In January of this year my step dad told me that he would help me buy a car..
I had 2400 dollars from my refund check from college and he told me he would put in the rest. We went to get a car for 5200 dollars. He wrote a check for 5200 and I wrote him a check for 2400 dollars the same day. The car is paid off and everything is in my name. I never made a payment to him for the vehicle and now my step dad and my mom broke up and he is claiming that the 150 I gave her once a month for rent was in fact a "car payment" that was deposited into their joint checking. He even says he has exact dates that I made this "car payment". Can't anyone write things down and say they are something they aren't? I always paid my mom in cash though and I never got a receipt or anything, why would I, she's my mom. He tells me if I don't pay him by October 31st that he is taking me to the magistrate. I never had intentions on paying for this vehicle and he told me that my car will be sold in a sheriff's sale if I don'tpay him... should I start making payments? Or let him take me to court? Help me!

In January of this year my step dad told me that he would help me buy a car..
I had 2400 dollars from my refund check from college and he told me he would put in the rest. We went to get a car for 5200 dollars. He wrote a check for 5200 and I wrote him a check for 2400 dollars the same day. The car is paid off and everything is in my name. I never made a payment to him for the vehicle and now my step dad and my mom broke up and he is claiming that the 150 I gave her once a month for rent was in fact a "car payment" that was deposited into their joint checking. He even says he has exact dates that I made this "car payment". Can't anyone write things down and say they are something they aren't? I always paid my mom in cash though and I never got a receipt or anything, why would I, she's my mom. He tells me if I don't pay him by October 31st that he is taking me to the magistrate. I never had intentions on paying for this vehicle and he told me that my car will be sold in a sheriff's sale if I don'tpay him... should I start making payments? Or let him take me to court? Help me!

This should be on its own thread, not on the announcement portion of the board.

If you don't owe him, don't pay him. You will both go to Court and a Judge/Magistrate will decide.

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Originally Posted by fronzaglio12345

The car is paid off and everything is in my name..... he told me that my car will be sold in a sheriff's sale if I don't pay him.... should i jus start making payments? or let him take me to court?!

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Hello f:

If everything is in your name, he can't take the car and sell it or it's STEALING. If you don't owe him, DON'T pay him, and tell the judge what you told us... You'll win.

excon

Have your mom testify that the $150 was rent not a car payment. If you have any other proof that there was an agreement for him to pay for the car, bring it. Unless he has proof that you agreed to pay, its going to be he said / she said and the judge will decide. I suspect the judge will decide in your favor.

He can't take the car unless the judge does decide in his favor.

I'm confused. You said he wrote a check for $5,200 and you wrote him a check for $2,400 which would leave a balance of $2,800. Was the agreement that you would reimburse your stepfather for what he paid for your vehicle?

I don't know what $150 for rent money has to do with anything.

Legally, if the vehicle is in your name, your stepfather - or whatever he is now - cannot take the vehicle nor can he sell it at a sheriff's sale.

What does your mother say about all of this?

EDIT: This post was made prior to seeing that there were 2 threads about the same issue. The advice already given is good, but I still say there are too many unanswered questions.

Your step dad helped you and that was his decision. He cannot ask for it back. Its yours.

So he paid for 1/2 of the car. What was the agreement , was it a gift ?

Whose name is the car titled in.

But he is making threats, unless you were suppose to pay,

So let him sue you, and the court will tell you if you have to pay him or not.