How would you handle this situation?

[Arizona_928]

Bought a Kubota L2350 from PublicSurplus.com from a fire dept. in the Ft. Worth area. Very basic listing only stating the serial number, runs, and needs tires. Went ahead and bought it, and my shipper drops it off today. I inspect it, and the serial number that the agency provided is not even close to that of the listing, or the bill of sale. I am getting the run around from the auction site, and the fire chief for said department.
I paid through a credit card. My CC's fraud department was closed for inquiries.
My brother recommended to just to dispute the charge, since I technically do not own this tractor. What would you guys do?

Funny thing is a google search of the auction's serial number comes up for a riding mower. Hindsight is 20/20...

[unclebilly]

Not sure what you stand to gain here.

[dad911]

I have an L3710, great tractors.

I'd want a bill of sale representing the proper serial #. If they won't provide one, dispute the charge and they will notice.

Also, a local dealer can probably do a search on the serial#

[rattlsnak]

he would either gain legal ownership of the 'correct' tractor or get his money back. (or unless they send the correct paperwork to match the tractor he received.)

[Baz]

Are you happy with the condition of the tractor and do you think you got a good deal?

If not - dispute the charge and have the tractor returned with a refund.

Otherwise, try to get a correct bill of sale.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Baz

Are you happy with the condition of the tractor and do you think you got a good deal?

If not - dispute the charge and have the tractor returned with a refund.

Otherwise, try to get a correct bill of sale.

Overall, I like this little tractor. I am not exactly sure If I got a good deal, or not. My first tractor.
I was afraid to buy from private individuals locally as the whole lack of title issue, and horror stories I have read online. However, here I am.

[aigel]

Dispute the charge. That will get them to talk to you. Then tell them you can only pay if you get a bill of sale with the correct serial number. Otherwise you do NOT have an ownership paper trail and may have trouble selling it down the line.

I bought only one car online ... first and last!

G

[ckelly78z]

The only problem with not having the proper paperwork with the correct serial #, would be if somehow, this tractor at one time had been stolen, there is no proof you bought it legally, and could have it taken away if it had been stolen (not likely, coming from a fire dept)

[onewhippedpuppy]

I would try to get the paperwork, but if I liked the tractor otherwise I wouldn't try to return it. It's not exactly a car, you don't have to have a title to transfer ownership sometime in the future. The odds of it being stolen are pretty slim if you bought it from a fire department.

[stomachmonkey]

You have no proof you own what you bought.

File a dispute with CC to get them to get their **** together and provide you the proper documentation.

[GH85Carrera]

File a dispute.

You could be charged with possession of stolen property if that tractor ever showed up as stolen. If it does get stolen from you, would your insurance company pay you for it or some riding lawnmower?

[cabmandone]

Here's what I'd do. First I'd contact the local Kubota dealer and have them run the serial number. They should be able to tell you who sold the machine originally and to whom it was sold. If red flags appear from there, dig deeper. If not, try to work with the site you purchased it from and get a corrected invoice.

As for proof of ownership, you have a payment transaction from you to the site. I'd supply that to my insurance company with the correct serial number to insure the machine and not get too hung up on an invoice since invoices get lost and there is no title.

[wdfifteen]

I would very carefully and quietly request a bill of sale for the tractor they sent you.
If all you have is a bill of sale for a Kubota serial number 1234 and Kubota serial number 1234 is a riding lawnmower, someone might try to claim you just bought yourself a riding lawnmower.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I would very carefully and quietly request a bill of sale for the tractor they sent you.
If all you have is a bill of sale for a Kubota serial number 1234 and Kubota serial number 1234 is a riding lawnmower, someone might try to claim you just bought yourself a riding lawnmower.

This....


Auctions are usually run by low wage flunkies. Ask them for the correct paper work and move on. Just be glad you got the tractor in the pictures, and not the lawn mower that matched that serial number!

[Evans, Marv]

If you feel you must have a correct bill of sale, follow the advice above. I would inform the auction company about the mix up, provide them with the serial number, and request a bill of sale for that tractor before doing any CC dispute. A bill of sale is likely the best you're going to get. The L2350 is a pretty old tractor, so what is important is not over paying on the price, and the tractor being in good condition with a good & maybe low amount of hours on it. In my state, they are like bicycles, lawn mowers, etc. that are transferred without titles - just a piece of equipment. I can't imagine any serious ownership questions being raised.

[Gogar]

Is the tractor you got a L2350?

If it is and you like it, then I agree just try to get the paperwork straight and keep it.

If something seems too fishy, then dispute and get it out of your life, start over.

[Seahawk]

Here is what I would so to the auction house. A little role playing is in order:

I'm the iceberg, they are the f'ing...



Just kidding. Do what WD suggested. He knows this arena.

[BK911]

Did you pay for a riding mower or that bad a$$ tractor?
If the former, shut up and go dig some holes!
If the latter, then yea, get a proper bill of sale.