Beware to all

[jordhandson]

Just thought I would mention this and to be aware of scammers.

A few moment ago tonight I sold my merc and 3 guys turned up from Essex I got distracted and one of them did the old squirt of oil in the water tank, to get the price down. There word were “there's oil in the water the head gaskets gone” Luckily father was on top of it, and told them sorry you've come a long way the price is fixed we will get it fixed. They paid the cash and went on there way. What’s the world coming to. I cant write what father said.

 

[RWD3M]

I seem to remember there was a spate of this over Essex way not that long ago, reported here iirc.

Perhaps they're moving further afield?

 

[jordhandson]

I seem to remember there was a spate of this over Essex way not that long ago, reported here iirc.

Perhaps they're moving further afield?

Weve never come across it down here, and being slow country folk, but I have spent the last 5 minuets reading through stories online. I thought father was pulling my leg. Good old dad Im gonna buy him a good drink

 

[tom2207]

shame its not available on door bell cam or the likes ,,,

well done your dad though.

 

[steveo3002]

were they english or non...its usually suggested its a foreigner scam

 

[jordhandson]

were they english or non...its usually suggested its a foreigner scam

Its a shame lets just say not of English origin.

 

[jordhandson]

Father being old school wanted to open the bonnet when they first arrived, no no they said they just wanted to look around the car, fair enough I took one of them for a test drive, no probs when we got back I opened to bonnet then got asked to start the car again, this is when it happens whilst i was in the car. Then one of then opens the water reservoir and says there,s water in here. Father stuck his fingers in and notice how cold the oily substance is given weve just been on a test drive.. Father maybe a bit oldish but hes not slow.

 

[roofman]

Father being old school wanted to open the bonnet when they first arrived, no no they said they just wanted to look around the car, fair enough I took one of them for a test drive, no probs when we got back I opened to bonnet then got asked to start the car again, this is when it happens whilst i was in the car. Then one of then opens the water reservoir and says there,s water in here. Father stuck his fingers in and notice how cold the oily substance is given weve just been on a test drive.. Father maybe a bit oldish but hes not slow.

Trust Dads always...we have been around the block when these scammers were still floating between their fathers legs

 

[bricol]

Father being old school wanted to open the bonnet when they first arrived, no no they said they just wanted to look around the car, fair enough I took one of them for a test drive, no probs when we got back I opened to bonnet then got asked to start the car again, this is when it happens whilst i was in the car. Then one of then opens the water reservoir and says there,s water in here. Father stuck his fingers in and notice how cold the oily substance is given weve just been on a test drive.. Father maybe a bit oldish but hes not slow.

What reservoir did they stick oil in? Any car I've had, if you opened the header tank/expansion tank with it hot, you'd have to be quick to avoid being scalded from the fountain of now boiling water released when the pressure was reduced from opening the cap.

 

[AVI_8]

Just thought I would mention this and to be aware of scammers.

A few moment ago tonight I sold my merc and 3 guys turned up from Essex I got distracted and one of them did the old squirt of oil in the water tank, to get the price down. There word were “there's oil in the water the head gaskets gone” Luckily father was on top of it, and told them sorry you've come a long way the price is fixed we will get it fixed. They paid the cash and went on there way. What’s the world coming to. I cant write what father said.

Personally I’d have told them to Foxtrot Oscar, if it was at the right price the next person to come along would have been more deserving.

 

[pressbrake1]

Fail to see how that is relevant, a scam is a scam

Because it means they’re not from Essex and east European crooks see the uk as full of suckers to be scammed .
Travellers get the blame for a lot of crime committed by those from the Balkan countries
It’s also relevant because they can be dangerous and not to be messed with

 

[cocker]

A mate recently sold his caravan , one of the first to turn up was a bunch of chaps who live in these tings .
After looking around the 'van one of them "discovered" water on the carpet - the caravan was no good , leaks all over the place , worth less than nothing , as a favour to him they'd give him a couple of grand and take it away !
funny that . It's been stored in his dry barn for the last two years .

 

[steveo3002]

Because it means they’re not from Essex and east European crooks see the uk as full of suckers to be scammed .
Travellers get the blame for a lot of crime committed by those from the Balkan countries
It’s also relevant because they can be dangerous and not to be messed with

heh , he got offended on their behalf

 

[droopsnoot]

I seem to recall this was on "Watchdog" a few weeks ago.

BBC One - The One Show - Oil In The Water

Watchdog received reports that car buyers had tried to lower prices by recreating a fault.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Smallfry]

Fail to see how that is relevant, a scam is a scam

Its true a scam is a scam, but it is relevant . I have come across this quite a few times.

