What do you guys think about this craigslist ad?

[Tobin S.]

I'm a trucker and I own a semi. I've been thinking about selling it, but I'd probably have to take a loss to do it. Somebody showed me this ad on craigslist. I'll give you my thoughts after you read it.

Take Over Truck Payments

If you are an Owner Operator who is having trouble selling your truck due to hard times and the payments are eating you alive, let me help you! I will take over the remaining payments while the truck stays in your name. A contractual agreement will be drawn up and signed by you and I. At the end of the payments the title of the truck will then be signed over to me. I am an Owner Operator looking to add on more trucks but due to credit issues, I cannot get financing. The truck must be 2002 or newer and in EXCELLENT mechanical condition. If interested call....

My truck is a 2007 model and it is in excellent mechanical condition. The ad looks like it has the potential to be a scam. If I were to sign any contract, it would have to be drawn up by a layer of my choosing and structured in such a way that limits my liability. I don't even know if that can be done. There would also be a section about maintenance. I'm not seriously considering this yet. I think I would rather be done with the truck, no strings attached. Then there is also the part where the poster says he or she has credit issues.

[Hotler]

1. Didn't you just buy that truck???? n/t

[Tobin S.]

2. In June of last year

Circumstances have changed. When I bought the truck I was single and in need of a little adventure and excitement in my life. I am now engaged to be married.

[Hotler]

3. Congratulations.

There has to be a better way to sell the truck than the ad on Craigslist. If that guy stops making payments how are you going to repo the truck? I'd try to sell the truck outright, take the money and be done with it.

[Tobin S.]

4. That's what I'd like to do

I'm just afraid that I'll have to take a loss on it. But it is worth it at this point.

[Hotler]

5. If how much you want and how much it's worth are close...

you my get it if you sell it yourself. If you sell it to dealer or broker etc. you're going to have to take less. You might try driving it to breakfast or lunch at a near by truck stop and put a for sale sign in the window while you're there. Try an ad in AutoTrader.
Good luck.

[rrneck]

6. Even nowadays

if the bank wouldn't trust him I wouldn't either.

Sounds hinky to me.

[applegrove]

9. Yeah. I know nothing about financing but would be wary of someone

who can't get any.

[MiddleFingerMom]

7. My gut feeling says "scam" -- or at LEAST too risky.

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Even with the lawyer drawing up the legal documents... I bet there are SEVERAL ways
to work a scam on this that neither one of you will figure out in time.
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I feel strongly that you're being a little too impulsive with this -- my vote is to
take Jen's advice and ride out the storm for a while longer... at the very LEAST
until you come up with a more secure solution.
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Is there NOTHING more local that you could switch to AND keep the truck?
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[DebJ]

8. If the vehicle stays in your name, you must cover the insurance

while someone else you don't know does god knows what with the vehicle. Unless the contract specifies otherwise, perhaps.
However, if they are found to have funny stuff in the truck, the truck will still be taken by the police / DEA.

Will this guy be doing runs into Juarez?

[auntAgonist]

10. I'd run away quickly and far from this 'deal'

If you want to sell your truck do it outright. It sounds like a scam to me.

Good luck Tobin.

aA
kesha

[elleng]

11. Says he'll make payments and AT END title his,

doesn't say he'll take possession of truck now, right? Ask him?
(Of course, YOUR lawyer draws up contract.)

:hi:

[Duer 157099]

12. No harm in contacting him and starting a dialog

You never know until you try, and you could find out that it's totally legit, just a guy without credit for whatever reason (or almost no reason these days).

Talking to him won't hurt. Try it. Let us know.

[guitar man]

13. I wouldn't

He'll take the truck and run the crap out of it until something major breaks on it, then leave it sitting somewhere and you'll have to figure out what to do with it. I've seen it happen before.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. If the intent is that HE uses your truck, no fucking way. No fucking way at all.

And even if the idea is that you continue to use the truck, the fact that he can't get any financing sounds pretty fucking suspicious.

My reason for the first thought: All you need is for him to drive it into a lake or a building, or cause an accident while he's drunk, or use it run drugs back and forth from Mexico for you to lose everything. Or he might run it without doing any preventative maintenance and then demand you pay for repairs whenever the engine seizes up the thing drifts into an overpass because he fucked up the tires.