Backstory: About 5 years back, my brother's car - a 1998 VW Passat - got totaled at a stop light by a guy who wasn't paying attention and rammed him at 45MPH. My brother was fine, and got enough insurance money from the car to buy a rather nice Firebird. After owning the car for 3 years, he sold it to a guy in retrospect he knew he shouldn't have. My brother had a knee surgery a number of years ago (not connected to the wreck), and now has handicapped plates on his cars (this is important to the story.)
Fast forward to 3 days ago, my brother gets a notice in the mail advising him that his Firebird has been impounded and he now owes $500 in charges for not picking it up within a reasonable amount of time.
Turns out, the guy he sold the car to drove the car in my brother's name for 2 years because he didn't want to lose the handicap plates. This, of course, is highly illegal, and pisses me off tbh. My brother tried to get in touch with him, and it's obvious the guy is avoiding him intentionally, so my brother left a message on his voicemail giving him an ultamatim: Get in touch with me by 3PM tomorrow or I report the car stolen, and consult an attorney. It seems the buyer actually did contact my dad and said his parents would be getting the money, but I don't necessarily believe it.
I recommended my brother take him to small claims court when he fails to pay up, as Texas limit on small claims is $10,000, and total damages are sub $5,000. This puts my brother in a much more favorable light, and knowing this screwup, he won't show, or will shoot himself in the foot trying to represent himself, as attorneys aren't allowed in small claims.
I'll post updates as I get them, but it's looking bad for the seller, and good for my brother.
Fast forward to 3 days ago, my brother gets a notice in the mail advising him that his Firebird has been impounded and he now owes $500 in charges for not picking it up within a reasonable amount of time.
Turns out, the guy he sold the car to drove the car in my brother's name for 2 years because he didn't want to lose the handicap plates. This, of course, is highly illegal, and pisses me off tbh. My brother tried to get in touch with him, and it's obvious the guy is avoiding him intentionally, so my brother left a message on his voicemail giving him an ultamatim: Get in touch with me by 3PM tomorrow or I report the car stolen, and consult an attorney. It seems the buyer actually did contact my dad and said his parents would be getting the money, but I don't necessarily believe it.
I recommended my brother take him to small claims court when he fails to pay up, as Texas limit on small claims is $10,000, and total damages are sub $5,000. This puts my brother in a much more favorable light, and knowing this screwup, he won't show, or will shoot himself in the foot trying to represent himself, as attorneys aren't allowed in small claims.
I'll post updates as I get them, but it's looking bad for the seller, and good for my brother.
Comment