Time to be worried?

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Time to be worried?

JA, did the dealer state they have done everything on their end, and it's the DNRs fault? Or are they claiming the paperwork has stalled at their end?

He's claiming it's the DNR's fault, that the DR is way behind, that the DNR reduced their staff, yada yada. We spoke with the woman who processes the applications, and she says she's processing stuff submitted about a week ago. That doesn't jive with the fact that I already received a title for a little aluminum boat I bought a few weeks after this boat, and for which I received a title a couple of months ago.

Even if the DNR were behind (which seem not to be the case), it wouldn't explain why we haven't received title to the trailer (which is titled through a different state office, the Secretary of State).

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Time to be worried?

Check out the consumer protection agencies in your state, and perhaps attorney general's office. They may be able to pursue matters at little/no cost to you.

I got my bet placed on the dealer had no title.

The DNR recommended starting with the Conservation Police; I'm not familiar with them, but she said they'd be the place to start. We're trying them today.

 

[ericp501]

Re: Time to be worried?

Don't say anything to him about getting a lawyer. Take all your paperwork, emails, etc.. To a lawyer and see what else you may need to go after this guy. You might be able to get more proof out of him. If u say something about a lawyer he might start watching what he says on email.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Time to be worried?

JA ? That really suck?s!
Can you call the BBB and check on the dealer? We have a guy on our local TV station that investigates business when they default and puts them on the spot. He does get many issues resolved. Something to look into.

Hope you can get this straighten out. Best of Luck

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Time to be worried?

Don't say anything to him about getting a lawyer. Take all your paperwork, emails, etc.. To a lawyer and see what else you may need to go after this guy. You might be able to get more proof out of him. If u say something about a lawyer he might start watching what he says on email.

Good thought. He's been fairly unresponsive to email, so I doubt we'll get much from that, but your point is taken!

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Time to be worried?

JA – That really suck’s!
Can you call the BBB and check on the dealer? We have a guy on our local TV station that investigates business when they default and puts them on the spot. He does get many issues resolved. Something to look into.

Hope you can get this straighten out. Best of Luck

Thanks, I looked at the BBB and there are no complaints against him. That will be changing soon...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Time to be worried?

Time for an update: after several more phone conversations with our dealer, it's become quite clear he is not being truthful with us. He keeps offering excuses why we haven't received title and registration for the boat, but what he tells us does not match what the DNR has told us. I am thinking he sold us a boat that he doesn't have title to...

Whatever the case, we can no longer believe anything this guy says. We will contact an attorney tomorrow and see what legal recourse we have. I'd still just prefer to have boat free and clear, but if that can't happen soon, I want him to return the money we paid him and pay for things we've done to the boat and trailer (e.g., adding brakes to the trailer, buying a custom cover) that we believed was ours.

I am not a vindictive person, but I want for him to be uncomfortable until thing gets resolved.

talk to the lawyer, but i think you are going to find that you won't be getting back the money you gave him, and you certainly won't be gettnig back the money you spent on improvements. Getting a judgment is easy; getting paid is something else entirely. I'd focus on getting the title. You may have to go upstream directly to the guy he bought it from and you may have to pay more money to get it released to you. Can you run the registration numbers to find out who owned it last?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Time to be worried?

talk to the lawyer, but i think you are going to find that you won't be getting back the money you gave him, and you certainly won't be gettnig back the money you spent on improvements. Getting a judgment is easy; getting paid is something else entirely. I'd focus on getting the title. You may have to go upstream directly to the guy he bought it from and you may have to pay more money to get it released to you. Can you run the registration numbers to find out who owned it last?

We're trying that right now. We have been getting help from a wonderful lady at DNR, she's been giving us all sorts of leads. We're also working with a title processing company this guy uses, and they are being incredibly helpful, too. Our primary goal is to get the title and keep the boat - we really like it, but we're keeping all our options open.


Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and good wishes. You don't know how much help you've been, and how much reassurance you've given us that we can ride this out. Thanks!

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Time to be worried?

Got our first bit of good news in a while... the title work for the trailer has mysteriously showed up in the Secretary of State office, and they say we should have our trailer title within a month. I'm hoping the same happens for the boat title. We did learn that this dealer is likely in hot water with the state, as he is supposed to file taxes on the sale within 20 working days of the sale, and he did not...

One more thing... you always hear all these horror stories about apathetic or overworked state employees who aren't helpful... we have found the exact opposite to be true. We've had nothing but the best help from folks who work in the Secretary of State's office and the DNR. They've really gone out of their way to help us figure out what's going on, and it seems to be helping get this resolved.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Time to be worried?

Yeah, us State employees certainly have an undeserved bad reputation. Okay, mostly undeserved. :redface:

 

[choppywaters]

Re: Time to be worried?

