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<\/p>\nCar scams are, unfortunately, nothing new. Cars are a universal commodity that\u2019s relatively expensive, and many are bought and sold informally, making the car market an easy target for fraudsters. However, if you\u2019re practised and you know what to look for, you\u2019ll often be able to sidestep any dodgy deals. And true to form, we\u2019re here to help on that score too.<\/p>\n
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Fraudsters pose a number of dangers to people trying to scrap their cars. Firstly (and most obviously) there\u2019s the financial aspect. A common car scheme in years past was for the fraudster to hire a car, and then sell it to several different buyers. Then they\u2019d return the car to the rental company and disappear with the money. It\u2019s a sore point to lose money to any of these sorts of scams, but there are sometimes even more serious consequences.<\/p>\n
Cut and shut vehicles are another type of scam which has seen an unfortunate surge in popularity in recent years. We\u2019ve talked in-depth about them before<\/a>, but essentially it\u2019s the term that refers to when halves of two separate (damaged) cars are glued together to make one whole one. The people who do this job are usually more concerned with shifting them for some quick cash than they are with rendering them even vaguely safe or roadworthy. The final result is a car on the road which could fall apart at even the slightest impact \u2013 or even none at all. In this way, fraudsters can not only pose a threat to your bank account, but even to your physical safety.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the legal angle; scammers deliberately never process paperwork correctly. That means that when you sell your car over to them, it\u2019s often still registered in your name. So if it\u2019s caught speeding, or even in active criminal pursuits, it\u2019s not the new owner who\u2019ll end up with the fines \u2013 as far as the DVLA\u2019s concerned, it\u2019s you. It\u2019s yet another reason why you should always take extra care when selling or scrapping your car.<\/p>\n Luckily, we\u2019re on hand to help you out! We\u2019ve got a few easy steps to minimise your risk of getting defrauded, and you may well be doing a couple of them already:<\/p>\n Do Your Research<\/strong><\/p>\n If using a company for the first time, it\u2019s never a bad idea to look into their background a bit first. The easiest place to check is their website, and legitimate facilities can be found in telephone directories too. Look for signs of an established presence \u2013 a threadbare or badly maintained website might be a sign that it\u2019s been set up hastily, which is never a good indication! While you\u2019re at it, make sure to check for a physical address.<\/p>\n Get A Certificate Of Destruction<\/strong><\/p>\n Whenever you sell or scrap your car, you should always receive this document. (At Scrap Car Network, we\u2019ll have it to you within seven days.) It officially releases you from any responsibility with the car, and transfers it to the owner. Remember, a Certificate Of Destruction is exactly that. It\u2019s not a Document of Collection, or any other made-up name, so don\u2019t let anyone fob you off with one. Unless it\u2019s a CoD, it has zero legal standing.<\/p>\n Never hand over money without seeing the car<\/strong><\/p>\n This is another key step, especially if you\u2019re talking to someone online. We\u2019ve run you through how to check that a car isn\u2019t a cut and shut (link above), and don\u2019t be afraid to take it for a test drive either. Be wary of being pressured into handing over a deposit with lines like \u201chaving another buyer interested\u201d. If they\u2019re legitimate, they may try and hurry you along a bit, but they\u2019ll also respect you wanting to take your time in turn. It\u2019s also a good time to check the car\u2019s VIN, too<\/a>.<\/p>\n Use An Authorised Treatment Facility<\/strong><\/p>\n Of course, you can save yourself a lot of bother in the first instance by simply checking if the dealer is an Authorised Treatment Facility. They\u2019re the only ones legally allowed to scrap your car, so unless they can prove to you they\u2019re an ATF (licenced and monitored by the Environment Agency), steer well clear!<\/p>\n At Scrap Car Network, we don\u2019t mess you about when it comes to scrapping your car. There\u2019s no changing of prices at the last minute \u2013 you can simply enter in your postcode and car reg on our website to see an instant price for your scrap car<\/a>. Not only that, but all of our dealerships are registered ATFs, so you know we\u2019re operating well inside the law. Don\u2019t hang around \u2013 start scrapping your car today!<\/p>\nScrap Car Network\u2019s Top Tips For Avoiding Scammers<\/h3>\n
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