Recognizing stolen equipment ???

[kokosnood]

Hi Friends,

I've been told a horror story about a guy purchasing a used skid steer for over $30k. He had it on a jobsite and someone recognized it as theirs and called the sheriff. They confiscated it and charged him with possession of stolen property (later dropped), but he never got any of his money back.

How can you be sure a used piece of equipment is not stolen property? I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but when you buy from someone online you never know who you are dealing with.

Thanks!

 

[searcyfarms]

get serial number and have local authorities check it in their system as well as call local manufacturer dealer they can also check it in their system

 

[Robin Veerman]

Take pictures of every serial number plate, be it on the tractor/power unit or attachments. Take those numbers to your local police station and ask them nicely to run those numbers through their data-base. Most would be happy to do so, although there wouldn't be a guarantee as the equipment might not have been reported yet. Dutchy

 

[Jchonline]

As for a copy of the original bill of sale. If you cant trace it back to a dealer, then dont buy it. That might seem excessive, but it is MUCH better than loosing $30k.

 

[thepumpguysc]

THATS some pretty good advise Jch.. especially when the ad is written up as "1 owner".. {makes the ad more attractive}
It shouldn't be very hard at all w/ a 1 owner..
& MOST will offer-up service records... & like most said, the service dealer will have the owners on record in their service files..

 

[oosik]

Humph!! First there has to be some, any, used equipment/implements for sale in your area. I'm still waiting. Have been for over 38 years.

 

[nards444]

I usually run serial numbers by a dealer before I buy things like this, more or less to get any history. Next step would be to take it to the police. Problem though is things that dont have a title, there really is no way to show proof of ownership

 

[Diggin It]

get serial number and have local authorities check it in their system ...

If they get an NCIC hit, they're gonna want to know where the machine is, so be prepared to tell them.

 

[skipperbrown]

My good friend's son in law bought a John Deere cab tractor and got a very, very good deal on it. It was a monster unit. Anyway, after owning it for a few months, he gets a letter from John Deere Credit stating the tractor is going to be repossessed for nonpayment of note. Seems the original owner didn't pay off the lien when he sold it. So this poor son in law is in a mess. The seller claims it's all just a mistake (and the buyer's money has been spent) and JD Credit is threatening legal action. An UCC lien check would have noted a lien on the tractor, but only financial institutions can run a check and don't like running it for some nut wanting to buy a tractor. It is still playing out, but it looks like the son in law is going to lose the tractor and will have to take legal action against the seller who is now broke. He will be out thousands before hiring an attorney. Even if the kid had run a lien check it naturally would have shown a lien as part or all of the purchase price would go to pay off the lien AFTER the sale. I'm not sure how the buyer could have protected himself.

 

[Diggin It]

This is where financial/consumer protection laws need to be changed. Companies should only be able to go after the original customer they had/have the sales contract with.