We just titled our boat after buying it in late Feb. the notary said if we didn't see anything in the mail by June to give her a call. She said a month to 6-7 weeks is normal. Sounds like the dealer is kinda slowwwww.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Time to be worried?

I thought Texas was a pain.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Time to be worried?

Well, finally some good news. After more hours of pestering the seller, and calling the DNR, the titling company, the Conservation Police (the enforcement side of the DNR) and the Sec. of State office, we've found that the paperwork has been filed recently! The check for the titles and registrations cleared, and thanks to some detective work by a Conservation Police officer, who was able to use the cancelled check number to search for the registration and titling paperwork, we know that everything will eventually make its way through the system. We also learned that State law requires the dealer to file paperwork and pay taxes within 15 days of a sale, a window that our dealer missed by about two months, so he will also be getting a visit from some friendly state officers. I cannot tell you how relieved I am that we are near the end of this mess and we can now just enjoy our boat.

Thanks to all who offered ideas and encouragement as we worked our way through this. It really made a difference and it's nice to know there is a community of folks who are so helpful.

On a related note, I won't publicly identify the place where we bought our boat in Peoria, IL, but if anyone in the area is considering a boat purchase from a dealer, PM me and I'll be happy to warn you away from this guy.

Thanks again!

 

[lakelover]

Re: Time to be worried?

Glad to hear it is all working out! My career was as a civil servant, and frankly, I'm not surprised at the help you got from all the ones involved. Even though the stereotype is of lazy, uncaring leeches, 98% of the ones I worked with and encountered in my 31 years were more like the ones who really cared about helping folks like you. There are bad apples in every bunch, but state employees get a real bad rap.

Now you can get out and enjoy your boat!

(Why not write your governor & let him know about the help you got?)

 

[64osby]

Re: Time to be worried?

Well, finally some good news. After more hours of pestering the seller, and calling the DNR, the titling company, the Conservation Police (the enforcement side of the DNR) and the Sec. of State office, we've found that the paperwork has been filed recently! The check for the titles and registrations cleared, and thanks to some detective work by a Conservation Police officer, who was able to use the cancelled check number to search for the registration and titling paperwork, we know that everything will eventually make its way through the system. We also learned that State law requires the dealer to file paperwork and pay taxes within 15 days of a sale, a window that our dealer missed by about two months, so he will also be getting a visit from some friendly state officers.

Sounds like splash time is pretty near. Nice to see that your tax dollars actually are useful at some points.

Also nice to see that the state takes the laws seriously and will be paying the dealer a visit, maybe with some nice paper work with $$ signs on them for more state resources.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Time to be worried?

For the record, we absolutely plan to write some letters commending the folks who have been helping, and we'd like to send them something as well. We feel really lucky to have had such helpful people on our side.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Time to be worried?

Well, finally some good news. After more hours of pestering the seller, and calling the DNR, the titling company, the Conservation Police (the enforcement side of the DNR) and the Sec. of State office, we've found that the paperwork has been filed recently! The check for the titles and registrations cleared, and thanks to some detective work by a Conservation Police officer, who was able to use the cancelled check number to search for the registration and titling paperwork, we know that everything will eventually make its way through the system. We also learned that State law requires the dealer to file paperwork and pay taxes within 15 days of a sale, a window that our dealer missed by about two months, so he will also be getting a visit from some friendly state officers. I cannot tell you how relieved I am that we are near the end of this mess and we can now just enjoy our boat.

Thanks to all who offered ideas and encouragement as we worked our way through this. It really made a difference and it's nice to know there is a community of folks who are so helpful.

On a related note, I won't publicly identify the place where we bought our boat in Peoria, IL, but if anyone in the area is considering a boat purchase from a dealer, PM me and I'll be happy to warn you away from this guy.

Thanks again!

Fantastic news !!! It seemed that you started making good progress when you dealt directly with the state agencies and not the dealer . . .

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Time to be worried?

Thats great news JA.........

You are great person for giving cudos to the gov people that have helpd you out.

Let us know when you make your first splash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Time to be worried?

Great! And please do let the superiors of your helpers know that they helped out.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Time to be worried?

A (final?) update and some very good news: we just received a call from a very nice worker at the DNR. She pulled our boat title/registration out of the batch that was headed to be sorted and mailed, and she called my wife who will go pick them up in person tomorrow! The trailer title came just the other day, so it looks like this boat is actually ours! I can't tell you how relieved I am to have this thing over.

Two things on my to-do list for this evening: (a) write some letters to the supervisors of the three DNR employees who have helped us so much and (b) go out to the garage and remove the boat dealer's decal from the back of my boat. I'll be damned if I'm going to advertise for him!

Thanks again for all the great ideas and support. This forum is a wonderful place with great folks!