Legal Question in Consumer Law in Missouri

Trailer purchase problem

I answered an ad for a ''car hauler'' trailer in a Weekly Traider magazine by calling & talking to the owner about a custom built trailer, that he said would be no problem.

My wife & I drove to his home, discussed what we needed, which he wrote down on a sales slip & gave us a copy. We gave him a check for a deposit of $500. This was the last part of Sept.02. Since then we called many times & was assured that it was being built. In Dec. we were told that it was built & was being delivered by some one else to a trailer sales lot in a town close by, & that he would drive over the next day with the paperwork & we could pick up the trailer. We never heard from him. After days of calling with no answer (caller ID ?) we made the trip to his house & he assured that it was on the sales lot, he didn't know the address (paperwork in another truck) but said it was located on a highway & area that we were familiar with. We drove back home & searched & asked, without finding the sales lot. We went home, called the phone company, no listing. We have called & called & waited for over a month. We finally figured out that he is just trying to cheat us out of the $500. What do you recommend doing?


Asked on 2/17/03, 9:19 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Spencer Farris The S.E. Farris Law Firm

Re: Trailer purchase problem

Unfortunately, it looks like you need to take further action. You should immediately, by first class and certified mail, demand a refund. Wait one week. After that, two courses come to mind: Call the local prosecuting attorney, and mention the apparent fraud on the dealer. Let the newspaper where the ad ran and the Better Business Bureau know as well. You can also file suit in Small Claims Court for your money.

Either this guy is telling the truth and is having bad luck, in which case he should have called you, or he is running some sort of scheme and you should not wait for him to move away before you get serious about getting your money back.

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Answered on 2/17/03, 10:27 am


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