[Bigbugin]

Has anybody ever bought a boat with a title issue?
I recently picked up a boat, from a person who wasn’t on title (which I didn’t know at the time) and turns out there was a duplicate title printed few years after the one I have now. Making this one I have now null and void. Seller is now not responding, naturally.

I have a tag person that usually handles this, but they say I might be up the creek here.

Has anybody been in similar situation with a resolution?

Located in FL

 

[firecat1981]

If you can't locate the original person on the title, then you might be out of luck. It could be stolen. I'd take it back to his house and ask for a refund unless he can fix the issue.

Edit: take a buddy or 2 when you go, never go alone. If he threatens to call the cops, let him, as I'm sure they will be very interested in a person fraudulently selling property that isn't legally there's.

 

[Backcountry 16]

That's a hard one to fix in good ole Florida I agree with @firecat1981 take it back to his house if he won't return your calls hopefully you didn't spend too much money on it. Imagine the boat theft that would be out there if they did not though at the tax collector.

 

[Bigbugin]

Well it’s actually a marine repair business and not a house, which why I didn’t think twice about the situation. I got a receipt and everything.

It’s just a challenging situation because I’m 200miles away from where I bought it, and not a lot of time available.

And yes, i paid more than i was comfortable with to compile the situation.

 

[firecat1981]

Keep calling till you get them on the phone. Call day and night. Fill up their voice mail. Pissed them off until you get a refund.

A business should know better then to sell a boat without a proper title.

 

[DuckNut]

Take the story to the cops.

I think what happened was the guy sold a boat he did not have full authority to do so.

Let the cops and the legal system get your square.

 

[Guest]

Take it back!

 

[fishnpreacher]

Take the boat back, and have the local LEO meet you there. This could get interesting.
Did the marine repair place take the boat in on a debt?

 

[MatthewAbbott]

I agree with taking the boat back and trying to get your money back out of it. Or getting the issue resolved. I wouldn’t involve the police in the matter just yet.

Have you tried having the VIN ran to see if it was reported stolen?

From the outside looking in it may just be a simple mistake. The guy not answering phone calls is suspect though.


Anyway it goes I hope it works out for you.

 

[Marco Mike]

And contact the local media as well. You can give him 1 warning before doing all of this. I'm sure you just want your dang $ back.

 

[Bigbugin]

I’m taking it back, even if it means camping out in front of the guys biz.
I’ll try proper channels, then get the LEO involved.

Crazy yet preventable situation if I would’ve done my research.


Also, I learned something valuable today. For anybody interested, when buying a boat (in Florida) visit https://services.flhsmv.gov/MVCheckWeb/
To get the latest and greatest info about the boat you’re about to buy.

 

[topnative2]

Does the boat match the title?????????
Does the HIN match what is on the title????????????????
Did you pay cash?Receipt?
Did you get DL information from the guy?

Need more info here to give you a way to proceed.....use to do these cases for a living

 

[Bigbugin]

Boat matches the title, hull matches the title
I didn’t get his DL license

I paid cash, BUT I did get receipt that outlines the boat (with HIN number) motor, and trailer(serial number) on it

 

[topnative2]

Boat matches the title, hull matches the title
I didn’t get his DL license

I paid cash, BUT I did get receipt that outlines the boat (with HIN number) motor, and trailer(serial number) on it

So we have to titles floating around....do they have the same name?

 

[Rookiemistake]

how about pics of the boat?just have a cop meet you there and ask for a refund.

 

[Bigbugin]

So we have to titles floating around....do they have the same name?

Update**

I was fortunate enough to have a civilized seller, who as of today has given me a full refund. Don’t get me wrong I was ready to lawyer up and go to town, but it worked out well going the route that I went. Previous seller was doing appropriate due diligence in getting this resolved: he contacted the previous seller who he bought it from and they were working on a date to get another duplicate title sometime soon. I didn’t have time to wait so I pushed for my $ back and was lucky enough to get it.

For those reading this please take 5 mins during the buying process and look up the title before money is exchanged. For those in Florida https://services.flhsmv.gov/MVCheckWeb/

I was lucky enough to get this resolved, but if I would’ve checked before I could’ve saved a headache. (And 3 tanks of gas driving across the state)

 

[hipshot]

Just saw this thread. If any of you find yourself in this situation, I'd recommend contacting your local Auto Theft Task Force, if you have one, or the Auto Theft Division of your local law enforcement agency. They will be conversant with the requirements of the sale, as far as titling, paperwork, etc., and can quickly determine whether the vessel is stolen. They can also discern if the HIN (or the title) has been altered, and can advise you of your alternatives. Showing up at the seller's residence with some friends can come back to haunt you if the situation goes western, especially if the seller claims he/she/they felt threatened or were threatened, and suddenly you're the bad guy. A call or visit from an Auto Theft detective, especially if the seller didn't follow the proper procedure(s) in the transaction, carries a lot more weight. And you aren't the aggressor. Additionally, if the seller has conducted prior bad transactions, the Auto Theft investigators may well be looking at him/her already.
Just a suggestion, from your friendly neighborhood Microskiff detective...............

 

[fishnpreacher]

Glad everything worked out favorably.

 

[efi2712micro]

Glad to see this got solved ... thanks for the tip!