car repossessment

[daniherber]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Minnesota
sorry if this is the wrong category.
I sold a car to a friend on the agreement of payments and I would keep the title as insurance. he gave me the first payment right away then a small one a little after. after that I never received any payments. I continued to ask him and he either ignored me or said he had to fix something on it instead. after 2 months of no payments I gave him a final warning saying he had until September 1st. he still ignored me so a couple weeks after the 1st. I repossessed my car and right when I got in it I noticed national guard bags. I took it to him within 15 min of me having the car. now he is threating me, stating I broke federal laws and he's going to take me to court. I just want to know if I am in the right? I previously asked a police officer if I had a right to possess it and he said yes.

 

[adjusterjack]

He's probably blowing smoke.

You're fine.

Stop talking to him.

Never sell anything to anybody on payments, not even your best friend or family member.

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Minnesota
sorry if this is the wrong category.
I sold a car to a friend on the agreement of payments and I would keep the title as insurance. he gave me the first payment right away then a small one a little after. after that I never received any payments. I continued to ask him and he either ignored me or said he had to fix something on it instead. after 2 months of no payments I gave him a final warning saying he had until September 1st. he still ignored me so a couple weeks after the 1st. I repossessed my car and right when I got in it I noticed national guard bags. I took it to him within 15 min of me having the car. now he is threating me, stating I broke federal laws and he's going to take me to court. I just want to know if I am in the right? I previously asked a police officer if I had a right to possess it and he said yes.

You could potentially have the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to contend with, depending on the facts. The SCRA permits a service member to postpone or suspend payments without penalty during the time of active duty.

Here is a link to information on the SCRA: http://military.com/benefits/military-legal-matters/scra/servicemembers-civil-relief-act-overview.html

Whether this applies to your friend in the National Guard and his payments on the car is something you will need to determine. I don't know whether it does or not.

 

[daniherber]

He did not go away besides the one weekend every month type of thing they do

 

[quincy]

He did not go away besides the one weekend every month type of thing they do

Well, that should eliminate that concern then. I have no clue what other "federal law" your friend thinks you might have violated by repossessing the vehicle he failed to make payments on.

You did provide him with a "last chance" notice before repossession?