pitcherofnectar
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida, Wyoming or Wisconsin
A few days I bought a 16' sailing trimaran with a trailer and title from a guy for $2400 cash. It's in good shape and all, but I just found a forum for owners of this particular boat and dozens of others of the same age and condition are listed there for $1000-$1600, so naturally I am feeling a little stupid, and definitely like I got ripped off (even though he took $100 less than the CL listing was asking!)
Now, I know normally I would just have to eat it in this situation, but here's where it gets interesting. As we shook hands and exchanged the title, the seller suggested I tell the DMV I paid $500 to avoid some sales tax when I go to register. He insisted, and went ahead and wrote $500 on the title, which he signed and dated. He then pulls out a bill of sale, which he written, signed and dated while I had gone to the bank; but on the bill of sale that he hand wrote, he clearly put $2400 as the sale price. I have done nothing yet. What I want to do is go ask him for $900 back, and to write in a 1 between the $ and the 5 in the $500 he wrote on the title.
I'm trying to go to law school and so far have a perfectly clean (non-existent) criminal record, and I am uncomfortable about lying to the DMV. I know people lie to the DMV all the time and don't get caught, but it seems to me that it's somewhat like fishing without a license: extremely difficult or too expensive to effectively enforce, but the roper authorities would love to catch someone red-handed and throw the book at them I they could. What I want to know is what kind of punishment this guy is looking at here. I have two pieces of signed and dated evidence that he was trying to commit tax evasion, so I think I have a little bit of firepower when I go to ask him for a partial refund. Basically I want to know if it will cost him more than $900 in fines, damages, and lost time etc. if he were to be turned in by me. I really don't want to get involved with authorities at all, I just want some money back and I feel like I might have an angle here. Any thoughts??
A few days I bought a 16' sailing trimaran with a trailer and title from a guy for $2400 cash. It's in good shape and all, but I just found a forum for owners of this particular boat and dozens of others of the same age and condition are listed there for $1000-$1600, so naturally I am feeling a little stupid, and definitely like I got ripped off (even though he took $100 less than the CL listing was asking!)
Now, I know normally I would just have to eat it in this situation, but here's where it gets interesting. As we shook hands and exchanged the title, the seller suggested I tell the DMV I paid $500 to avoid some sales tax when I go to register. He insisted, and went ahead and wrote $500 on the title, which he signed and dated. He then pulls out a bill of sale, which he written, signed and dated while I had gone to the bank; but on the bill of sale that he hand wrote, he clearly put $2400 as the sale price. I have done nothing yet. What I want to do is go ask him for $900 back, and to write in a 1 between the $ and the 5 in the $500 he wrote on the title.
I'm trying to go to law school and so far have a perfectly clean (non-existent) criminal record, and I am uncomfortable about lying to the DMV. I know people lie to the DMV all the time and don't get caught, but it seems to me that it's somewhat like fishing without a license: extremely difficult or too expensive to effectively enforce, but the roper authorities would love to catch someone red-handed and throw the book at them I they could. What I want to know is what kind of punishment this guy is looking at here. I have two pieces of signed and dated evidence that he was trying to commit tax evasion, so I think I have a little bit of firepower when I go to ask him for a partial refund. Basically I want to know if it will cost him more than $900 in fines, damages, and lost time etc. if he were to be turned in by me. I really don't want to get involved with authorities at all, I just want some money back and I feel like I might have an angle here. Any thoughts??
Last edited: