Bill Stein simply wanted to buy an inexpensive used car for his son to drive on his teaching duties.
Instead, the man from suburban Buffalo, New York, learned an expensive and time-consuming lesson about vehicle titles and the importance of a thorough test drive.
Stein’s online search for a used car led him to M&H Auto Sales and Service, 2301 Parade St. He spotted a 2011 Honda CR-V in the parking lot’s Facebook Marketplace ad and drove to Erie on June 3 to check out the vehicle.
Stein and his son met Abdullah Rasheed in the parking lot and took the Honda for a test drive, which, in retrospect, was the first warning sign.
“He just wanted us to go around the block, so we couldn’t get the car to go over 30 miles per hour,” Stein said.
Although Stein realized the vehicle needed new brakes and tires just to pass inspection, he agreed to purchase it for $4,800 in cash.
After Stein paid the money, he said he had to beg for a simple receipt, even though the Pennsylvania Automotive Industry Trade Practices Regulations require sellers to provide a copy of the written contract or sales agreement, the installment sales contract, a statement of the odometer and the warranty.
All Stein received was a handwritten receipt signed by Rasheed stating: “2011 Honda CRV sold on 6/24/24 for $4,800 cash.”
Later, when Stein saw the title, he realized the previous owner had not transferred it to the dealership. Instead, Rasheed signed it as power of attorney from the previous owner.
They had to take the title to an Erie notary public to get a temporary license plate. Only then did Stein and his son begin the journey back to Buffalo.
Stein was not informed that he purchased the vehicle ‘as is’
As soon as the vehicle reached highway speed, it began to shake. Stein stopped and called the parking lot.
“I wanted to bring it back and (Rasheed) said I bought it ‘as is,'” Stein said. “He never mentioned it as a condition of the sale.”
Rasheed later told Stein that he sold him the vehicle as an individual, not through the company – even though they met in the parking lot, used dealer plates from the lot for the test drive, and carried out the transaction in the parking lot. Police told Stein that because this was a person-to-person sale, he needed to take Rasheed to court to get his money back.
The person who answered the phone at M&H Auto Sales and Service identified himself as Rasheed’s brother and said he was “no longer there.” The person refused to provide a contact number for Rasheed, send him a message or answer questions about the sale.
Stein was unable to drive the vehicle or sell it
Stein and his son arrived home and began repairing the vehicle. The shaking was caused by worn out struts and Stein was about to replace them when he attempted to register the vehicle with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
“I couldn’t register the car,” Stein said. “They said the title was unclear.”
Unable to drive the vehicle or sell it, Stein attempted to contact the previous owner in an attempt to convince her to relinquish the title to him.
He was unable to reach her, but his wife contacted the Erie Times-News, and I was finally able to call the previous owner’s father, Don Richardson.
“My daughter must have signed a form giving Rasheed power of attorney,” Richardson said. “I’ll call (Stein) and send him the form.”
Richardson said Rasheed told his daughter to give him power of attorney so he could sell the vehicle more quickly.
Stein should have received Rasheed’s power of attorney at the time of the sale, but Stein said he did not. Richardson kept his promise, and the new form arrived in Stein’s mailbox a few days later, on July 29.
Stein took the form to the DMV “and the title was changed without fail,” he said.
Plans for the Honda now include new underpinnings and selling the vehicle to a family friend, Stein said. Stein’s son will purchase a different vehicle.
What lessons did Stein learn from all this?
“Pay close attention during the sale and be very cautious,” Stein said.
HERE to HELP: Have a consumer question you’d like us to help with? Leave a message with David Bruce at 870-1736, email david.bruce@timesnews.com or mail 205 W. 12th St., Erie, PA 16534.
This article originally appeared in the Erie Times-News: Used Honda CR-V causes Buffalo man problems after buying it in Erie
