My husband and I placed an ad looking for a reliable truck for a thousand dollars. A man answered it and we went and looked at the truck. He told us he had recently put 3500 into a new motor for it. He said the reason he was selling it is that he had his license revoked for a DUI and so he figured since he couldn't drive it he needed the money more. Well we paid him 700 with the understanding that we would have our mechanic look at it and if all was OK come back and give him the final 300. Our mechanic said that he could not have put any money into the motor and that the vehicle is not one to be used regularly. I called the man back and he said to forget our deal and bring him the money or he would file the truck as stolen. 1) Can he do that? 2) Could I sue him in small claims to try and give him his truck back and make him give us our money. My husband is a two time cancer survivor on disability. Almost all our bills are paid by me and the truck was so he would have a way to get around while I am at work. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Did you get anything in writing? Did you pay by cash or check?

I would say you can sue him and probably win, but I would also say you would have a hard time collecting since he sounds like a deadbeat.