[poncho-mike]

Robert,

I had a problem with a classic car dealer a number of years ago.

I called him repeatedly but got no results. I threatened to take him to court, but that doesn't do much. The most you will get is a judgement against the guy.

What really got his attention was when I threatened to call the DMV inspector. In NC, dealers must maintain records and must regularly go through inspections with the DMV to insure they are complying with the rules and regulations that govern car dealers.

In my case, the guy had a wholesale license, which meant he wasn't supposed to be selling to the general public. After buying the car, I found the VIN plates had been swapped from another car. Had DMV gotten involved, he would probably have lost his dealer's license. I got my money returned promptly.

In your case, it might be worth going to the DMV inspection people and making a complaint. If the guy is selling cars, he should have a dealer's license. If he doesn't have a dealer's license, then that could be an issue in itself.

Mike