Right, searching for a replacement car for my mum, the megane needs upgrading. Got a cash buyer for that car, now looking at replacement.

Found a new shape 320d SE Auto for sale exactly what i am after,
but when contacting him, the car (which is attractively priced) he told me he is expat who took car to spain, and can't handle driving a RHD over there.
Said, he is disposing of this car back to the UK through a third party shipping agent to protect him and the buyer, so i have played along, gone through the website which was: www.medlogservice.net and had the following conversation with one of their operatives, sorry for length, this is an interesting one though..

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Rocio'
you: hello.i am interested in a vehicle you are storing at your warehouse.
you: the owner has placed an advertisement to sell it, and has told me to contact you directly..
Rocio: Hello, I am Rocio how can I assist you ?
Rocio: I will need the seller's name and your name please for our records.
you: the car is a silver Bmw 320d SE Auto 2005/05 Plate
you: Sellers name is: **** ******
you: my name is: Kam*** *****
Rocio: One moment please to check our database.
Rocio: I have found the vehicle : 2005 BMW 320d SE, Mileage 11,500, Price: GBP on Mr. M T***'s name.
you: yep.
you: where is the vehicle.
you: UK/Spain.
Rocio: The vehicle has never had any accidents.
Rocio: It has never been stolen.
you: i am in the UK, what is the vehicle license number? should be a british plate.
Rocio: The service book is up to date and only at Bmw.
Rocio: There is no outstanding finance or debt on this vehicle. It is not a leasing.
Rocio: The vehicle is in our warehouse here in Madrid, Spain.
you: can it be shipped back to the UK for me? as its been advertised in the uk for sale.
Rocio: Yes the vehicle has Uk plates on it as it is an Uk model registered in the Uk.
Rocio: Are you familliar with our 8 steps transaction ?
you: good, i am very interested and have cash waiting. but i need the car to be physically available to view before i committ anything.
you: tell me about your sales process.
Rocio: 1.Both parties agree to terms of the transaction, which includes a description of the merchandise, sale price, number of days for the Buyer's inspection.
Rocio: 2.We begin the shipping process, send you the Sales Agreement signed by our representative and the seller. The agreement is in electronic format and you will have to print it , sign it, scann it and send it back to us.
Rocio: 3.Once we receive the agreement signed by both parties we will start the shipping process.
Rocio: 4. We will provide you the payment details.
Rocio: 5.You will have to subimt the payment, by bank transfer, into our international account in maximum 48 hours after you will receive the payment details. The money will remain in our account and will NOT be forwraded to the seller until the buyer receives , inspects and accepts the vehicle.
Rocio: 6.As soon as the vehicle leaves our warehouse we will send you the shipping receipt and the tracking number.
Rocio: 7.The Buyer has a number of 2-3 days for an inspection and the option to accept or reject the vehicle.
Rocio: 8.If the buyer accepts the vehicle, we will forward the payment to the seller. Should you dislike the vehicle for any reason, we will refund you in FULL in maximum 48 hours and return the vehicle to the seller at his expense.
you: i will sign an agreement, but only subject to final viewing of the vehicle, and my own HPI check and dealer verification, can you please supply me with the vehicle license number?
Rocio: One moment please.
Rocio: The VIN No. is :WBAVC32000KS00342.
Rocio: The VRM No. is: KF05AOS.
you: do you need full payment before shipping the car?
you: are you able to provide a sales invoice for the cars sale, and a UK bank account for my company to pay into?
Rocio: Yes we require full payment by bank transfer, which are the safest.
Rocio: As soon as we will have a payment confirmation -the scanned copy of bank receipt- we will release the shipping.
you: If i have a Bmw dealership buy the car from you on my behalf will you allow this?
you: and do you have UK bank accounts for us to use..
Rocio: No we don't have an Uk account.
you: you: If i have a Bmw dealership buy the car from you on my behalf will you allow this?
Rocio: I don't understand what are you trying to say Sir.
