Stupid Me?

[busboy]

I purchased a Glastron boat from a co-worker about 2 months ago. The boat was in non-running condition when I got it and had not been in the water for 20 something years. The father of the lady co-worker was the owner of record, so I made up bill of sale with his name and she had him sign it and I then exchanged money with her. I took posession of the boat and put it at a boat storage place until the end of this month when I will be moving to a place that I can do some work on it.<br /><br />Today she calls and says she doesn't want to sell the boat after all. When I reminded her of the money exchange and the signed bill of sale she said that her father didn't sign the statement, that she did and he knows nothing of it (he lives at a different location, he gave her the boat years ago but no paperwork was ever processed). I know pretty much where I stand legally as I should have gone and witnessed him signing it but hindsight is 20/20. What would you folks do in this situation? I'm out maybe $400.00 and lots of hours cleaning it up and I imagine she doesn't have the money to pay me back. I am prepared to be called stupid! I thought I could trust her and even am friends with her sister who knew about the transaction. I hate to lose this boat, it was a good deal. maybe too good. This forum may not be the best place to present this but none of the other forums fit either.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Stupid Me?

Hmm...Interesting, on one hand you have a falsified bill of sale and on the other you are not the one who falsified it. Do you have any witnesses to the cash transaction. One other thought .. Is it falsified or is she only trying to renig. (does the signature look like an older males) then we have to take into account the work situation... Kinda heavy aint it. Good luck but do what is right and you will know what is right when all plays out.

 

[busboy]

Re: Stupid Me?

Yeah, she may just be trying to back out. When I first took posession of the boat I took it 10 miles up the road to the storage place, went the next day to register it and was told since boat hadn't been registered since 1983 I would have to bring it down for them to verify the serial #. Thats about 30 miles through Atlanta traffic so I figured wait until moving it again (after new tires) and do it then. Well just my luck! No witnesses to the transaction. I would be okay if she just paid me back the money I have invested. Dang would have been a nice boat. Maybe I need to have a conversation with her Dad although I wouldn't be surprised if she did sign it.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Stupid Me?

I would explain to her about all the elbow grease, and the $400 you invested, and the purchase price, and her breaking the law, and tell her the only way out is for her to fork over the cash. Tell her you are a man of principle and expect others to be also. If she doesn't pay, then you keep the boat. If she calls the police, then she is on the hook for forgery. <br /><br />Get it registered in you name, NOW. <br /><br />Forget about the work situation, If she can get you fired, so be it. Stand on principle and forget about the sister too, unless you want to marry her.

 

[L Christopher]

Re: Stupid Me?

Hey busboy, tell her no problem. Tell her to repay the $400 plus the storage fee say $1,000, and she can have the boat back.

 

[Newhook]

Re: Stupid Me?

Sounds like she is just suffering cold feet. How do you know that the bill of sale is forged? She either forged a signature and commited a fraud or the bill of sale is good. You do not know and you cannot believe her now in changing her story. She will not be calling the police or sueing you. Keep the boat. Tell her father to sue her if he owned the boat and did not want it sold. What is she going to do....tell the cops? You should not feel badly. You offered and she accepted in good faith the deal.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Stupid Me?

20 YEARS and the boat is suddenly wanted? this sounds like a scam, have some poor slob undo 20 years of neglect and scuzziness .... and then take it back, all restored and ready to sell at a much better price<br /><br />roscoe is right, you register that boat right now, TODAY, and that signed document is legally binding ... of course, she can call the cops, but she falsified the papers, which is fraud, which is something she would rather avoid!

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Stupid Me?

You have posstion and a signed bill of sale. If I were her, I wouldn't be making demands. AS far as your concerned, I would think you are legally OK, at least from a small claims court view..

 

[busboy]

Re: Stupid Me?

Thanks fellas for the feedback. I was looking for a place to blow off a little steam, some of the things people can come up with when they realize they have made a mistake is unreal. I offered to sell the boat back to her for $850.00, figuring I should make something for all my trouble. Luckily she's not in any position to get me fired but her backing out of the deal will make her look bad to all the other workers who knew about the deal. I will let you know how it works out. Thanks Mike

 

[Solittle]

Re: Stupid Me?

I would be a bit careful here. If the boat were legally registered to her dad, it still belongs to him until legally registered to you. You may have seperate action with her.<br /><br />I would contact her dad direct and find out what gives. I wouldn't be to quick to give it up but you may have to.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Stupid Me?

I wonder if there is a way he could find his signature in a public forum - tax records, deeds, something accessible ... and compare the two signatures?<br /><br />always a way

 

[MrBill]

Re: Stupid Me?

Sell it back for $1500...or just wait. I think she'll go away and come back in another 20 years. Possesion is 90% of ownership.

 

[Newhook]

Re: Stupid Me?

Guys!<br /><br />Whether the boat is registered in the name of the father or not, he is not coming for it. He cannot. To do so he has to expose the fraud and forgery of his daughter. Sound likely? It exposes her to too much. You have a document that purports to sell the boat. To refute it the father has to come forward and plead fraud and forgery. It is not going to happen......! <br /><br />If you want the boat, it is YOURS.

 

[BJM]

Re: Stupid Me?

To my understanding you don't really know who signed the bill of sale. She told you it was her father and now she recants. You had no reason to doubt the legitimacy of the bill of sale at the time. Get it registered to you immediately. If they want the boat back then it becomes an issue of you reselling it to them. You own it. The fact that you did not immediately register it is not relevant. If you had registered it and she called you saying you she wanted it back you would not be having this discussion.<br /><br />I bought a car from a guy who was having second thoughts at the time of purchase. We went through with it and I currently own it. After 6 months he really regreted selling it and asked if I would sell it back to him. I said no. How is this different from your situation? It isn't.