I had similar with a Freelander. I had owned it it a few years. Three Romanians turned up to view it. They were in a recovery truck and had come from east London/Essex. I did NOT want to leave two of them at the place, as they were looking at everything, so I let one of them test drive it on his own. He was gone a long time, so long in fact that I was beginning to think he had bunked of with it. The two others were muttering to each other in their own language, so I was becoming very suspicious. Anyway, he did come back, but the car was smoking like nobodies business. Strangely it had been perfectly fine before.
Bearing in mind this was a £1500 car, he kept saying "charger blown, charger blown, car no good", his mates joined in, and they wanted it for £700 no more. They would take it now.
I said no, if car is no good, you do not want it, but they kept on about the £700, and take it now. In the end I told them to go.

Later, I went out to look at it, thinking how typical it was that something would do this while I am trying to sell. I had a look under the bonnet, then I noticed one of the intercooler pipes had been loosened and was half off. On looking further, I found the boost control had been disconnected, and a bit of rag stuffed in the engine breather. I wonder how that happened ? Maybe just a coincidence ?

Sorted it out, and it was absolutely fine, and I sold it a couple of days later.

 

[redlig]

Missing the point. Once your money is no longer in your pocket after scam, it’s totally immaterial who’s pocket it is in. If something doesn’t sit right or seems too good be true, walk away

Had a phone call yesterday from a bright sounding young lady trying to give me a free solar panel set for the house. she couldn't understand why I refused a FREE system. I told her to sell the system to someone else and send me the money or just give it to a better cause. IF it was genuine I have lost out but at least I won't have installers kicking the tiles off the roof.

 

[dobbslc]

Its true a scam is a scam, but it is relevant . I have come across this quite a few times.

I had similar with a Freelander. I had owned it it a few years. Three Romanians turned up to view it. They were in a recovery truck and had come from east London/Essex. I did NOT want to leave two of them at the place, as they were looking at everything, so I let one of them test drive it on his own. He was gone a long time, so long in fact that I was beginning to think he had bunked of with it. The two others were muttering to each other in their own language, so I was becoming very suspicious. Anyway, he did come back, but the car was smoking like nobodies business. Strangely it had been perfectly fine before.
Bearing in mind this was a £1500 car, he kept saying "charger blown, charger blown, car no good", his mates joined in, and they wanted it for £700 no more. They would take it now.
I said no, if car is no good, you do not want it, but they kept on about the £700, and take it now. In the end I told them to go.

Later, I went out to look at it, thinking how typical it was that something would do this while I am trying to sell. I had a look under the bonnet, then I noticed one of the intercooler pipes had been loosened and was half off. On looking further, I found the boost control had been disconnected, and a bit of rag stuffed in the engine breather. I wonder how that happened ? Maybe just a coincidence ?

Sorted it out, and it was absolutely fine, and I sold it a couple of days later.

It can go both ways, I was selling a shagged out Vauxhall Frontera that had a decent mot on it but liked to overheat if stuck in traffic for a long time, I never got to the bottom of it and it always made it home, I wasn't trying to hide anything.
Two Romanians turned up to look at it gave the tyres a kick and said we'll take it at the asking price. They told me they were driving it back home TODAY! over 1400 miles I think!
About £1000 changed hands and I never heard from them again

 

[ukracer]

Father being old school wanted to open the bonnet when they first arrived, no no they said they just wanted to look around the car, fair enough I took one of them for a test drive, no probs when we got back I opened to bonnet then got asked to start the car again, this is when it happens whilst i was in the car. Then one of then opens the water reservoir and says there,s water in here. Father stuck his fingers in and notice how cold the oily substance is given weve just been on a test drive.. Father maybe a bit oldish but hes not slow.

But surely that's what should be in there??

 

[jordhandson]

What reservoir did they stick oil in? Any car I've had, if you opened the header tank/expansion tank with it hot, you'd have to be quick to avoid being scalded from the fountain of now boiling water released when the pressure was reduced from opening the cap.

Radiator expansion tank, It wouldn't have got that hot to be pressurized or boiling, when I took for a test drive did less than half a mile and he said that's fine and came home. it was father that twigged how cold the oil was. It was quite intimidating really, and im no pushover lol had I been on my own I think I would have probably got caught, 3 guys two were quite large, mum said there was another in their car. In the end all turned out ok

 

[jordhandson]

But surely that's what should be in there??

oops my mistake should have read " there's oil in the water"