Southern Car Sales, Inc.

Review: I purchased a motor vehicle from Southern Car Sales, Inc from a [redacted]r on the 11.12.12 and paid cash in full. [redacted] advised that I should proceed to the [redacted] to register the motor vehicle and that he would submit the certificate of title as soon as he retrieved it from his business partner(within a few days). I went to the [redacted] with the order/agreement of purchase and receipt and on checking their system, the [redacted] found no issue with the title. I paid the registration fee and was issued with a temporary certificate of registration pending receipt of the original certificate from the previous owner.

I went back to the dealership over a period of 1-2 months to pursue the certificate but always found the dealership office closed. The telephone was also disconnected. There were always cars outside on display. Eventually after months of this activity, I was driving by one day and saw people looking at the cars on display. I stopped and one of them, identified himself as [redacted] nephew. He told me that his uncle had died of a heart attack and that he was trying to salvage the business and keep it going. He said he had been looking for certificates for a number of customers but could not locate where his uncle had kept them. He also said his uncle had left the business to his grandmother([redacted]'s mother) but she was currently unwell. He said the grandmother would be taking over soon and will resolve the title issues by authorising replacement titles. He requested for some time. I went by a few weeks later but he kept promising to take care of it. Eventually, he too disappeared.Desired Settlement: I would like to ascertain who the current owner of the business is. I would like to know in whose name the present certificate of title is and if possible obtain it. If the title is indeed lost, I would like to have a replacement issued and transfer to me completed.

Business

Response:

The business called and said they were having trouble with the company that financed the car because it has changed names a multitude of times. They have finally gotten the information needed to pay the lien on the car and the customer should have the title by the middle of January.