 2 separate transfers due to a single transaction limit.

Very smooth transaction and the seller and I discussed all details of payment before I sent the deposit. He confirmed on his own bank app all payments had arrived. As a seller, protect yourself and insist on bank transfer of balance before the v5 and keys are in the possession of the potential buyer. Genuine buyers will have no problem with this.

Good luck with selling your California

This is exactly what I did when selling my Cali. Small deposit first, this let both me and buyer see everything was genuine. Then make the larger amount with me present, i then checked my banki account in front of him so we both knew everything was above board.

Id never do it by Paypal and definitely not cash.

 

[calimera]

Don't be taken in by valuations. You will get what actual buyers are prepared to bid less deductions for imperfections.

Thanks we are aware of this.

 

[Cali Phillip]

Definitely don't ask for a suitcase full of cash...this isn't the 70's and asking for trouble! I cant believe someone has actually suggested that! Whats next gold bars?

Gold bars with some Brinks Mat, The gold is good series.