Dealer Lost the Title to the E500 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TylerH860 · #1 05-08-2009, 02:18 PM

Never had this happen before. They are going to have to get a reprint and have the original owners sign the title over again.

I'm very uneasy, to say the least. They have my money, my trade in, and while I have the car, there's no way register it. What happens if the previous owners are uncooperative, or disappeared off the face of the earth?

This is a large used car dealer that's been in business 20 years. I called their bank and a neighboring business for a reference, so I doubt they are trying to pull a fast one on me. Still, I've dealt with enough state DOTs to know how they seem to relish stonewalling people, and if the dealer has issues getting a title, no way am I going to accept any kind of branded title other than a reprint, nor am I willing to file in my state for a lost title.

Has this happened to anyone else?

DieselAddict · #2 05-08-2009, 02:25 PM

I had something similar happen to me with one of my previous cars, except the dealer had the title but it wasn't properly signed off by the previous owners and the dealer was pretty slow getting it done, but I got my title eventually. I think it arrived 2-3 weeks after I got the car. Keep in touch with the dealer on this, but I think you'll get your title eventually, you just have to be patient.

raymr · #3 05-08-2009, 02:28 PM

I dunno. I would ask to have everything voided and your car returned until they have it all straightened out. Many states have a 3-day contract cancellation law for such events.

TylerH860 · #4 05-08-2009, 02:37 PM

Too bad the dealership is 600 miles away, and I've had the car a full week.

The woman in the business office has been apologizing profusely and is supposedly going to drive to the neighboring state personally on Monday to hopefully get it all sorted out.

Rafi · #5 05-08-2009, 02:40 PM

It happened to me a long time ago. The car I bought was a cheap crappy Volvo 144, I forget the year, from a Mercedes dealer, they took as a trade. It took me about 2 months to get the title. Temporaty tags expired and still no title, so the car sat. Back then I was young and did not know any better.

The dealer could care less. They had already made the sale and got the money so this was all old story. Dealer and sales people only go after fresh meat.

Fulcrum525 · #6 05-08-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Too bad the dealership is 600 miles away, and I've had the car a full week.

Its times like this where I really appriciate living in CT. Two official Mercedes dealers both within 20 minutes of me and plenty of independents in between.....

SwampYankee · #7 05-08-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Never had this happen before. They are going to have to get a reprint and have the original owners sign the title over again.

I'm very uneasy, to say the least. They have my money, my trade in, and while I have the car, there's no way register it. What happens if the previous owners are uncooperative, or disappeared off the face of the earth?

I can understand your trepidation! If they're reputable business < insert used car dealership joke here> and you've been in constant contact with them it'll probably sort itself out.

If not get the Attorney General involved. Our AG would push his own elderly mother out of the way to get in front of a camera to hump his people helping duties.

450slcguy · #8 05-08-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Too bad the dealership is 600 miles away, and I've had the car a full week.

The woman in the business office has been apologizing profusely and is supposedly going to drive to the neighboring state personally on Monday to hopefully get it all sorted out.

Sounds to me like they never held title to the car.

Perhaps the previous owner had a lien on the car that the dealer was suppose to payoff. No dealer pay-off, no title for you.

If the dealer goes under before the lien is payed off, the previous owner is still liable for their loan. You get to file a lawsuit against the dealership for fraud.

This is currently happening at countless dealerships across the country. They took the trade-ins but never paid off the car liens.

TylerH860 · #9 05-08-2009, 04:46 PM

Nope, they had a clean and clear title which they faxed me a copy of before I sent the money. They supposedly sent the title via fedex Monday, but no package arrived nor did it ever get processed in their computer system.

pawoSD · #10 05-08-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Nope, they had a clean and clear title which they faxed me a copy of before I sent the money. They supposedly sent the title via fedex Monday, but no package arrived nor did it ever get processed in their computer system.

Interesting. How could they "lose" a title like that. I can understand an unorganized private seller misplacing one, but a car dealer? They should have files/an organized system of storing stuff like that.....

Rafi · #11 05-08-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Interesting. How could they "lose" a title like that. I can understand an unorganized private seller misplacing one, but a car dealer? They should have files/an organized system of storing stuff like that.....

Maybe they want the car back. Tyler, did you "steal" the car ?

TylerH860 · #12 05-08-2009, 08:05 PM

The salesman told me they were making $1400 on the deal, which he gets about a third of. Whether that's true or not I don't know.

cmbdiesel · #13 05-08-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

Its times like this where I really appriciate living in CT. Two official Mercedes dealers both within 20 minutes of me and plenty of independents in between.....

Which two? I'm pretty close to Carriage House, but often get parts from New Country because I get a discount. I think there are at least a half dozen dealers here in CT.

The thing I hate about CT is the DMV. I can't possibly put into words how much they piss me off. When I moved to CO, I found out how DMV is supposed to be. If you lose a title in CO, you can get a duplicate instantly, as long as it was a CO issued title. CT, I waited 4 months for the last title to get processed.

Hatterasguy · #14 05-08-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

Its times like this where I really appriciate living in CT. Two official Mercedes dealers both within 20 minutes of me and plenty of independents in between.....

I know, I was going to say why didn't the dealer register it.

I'd give them a week and if no action happens start put some pressure on them.

LaRondo · #15 05-09-2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Nope, they had a clean and clear title which they faxed me a copy of before I sent the money. They supposedly sent the title via fedex Monday, but no package arrived nor did it ever get processed in their computer system.

Sounds like a clear case of "title lost in transit". Call the DMV, they will take care of it.