you: if i have a bmw dealership from the UK purchase the car on my behalf from you, that will be safer for me, if i agree to give them slightly more money, i.e. they buy the car through you at the asking price, and then i purchase it as a uk purchased bmw for say £*****
Rocio: It does't matter who is purchasing the vehicle.
you: what is the next step then?
you: can you send me any further pictures of the car,
Rocio: As soon as we will have the Sales Agreement signed the vehicle will be reserved.
Rocio: About pictures please contact the seller.
you: showing me full number plate, and interior shots. also copy of the V5 registration documents.
Rocio: In order to start the transaction you must provide us the follow details:
Rocio: 1. Your full name
Rocio: 2. Your delivery address
Rocio: 3. Your phone number
Rocio: 4. Your ID or Passport number
you: can i have your email address, i will do some background research into your company, and will contact you shortly with the details.
Rocio: We can not provide you such info as all the vehicle documents have been sealed with a legal seal protected by the law (after our certified inspectors have checked them) and they can not unseal them until delivery of the vehicle.
Rocio: info@medlogservice.net and schedule@medlogservice.net
you: ok, will you beable to provide a sales invoice, in UK GBP, as i will require this for my finance provider.
you: they will put funds into your bank account as electronic transfer as requested.
you: do you have any UK car dealer contacts that you work with, that i can verify your details with?
Rocio: Our customer Support Department will send you the invoice.
you: will it be in uk GBP?
Rocio: Yes, as you requested it.
you: ok, thanks,
Rocio: We didn't worked with dealear until now.
you: what about previous customers/
Rocio: I am sorry but I can't provide you such info.
Rocio: This is ouside my province.
Rocio: Company Policy.
you: who can?
you: the way i look at it, you want money up front for a vehicle, that may never arrive,
you: you have no dealer contacts in the uk
you: can't provide any paperwork (as its been sealed)
you: are an online chat tool person..
you: and can't provide much info about the cars, to prove they are in your current posession.
you: i can tell you, this seems a bit dodgy.
Rocio: We do need to remind you that we do not pursue you in buying the vehicle, we are here to help you as the seller already paid for the shipping, insurance, delivery and even registration fees and we will handle everything.We have advised him to use our third party services as this way both, seller and buyer, will be 100% protected.
you: would you mind if i asked UK trading standards about your company? or the EU council department?
Rocio: In case you are not 100% happy to go on, we kindly ask you not to purchase the vehicle as we do not want to have any problems after.
you: no, there won't be any problems afterwards
you: but im worried, that once money has been transferred, the vehicle won't appear.
you: what reassurances can you offer?
Rocio: I confirm again that we are 100% responsible for all the checks that have been made and especially for holding the funds until you inspect and accept or not the vehicle .As you probably know,bank transfer is one of the few traceable way to send and receive money worldwide.We will issue a sales agreement that will be legalized by our Ministry of Justice, which is valid IN front of any court of law.
Rocio: You have to understand that this transaction protects both the buyer and the seller.
you: ok, thanks for the information.
Rocio: More than 70% of the Internet deals are done through third party services like us.
you: what form of bank transfer do you request, direct bank transfer or through western union?
Rocio: Is there anything else I can help you with ?
you: yes,
Rocio: Bank transfer.
you: ok,
Rocio: Not wire transfer.
you: if i have someone locally come and view the vehicle for me, would that be ok?
Rocio: Of course.
you: i have contacts in spain, and could ask one of them to view the car at your premises.
Rocio: This will be perfect.
you: what is the address of the depot in spain?
you: im sorry to be a little suspicious, just that these transactions are heavily publicised in the UK for warnings..
Rocio: Avenida Los Poblados, 123, Zip Code: 28803, Madrid, Spain.
Rocio: I understand your worries.
Rocio: Are you still there Mr. Saleem ?
you: yes
you: i don't need any further help at this stage
you: im looking into it.
Rocio: Is there anything else I can help you with?


