"I purchased a car with the understanding that the title was in their storage and they were going to give it to me the next day," says Tracy Thornton.
Shortly after that, he got a surprise visit from an unexpected guest.
"Texas Title Loan came to tow the car and I went outside explaining to them hey, how can you tow the car? I just purchased it," he continues.
Little did he know, the seller had a title lien on it, which is why she could never provide him with the title. Two Sundays ago, the seller showed up at his apartment and stole the car, and it happened right outside of his window.
Thornton explains, "They said he did it with a screw driver. It took him about two hours to do and then she called the police saying she was repossessing the car."
Now Thornton and his family is left without a reliable mode of transportation.
"When you have a two-year old and one-year old doctor appointments and things like that. We don't even have any groceries in our house right now because we can't even go get them," says Thornton.
He does not know if he will be able to anytime soon.
"I can't go and get a job. Like I said, I'm a disabled veteran and it took me years to save up that money," says Thornton.
According to Loanstar Title Loans say there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening to you:
1. Never turn over money without receiving a title.
2. Once you get access to the title, check to see if there is a lien on the vehicle.
3. Visit the department of motor vehicles to check history of the vehicle.
Thornton wishes he knew these tips before he bought his car.
He says, "It makes me upset. It makes me emotional."
Even though he did it the hard way, he says he's definitely learned his lesson.
"Basically, that's what it is, don't buy a car from somebody that you don't have a title to," he says.
Shortly after that, he got a surprise visit from an unexpected guest.
"Texas Title Loan came to tow the car and I went outside explaining to them hey, how can you tow the car? I just purchased it," he continues.
Little did he know, the seller had a title lien on it, which is why she could never provide him with the title. Two Sundays ago, the seller showed up at his apartment and stole the car, and it happened right outside of his window.
Thornton explains, "They said he did it with a screw driver. It took him about two hours to do and then she called the police saying she was repossessing the car."
Now Thornton and his family is left without a reliable mode of transportation.
"When you have a two-year old and one-year old doctor appointments and things like that. We don't even have any groceries in our house right now because we can't even go get them," says Thornton.
He does not know if he will be able to anytime soon.
"I can't go and get a job. Like I said, I'm a disabled veteran and it took me years to save up that money," says Thornton.
According to Loanstar Title Loans say there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening to you:
1. Never turn over money without receiving a title.
2. Once you get access to the title, check to see if there is a lien on the vehicle.
3. Visit the department of motor vehicles to check history of the vehicle.
Thornton wishes he knew these tips before he bought his car.
He says, "It makes me upset. It makes me emotional."
Even though he did it the hard way, he says he's definitely learned his lesson.
"Basically, that's what it is, don't buy a car from somebody that you don't have a title to," he says.
Comments
Hopefully he will persue charges against the seller as it is illegal to sell a car with a lien on the title.
Bruce B.
July 5, 2012 at 11:08 pm
