Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)EXCLUSIVE by Wendy Williams
A BRITISH woman has been landed with a 300 euro tax bill for a car she sold years ago.
Diane Hamer was horrified to discover that her blue Suzuki Baleno was still registered in her name.
The hairdresser, who lives in Antequera, had sold it to a friend and regular customer three years ago.
When she handed over the paperwork she believed everything had been carried out correctly.
It was only when she bought a new car this year that the garage owner explained she was still effectively responsible for all fines, tax and accidents relating to her old car.
“As you can imagine I was very annoyed,” she said.
“My friend assured me he would transfer the car into his name and I trusted him completely to do it.
She added: “I had no option but to go to the Traffic Department in Malaga, pay the fine owing and cancel the registration.
“Whoever has the car now is driving it illegally.”
It emerges that the car has been sold on twice since Hamer sold it, in particular via a car dealer.
The British dealer, also based in Antequera, told the Olive Press: “It is very easy here to trust the buyer to put the car in their name but you have to be careful.
“If she hadn’t sold the car without doing the transfer she wouldn’t be in this mess.”
If anyone has information regarding the navy blue Suzuki Baleno Estate car, registration no: 2994 CWX, please email wendy@theolivepress.es .
Respect the spanish law and carry out the processes to make all the paperwork legal and this type of thing wouldn’t happen. Oh wait a minute it happens all the time whether you try or not particularly if you have paid to get paperwork stamped at your local town hall and the following administration doesn’t like the previous policy.
Report it stolen, when the police find the car, sell it and use the money to pay the fine. Sorted.
Dear Juan, Your comment was “interesting” but I believe some parties would consider that approach Fraudulent Misrepresentation. If so, some go on a lengthy all-expense paid trip to a Government “vacation site” where you can enjoy the life-style… but have to be careful NOT to bend over to pick up the soap in the communal shower. Sorted