10 January 2017

Ain't THAT a Kick in The ...

So, awhile back, a kind friend offered us an old beater, if we could get it running. We did, it did, and we got it licensed and insured.

Older Daughter drove it happily for a time, saving her pennies, and eventually bought a small pickup truck. So we sold the aforementioned beater to a young feller for about $600 cash, and everyone walked away happy.

That was roughly four years ago ... give or take.

Today, we got a certified letter stating that the car has been in an impound lot since March 2016, and because we are the last registered owners, we owe them a bit over $2K.

So let me get this straight: because I was the last one to do the right thing, I get the financial shaft?

Yep.

The guy we sold it to drove on the old plates, never registered the car, and abandoned it when it stopped running. Apparently. In the meantime, we haven't seen the car since the day it was sold, but now I'm supposed to pay 60 days' worth of fees to the impound yard? Yes, apparently, under State law. Although I will definitely be checking that out.

So ... nope. I ain't buyin' it. And I'm definitely not buyin' it back.

17 comments:

Ed Bonderenka said...

Prayers your way.

Rev. Paul said...

Thank you, Ed.

ProudHillbilly said...

Oh, ow. That seriously stinks.

Old NFO said...

Wow... That truly sucks!

Goatldi said...

Sounds somewhat familiar. We moved to an older house about 10 years ago. New county and so forth. When we were marketing the home 5 years ago (a very long story) we found out that the previous owner had the barn built and a garage. She then had the really old carport torn down. However because she didn't have the county come out for a visual to sign off on that the CP had been removed per regs we got hit with a 1K penalty fee. We could have protested and tried to get is removed but since it was after the 2006 insanity and the county was even poorer than before than plus the fact that we had a buyer we decided to pay it and move on. I hope you come out on the up side of this situation!

drjim said...

That happened to me when I traded in my Toyota Tercel on my first Jeep.

Several months after it was "down the road", I got a letter from a PD in Orange County stating basically what your letter did.

I called them up, told them I'd traded in the vehicle, and gave them the name of the dealer that I turned over the pink slip (title in Kommiefornia) to. Turns out the dealer had wholesaled the car (what I'd expected) and the new "owner" drove it around on an open title until it just quit running, and walked away from it.

The PD called me back and said that they'd gotten them name of the new "owner" from the wholesale place and were actively looking for him, and told me not to worry about any longer.

I thought it was a nice touch that the PD called me back.

Chickenmom said...

Happened to us 10 years after we sold a small boat. Thankfully we had kept a copy of the transfer of the bill of sale. The new owner had never re-registered it and abandoned the boat in a lake. 'Hope you can straighten out the mix-up!

Rev. Paul said...

Thanks, everyone. We'll see what happens.

griz said...

Good morning Paul,

Question for you.
Did you submit the title stub back to the DMV when the vehicle was sold? (Notice of Sale or Transfer)If so, the state dropped the ball.

Either way.
Just ignore, and DO NOT respond to the Registered letter. (scare letter)
As the Towing company dropped the ball months ago.
And let them auction or sell the vehicle.

Take care, be safe.
God bless
Griz


TOWING (IMPOUND) LIEN - AS 28.10.502 (Form 826)
Specific Requirements of Sale:

Lien is limited to towing and storage charges.
Storage charges cease to be a part of the lien after 60 days unless the registered owner or lien holder, if any, has been given actual notice of the lien within that time, or unless a certified letter has been mailed within that time.
The vehicle has been impounded and has remained unclaimed for a period of 30 days.
The registered owner and lien holder, if applicable, were given 20 days Notice of Public Sale. (Must be personally served or sent the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested.)
Towing Lien Packet

Title Requirements:

A properly completed Claim Of Ownership / Involuntary Lien (Form 826) notarized.
Application for Title and Registration, completed in full. (Form 812 or 812A)
Certificate Of Vehicle Inspection (Form 811) - (Form 811 must be completed by and the vehicle must be physically inspected by a DMV staff member). An individual may obtain a special one-way trip permit from DMV for the purpose of bringing the vehicle to a DMV office for inspection.
There is a $15.00 title fee. If the vehicle is not currently registered, the driver will be required to pay registration fees.

Rev. Paul said...

Griz, I found that statute this morning. And another, which says that once DMV has been notified by title stub, the previous registration expires.

Just the same, I'm going to visit the DMV this afternoon to see what they have in the computer. Interesting that they've never contacted me about license renewal, etc, since the date of sale. :)

Rob said...

Ouch, almost a year later?? In Mn the plate stays with the car, in Florida the plate stays with the owner. Every time you buy a car you have to get new plates and everything else. Our van was registered to my oldest, after we moved home I got MN plates, when my son came up for a visit he took the plate back with him. Most private sellers will go to DMV with you to make sure you transfer the car out of their name.

griz said...

Paul,

Hopefully they will say that the stub was submitted.

Either way,
You have no financial responsibility, to pay that Impound and Storage fee.

Take care, be safe.
God bless
Griz

Rev. Paul said...

Rob, in AK the plates go with the car, & it's up to the buyer to get it registered. The buyer usually has to pay renewal fees for expired plates, too. In this case, the guy never registered. So when the plates expired, he just kept driving it for another couple of years. Until it died, and then he just left it sitting & walked away.

Rev. Paul said...

Griz, for better or worse, the DMV says we never submitted the guy's mailing address. Until I get back there tomorrow with an address, it's still our responsibility as the last owner with an address.

Even though you & I both know that they have his current address on file. They just can't be bothered to cross-reference it. Grumble, grumble.

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,

Sending prayers! I hope you're able to get out from under this situation with your sale documents.

griz said...

Paul,

What was the DMV/impound bill outcome?
Hope it was good.

Take care, be safe.
God bless
Griz

Rev. Paul said...

Griz, I took the buyer's current address to DMV & they added it to the vehicle record. Since a recorded sale causes the previous registration to expire, per AS 28.10.271, it's no longer our problem.