Our lovely 2008 Adria Caravan has been up for sale for a few weeks now & I have it on the Caravan Club website/Caravanselecta & other sites.
We have had lots of interest but most of the offers have been well below what we would wish to accept.
Today I have received a call from a Gentleman who claims to own Chester Southerly Touring Park & has advised me that he has a customer who wishes to purchase an Adria in part ex & he has seen ours online. He told me that he's in the area today & for cash he will tow our caravan away today.
The price he has quoted is reasonable & within our acceptable range of what we would let the caravan go for.
As you can imagine alarm bells sounded & I googled the caravan park to get the telephone number so I could phone the warden to verify whether this gentleman is the owner however the landline number diverts to this gentleman's mobile.
I have arranged to meet this gentleman at 3pm today so that he can have a look over the van. I'm desperately trying to verify whether he is a genuine buyer & indeed owns this caravan park but the caravan park doesn't belong to a body so I'm not sure how to go about this, can anyone advise?
I have phoned Chester Constabulary to ask whether they know of the caravan park or owner. The police controller has noted all the details & given me an incident number but nothing further.
If he was able to offer cash then I would expect him to go to the bank with me to deposit the money before releasing anything but I quite a cautious person & would appreciate some reassurance.
Many thanks
Mrs MacP
------------- Easter - Solway View Dumfries & Galloway
April 27th - 29th - Spiers House, Cropton.
May 11th - 13th Wolds Way Campsite, Malton
June Diamond - Highlands???
if it was me,cash in hand first and then let the van go.do not take a money cheque as some are forged.write down his registration number and car type when you meet him whatever you do.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
If he is going to pay for the whole thing entirely with cash there should be no problem though I would perhaps nip down to the local corner shop (they normally have some way of checking notes)or the bank and get a couple tested before letting the van go.
It sounds ok. The campsite exists & he is contactable from the phone no. As you describe it he obviously deals in caravans but I guess he will drive a hard bargain as he is selling it on.
Dealers often buy from private ads to sell on & they pay cash as their method is to drive the price down by waving the cash under seller's nose. Very tempting, these people know what they are doing.
Obviously make sure he turns up in daylight in time to go to your bank to pay in the cash.
I wouldn't even see him. In my experience, that's just not how things happen.
I wouldn't even trust any cash he has in his pocket. Also, I don't know the value of the van, but I understand it is no longer legal to take cash in excess of £10,000. May be wrong on this.
If someone is offering you substantially more than most people, it should be ringing a big alarm bell. It isn't good news. I would rather miss a potential sale, rather than lose my caravan altogether.
It may, of course, be totally above board, but that isn't likely, and I would go with the percentages.
The number for the Park is 01244 671308. Is that the one you have tried?
Yes, this is the number I have tried and it diverts to the gentleman's mobile as he is apparently out & about today.
I will be interested to see what he has to say at 3pm as I'm always willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt but will remain wary & make sure that any money is taken to bank first.
Thanks for all the advice.
Mrs MacP
------------- Easter - Solway View Dumfries & Galloway
April 27th - 29th - Spiers House, Cropton.
May 11th - 13th Wolds Way Campsite, Malton
June Diamond - Highlands???
Also make sure you have someone with you when he calls - partner, son, daughter, trusted friend, whoever - (a) so you won't be persuaded into doing a deal that you may not want to do and (b) for your own personal safety
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
It sounds reasonable BUT get him to ID himself, preferably with something with his photo on, such as his driving licence. Plus make a note of his vehicle, and if you can get a photo of both him and the vehicle.
The last one will frighten off anyone who is chancing it!
Wouldn't be at all surprised, given all the circumstances, if he finds something wrong with your van, whether it's valid or not, while waving the cash under your nose.
If you want anything out of the police local to this caravan park, you need to make contact with CID, and in particular the fraud office. As you've found the ordinary police, no disrespect intended, aren't a lot of use in this sort of thing.
Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 18/11/2010
I wouldn't even see him. In my experience, that's just not how things happen.
Its exactly how things happen. Car/motorhome/caravan dealers scour the small ads on daily basis looking for bargains, they seek private buyers desperate to sell for cash. I'm guessing the op will be fairly disappointed at the amount that will be offered, but crisp £20s are hard to resist.
Greendemon is nearly right on the £10,000 issue. Because of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, anything over £10,000 in cash paid into a Bank account will start an investigation. These are the new rules to help stop money laundering / drug money / proceeds of crime etc
You will be invited into the office of the Bank's money laundering "nominated officer" who is responsible for investigating such deposits. You will be questioned about the cash. When asked where it came from the answer "This chap arrived at my door and bought my caravan with the cash" will not suffice. They will want to know his name address etc. So, take that with you plus the advert you placed for the van just to show that you are a bona fide individual. You have a name and an address and phone number. The bank could refer the matter to the Serious Organised Crime Agency for further investigation so be prepared for them popping round to see you. Take a photo of your van in the drive of your house and a copy of your CRiS documents as evidence that you once did own the van. It may help in paying the money in if you give the bank advance notice of the deposit and the reason for it. Could avoid hassle at the Bank.
Whilst it is not normal to deal in cash in this manner, buying a caravan is a bit different as most people will not part with the van without having the cash in hand.
Just to err on the side of caution, get him to count the money out, rather than you, and to put it back into whatever bag he brings it in. ....just in case there is any powder on the notes. Don't want to be sniffing that all night
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
I can confirm that isn't the name of the gentleman who called me, however the website for Chester Southerly Touring Park states it is under new management and undergoing refurbishment so that doesn't help confirm the owners name!
He was due to call me around 2pm so I could tell him where to meet me but its now 3pm & nothing so maybe he's decided against it!
Mrs MacP
------------- Easter - Solway View Dumfries & Galloway
April 27th - 29th - Spiers House, Cropton.
May 11th - 13th Wolds Way Campsite, Malton
June Diamond - Highlands???
Probably a bit late now but if he calls you to rearrange - I live in Chester so if you want me to call in at the site which is prob only 10mins away and confirm any details with reception let me know. Although there may not be anyone there since the phone is diverting
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Urgent Advice Please
