Strange one this peeps but I thought I'd run it by you all to see what you suggest.
I'm currently living in Bexleyheath, just between Watling St and Mayplace Road near Martens Park. Not going to tell you exactly where for obvious reasons. Anyway, the problem is that I've witnessed around three or four car sales going on outside my house and outside Martens Park.
To explain what happens...I've seen two men (they look like Poles and I've been close enough to them to hear they sound East European too) park "old" cars down our road and surrounding roads. When I say old cars, they all seem to be P Reg (1997 registered) or older, so they all look as though they've been collected in one way or another through the scrappage scheme. Anyway, tonight I witnessed yet another "transaction". One of the Poles turns up in a car, the customer turns up and looks over the car, decides to buy it then customer hands over cash in the street.
Now according to the guy who lives across the road, he has noticed it too and after he'd done some digging around, we've discovered that 4 or 5 of these cars are currently for sale on ebay. Anything up to £500 cash, absolutely no returns, customer buys at own risk type of thing.
Ok, fair enough these Poles are probably trying to make a living but an honest living? The parking situation is bad enough down our road as it is without dumped cars down here too, taking up spaces which residents should be using. The neighbours and I would also prefer they fcuked off to do their dodgy dealing elsewhere too.
So what to do?
I initially thought about having it out with them and being upfront...then I saw that both the guys looks like American Wrestlers so started to think through what other options we've got. If the cars are taxed, they have a right to be there I guess. If not, the Police can get them towed away. All seem to be taxed (have had a very close look at them in daylight) so that doesnt seem to be an option.
Then I started to think about licencing. Surely to sell stuff in the street, you need a licence?
Then if these cars have all been collected through the scrappage scheme, I thought the environmental impact was to get these cars scrapped and off the road as well as kick start the car industry increasing sales.
Got no idea where to start with this but I feel I need to do something about and stop ignoring it.
So what would everyone else do? involve the Police? involve the Council? The old man in constantly moaning about it, so much so to get him off my case I nearly went out there tonight and said something, before he stopped me at the door, saying he wants no trouble.
Come on Lifers, how do you suggest I tackle this problem?
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Greenwich are shit hot on these sort of sales. Report it to local trading standards. They will either seize the cars or nick those selling them in conjunction with the police. The practice is (i think) illegal. Best case it all gets stopped, worst case they go somewhere else and it isnt your problem anymore.
Bexleyheath? Thought that came under Bexley Council?
I believe you can sell used cars legally up to a certain number (I think no more than 6 per year) from a private address, otherwise the council/government class it as a 'dealership' (in the loosest sense) for which the seller would need all the relevant licensing, etc and be liable to all relevant taxations.
Trust me, I'd love to lol
Thats interesting to know. We've started noting the number plates of the cars and the dates of the transactions we've witnessed too, so maybe the councils trading standards department would be interested in seeing later.
I'll send you the ebay link lol.
Moi? Not me ;-)
Cheers for the advice peeps. Will send Bexley Council an email with a couple of photos to see if they are interested.
If they are taxed the old bill will not want to know. Ring bexley council as above.
Was only using Greenwich as an example. They have had a crack down on cars parked on a street with a for sale advert in the window. They hammered a bloke in Old Dover Rd. He had about ten up for sale, they tickted them threatening to remove them and when he didn't do anything went bqck and removed the lot.
Same thing happened along Plumstead Common Road, bloke was selling cars along there for as long a I can remember until one day every car had a ticket on it threatening to remove them all.