Well. Looks like I've been scammed for the first time since coming to the Philippines.
I'm looking for a referral to a lawyer in the Bacolod City or Silay City area who can help me work through this.
Here's what happened.
I agreed to buy a motorcycle for ₱15,000 total: ₱7,000 down, with the remaining ₱8,000 to be paid a week later.
Since the motorcycle was in Kabankalan City, about two and a half hours away, I also agreed to cover the rental truck (₱2,500) plus another ₱1,000 for fuel and food.
The motorcycle was delivered as promised. But as soon as the seller left, the pressure started. He kept demanding another ₱3,000. In the end I gave in and sent the extra ₱3,000.
It's also worth mentioning that the seller told me he'd bought the engine separately and put the motorcycle together himself. I'll come back to that.
Right now I'm checking that the engine and frame numbers haven't been reported stolen. Looking back, I should have done that before handing over any money. That's on me.
The seller is now demanding full payment and says he won't hand over the OR/CR (registration papers), the Deed of Sale, or the Affidavit of Engine Swap until I pay the balance.
I'm not going to blame anyone until I've confirmed the facts and know my legal rights. That's why I'm looking for a lawyer.
If you know a reliable lawyer in the Bacolod City or Silay City area who handles motorcycle or vehicle transactions, fraud, or related civil or criminal cases, please send me their details.
And anyone buying a vehicle here, or anywhere, take this as a warning.
Check the paperwork. Check the frame number. Check the engine number. Check the ownership. Do your homework before handing over money.
Lesson learned.
Don't keep going down this road. Meet him in person, pay him, take the OR CR and the rest, and move on. You'd get nothing in court. This is the Philippines, not America. It's 15k pesos, not 150k or 300k+. Let it go and count the loss later.
I don't get it. The deal was 7,000 now and 8,000 a week later. If he delivered the bike and a week has passed, you need to pay him the 8,000 balance. If the extra 3,000 wasn't agreed on before delivery, why would you pay it? Am I missing something?
Next time, since you're a foreigner, don't go alone. Bring a Filipino friend or a foreigner who's lived in the Philippines a long time for any deal you make... they're taking advantage of you and cheating you....
Keep in mind that people here have been shot over far less money
Send the bike back and think of it as tuition for learning how some people do business here! Before you get upset at my advice, I've been here since 1983 and learned the hard way too.
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