so basically.. what do you all think!!?
scam.. or maybe a good way of picking up a good decent priced car?
anyone live in spain or more importantly in madrid.. willing to make a phonecall for me? i have their contact details..

well you asked all the right questions, and the answers were consistent - however I wouldn't touch it myself. It could be completely legit, but I'd personally rather not risk it. Once monies have transfered via Bank Transfer outside of the UK, you can never reverse it.

Kaine

edited for my bad spelling and grammer - its been a long week

Last edited by Kaine on Sat Jul 15 2006 4:57pm. Edited 4 times in total

Think I would leave it alone too..
It is not like you are gambling a fiver, you could lose big time.

Anyone got a LHD P38 "post 2000 Thor Engine" that I can plonk down in Spain?

From looking at their website it looks a credible organisation, but then again you can make anything look good over the internet. There is just something not quite right. He wasn't particularly keen on you contacting the UK Trading Standards over the legitimacy of the company either and as Kaine said once the money has been transferred....it's gone and not coming back.

Not for me... 2006 RRS TDV6, Java/Alpaca, Dynamic Response Pack, Tow Pack, Head and Tail light protectors, 20" Stormers, Roof Rails, S/C Grill and Side Vents, Tasmods. AutoLogic mod.
1988 RR Highline, 3.5 EFI Arctic White, ARB Bullbar, Roof Rails, 15" Alloys, Front and Rear light Grilles, Side steps. (Still going strong)

Kam send me the money at least I WILL have a good time  
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hi kam
the web site does seem to be realistic ( but how many sites are what they say they are ? ) and if i was to go through with this transaction i would definately use escrow .
do you know anyone who has used this service before ? maybe tim from scotland could help in verifing the sea container transport set up as hes in that line of business so to speak ( boat driver )?and may have contacts related to the shipping side of their business ?
caution first i think in my humble opinion

failing that send xxxangelxxx the money and he might share his
new found wealth with us all if we ask nicely  

My thoughts were why was the seller trying to sell this way. If he is an ex pat he could prob sell it to the Brits in S Spain who would take it back to UK, or why not sell it in UK when visiting "the folks back home". If I was even suspicious enough to ask questions, then I'd walk away. Alternatively get a cheap flight to Madrid & have a look yourself (proving title in Spain might be a major problem). Good luck.

PS Angel does not need the money, he is already being kept in the manner he is accustomed to. Now we poor students on the other hand.........

haha.. good point Derek.

Thanks for all your input guys, i appreciate you reading probably one of the longest and hardest threads (in layout and spacing) there has been on here.

Once again RRsport forum has made me see sense.
I emailed the guy directly, and told him, if he doesn't have any luck selling the car through these people, ship it back here and i will pay slightly more then asking to help him with the shipping expense (subject to viewing and liking the car, which there is no reason not to given the condition, spec and price stated).

Lets see if he replies, so far nothing, but it is the weekend.
Thanks again chaps..

For what it's worth Kam, I think you've done the right thing. I expect they probably are legit, but without a personal recommendation I'd also have been very cautious about using such a facility.

Interesting to see if you hear back from the seller though. 

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Still nothing from him.. so guess it was a scam..

Oh well... can't seem to find a decent car for my mum (+2nd car for me).
need it around £15k to fall into £200 per month cost, but really stuggling to find anything which fits this bill.

Won't consider E46 model 3 series, had too many of them in the past.
Merc C class, have been told to avoid, plus new shape is out soon.. and our office car park is full of them.
Jag X type is a mondeo underneath and when we test drove it didn't feel right. .. would stretch to a new shape IS220 Lexus as we had an Is200 SE before, and never had one glitch with it ever.. but they don't do auto for the diesel (talk about half arsed attempt toyota!!).. and petrol would be too heavy 2.5 auto (supposed to be economical alternative to mine when required).

Other cars to consider are:
Honda Accord, diesel autos are a rarity also, so petrol would be only option.

So the only real car falling into line, is an A3 5 door sportback, or an A4 2.0TDI S Line DSG or something, which will fall into this price bracket once i conduct a search im sure.

Only problem with that is, we will have a fleet of Audis.. would rather mix it about a bit, now that we have an S4, RS4, A8, A3, and a passat in the immediate family.. we look like VAG conference underway when we all convene!

The Bmw E90 3 series, fitting this bill come in the shape of a 320i ES model, which is very budget, and im sure will free fall in value as more sports/SE roll out. Am getting good buyin on the megane, so really looking for something this week, but don't want to jump into something we'll get tired of in 6 months..

A4 Cab Auto, now that would be interesting proposition, but not sure my dad would agree, we need to use it as the 'rough' car as well.. damn..

Looks like you were right to keep away: http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/post88999.html#88999 Like this site? Buy some RRSPORT goodies to show your support!

Lucky!! Although we'd already know by now if you had chosen to go with them!

Martin, when are we going to get the "floating" topic name like posts on D3? 

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