On Monday, June 6, 2019, City News Group received information from a long-time resident of Sunnymead Ranch in Moreno Valley about unfair business practices. The reported account of the unfair business transaction left a single mother with a broken promise, loss of $1,700 and a car with a blown motor.
“I didn’t even make it home the car started smoking, white smoke was coming from the back, it was stalling on me and it broke down right in the [Reche] canyon,” said Iyone Jackson, the purchaser of a car from a private party.
When purchasing a car from a private party, there are legal requirements that need to be fulfilled and submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the purchaser, however, there also are legal requirements needed to be followed by sellers. The complaint of the unfair business practice may involve bypassing the DMV selling requirements, also known as title jumping, an illegal practice.
On Memorial Day weekend, Jackson purchased a Scion XB from a neighbor in Sunnymead Ranch for $1,700 and three days after purchasing the vehicle, on the first day of driving it, the motor blew on Jackson’s 9-mile drive home from work.
Jackson, a recent college graduate from Summit College, was ready to purchase a car as she was starting a new job. Jackson took comfort in a neighbor who seemingly wanted to help her with this purchase by dropping the price if paid in full with cash by Friday at 5 PM.
The seller of the car, Jackson said, is a mechanic for RTA and he had several Scion XB’s in his driveway. “I trusted him because he is a neighbor and my little brother knows him… he really seemed trust worthy,” Jackson said.
According to Jackson, the seller of the car presents himself as a mechanic who buys cars and then sells them. City News tried multiple attempts to reach out to the seller, and discern if he is a licensed or private party seller, but was unable to speak with him.
The seller of the car only provided Jackson with a verbal assurance of proper maintenance and that the car was safe to drive.
“He told me, ‘The only thing wrong with the car is it’s missing someone to drive it now,’” Jackson said.
Prior to purchasing the vehicle, Jackson received advice from a concerned friend when she first began her search for a car. Jackson was advised not to buy a money pit. So when it came time to purchase, Jackson was guaranteed that the car was safe to drive by the seller.
However, when the car stalled and the motor blew, Jackson was left with a broken promise and a loss of $1,700 and scrambling to find transportation for her and her son.
“He said he felt bad, but that he doesn’t do refunds. After the motor blew, only then did he say that he sells his cars as is,” Jackson said.
Legally, a buyer or an acquirer of a vehicle from a private party has 10 days from the date of sale to report to the DMV the change of ownership. Transfer fees must be paid to DMV within 30 days of the purchase date, even if you do not have all of the required documents, according to the DMV.
In addition, if you sell or transfer ownership of a vehicle to another party, you have 5 days to report the transfer to DMV.
According to Jackson, at the time of purchase, she was told she could not pay with checks, money order, electronic transfer, or any traceable form of payment. He only accepted cash. Jackson requested a receipt for the $1,700 she paid, but the seller did not provide one. The only record of purchase that was given to Jackson was the California Certificate of Title (Pink Slip). The Pink Slip shows payment of only $100 and did not have his name on it as the owner of the vehicle.
Jackson believes she was taken advantage of by someone who is turning around cars within the 30-day transfer of ownership fee deadline that needs to be made to the DMV; this is commonly known as Title Jumping, a felony.
City News Group is looking for other people that have purchased cars from this seller and have a similar story. Public records show that the property owner's name is Pedro F. Bautista, located at 23405 Evening Snow, Moreno Valley, CA 92557. According to Jackson, the seller goes by Frank.
If anything like this happens to you, let City News Group know, we want to help you.