I purchased a car off someone that purchased the car off someone else using a bad check

[Andrew Gittemeier]

I am in missouri and I purchased a car off of someone. Later I found out that the car was reported stolen. Turns out that the people I bought the car from used a bad check to buy the car off the original owner. They had the original title signed by the original seller but the purchaser information was blank. Me being the purchaser I gave them the money and filled in my information. I then found out the car was reported stolen and was siezed. I would think that since I have the original title and lien release in my name still that I am the rightful owner of the car. I think that the original seller should be responsible for not getting proof of funds when they sold the car and not filling in the purchasers information on the title. If the original sellers would have done this it would of never made it to me. As of now I am out 16k and all I have is a title in my name and no car. Where do I stand on this one?

 

[LdiJ]

I am in missouri and I purchased a car off of someone. Later I found out that the car was reported stolen. Turns out that the people I bought the car from used a bad check to buy the car off the original owner. They had the original title signed by the original seller but the purchaser information was blank. Me being the purchaser I gave them the money and filled in my information. I then found out the car was reported stolen and was siezed. I would think that since I have the original title and lien release in my name still that I am the rightful owner of the car. I think that the original seller should be responsible for not getting proof of funds when they sold the car and not filling in the purchasers information on the title. If the original sellers would have done this it would of never made it to me. As of now I am out 16k and all I have is a title in my name and no car. Where do I stand on this one?

Your beef is with the person who sold you a car that they stole. Have you made a police report about that? I suspect that your money is long gone, but you could try suing them for the money.

 

[not2cleverRed]

I am in missouri and I purchased a car off of someone. Later I found out that the car was reported stolen. Turns out that the people I bought the car from used a bad check to buy the car off the original owner. They had the original title signed by the original seller but the purchaser information was blank. Me being the purchaser I gave them the money and filled in my information. I then found out the car was reported stolen and was siezed. I would think that since I have the original title and lien release in my name still that I am the rightful owner of the car. I think that the original seller should be responsible for not getting proof of funds when they sold the car and not filling in the purchasers information on the title. If the original sellers would have done this it would of never made it to me. As of now I am out 16k and all I have is a title in my name and no car. Where do I stand on this one?

Maybe you should have done some research on the car before buying it.

Your beef is with the thief. That's who ripped you off.

 

[Andrew Gittemeier]

I did an auto check on the vehicle before I purchased it and it came back clean. The car was not reported stolen until a few days after I bought it. Im not sure how they could report the car stolen when they signed over the title and took the check on good faith. I understand where they are coming from but why am I responsible to pay for their mistake? Also I have made a police report on the incident.

 

[adjusterjack]

why am I responsible to pay for their mistake?

It wasn't their mistake it was your mistake. You bought a car from somebody who didn't own it.

When Joe sells a car to Sam and Sam resells it without first titling it in his own name that's called "title jumping" and it's illegal.

Being offered a title from Sam with Joe's name as the owner should have screamed at you "Don't do this."

But, you did it, and now you are out the car and the money.

Sorry.

 

[Zigner]

It wasn't their mistake it was your mistake. You bought a car from somebody who didn't own it.

When Joe sells a car to Sam and Sam resells it without first titling it in his own name that's called "title jumping" and it's illegal.

Being offered a title from Sam with Joe's name as the owner should have screamed at you "Don't do this."

But, you did it, and now you are out the car and the money.

Sorry.

The burden is on the seller to deliver valid title.

 

[Andrew Gittemeier]

The title was still open when i purchased the car. The theives never put it in their name. They had an open title with the original owners signature only. Nothing else was filled out on the title. The person I spoke with on the phones said he was going to have his son n law meet me to sell the car. These people pretty much conned the original owners into leaving the title open and then posed as the original owners to me.

 

[Just Blue]

The burden is on the seller to deliver valid title.

But the buyer has a duty to CHA.

 

[xylene]

Unless the seller is a licensed motor vehicle dealer - open title is a major NO NO.

They had an open title with the original owners signature only.

You are screwed because of this. You need to sue the person who stole your money...

DO NOT Buy a car from a private party which is not in their name or has any kind of "open" title.

That's title jumping and like 8 seconds of looking at DMV forms will tell you it is not legit.

 

[not2cleverRed]

The title was still open when i purchased the car. The theives never put it in their name. They had an open title with the original owners signature only. Nothing else was filled out on the title. The person I spoke with on the phones said he was going to have his son n law meet me to sell the car. These people pretty much conned the original owners into leaving the title open and then posed as the original owners to me.

You clearly did not read Jack's post.

This is "title jumping". It is illegal.

The "original owners" are the actual owners. They owe you nothing.

The nameless person who you gave $16K to for a car they hadn't paid for owes you $16K. For $16K, you should know a little about who you're dealing with. Like, their actual identity.

But, if you want press the issue of car ownership, perhaps you should lookup "receiving stolen property."