About a year ago, my mum bought me a motorhome. I paid her back in full, but we never registered it under either of our names—it’s still in the original owner’s name. Now, she sold it without telling me, and I’ve got neither the motorhome nor the money. I do have texts where she admits I paid her and that she sold it without asking me. Is this theft, or something else? IDK what to do next.
Wait, so the title wasn’t in your name? That could complicate things legally. Do you have proof you paid her?
Ellery said:
Wait, so the title wasn’t in your name? That could complicate things legally. Do you have proof you paid her?
Yeah, I’ve got texts from her admitting I paid her and that she sold it without telling me.
Ellery said:
Wait, so the title wasn’t in your name? That could complicate things legally. Do you have proof you paid her?
If you didn’t register it, wouldn’t the original owner technically still own it?
Ellery said:
Wait, so the title wasn’t in your name? That could complicate things legally. Do you have proof you paid her?
Good point. IDK how that works, but she acted like it was hers to sell after I paid her.
I think this could be considered conversion—when someone wrongfully controls property they don’t own. Maybe check Utah’s laws?
Larkin said:
I think this could be considered conversion—when someone wrongfully controls property they don’t own. Maybe check Utah’s laws?
What’s conversion exactly? Does that mean she could get in legal trouble?
Larkin said:
I think this could be considered conversion—when someone wrongfully controls property they don’t own. Maybe check Utah’s laws?
Yeah, it’s like civil theft. You’d have to prove you owned it, though. Texts might help, but a lawyer can confirm.
You could try small claims court to get your money back. Do you know how much the motorhome is worth?
Charlie said:
You could try small claims court to get your money back. Do you know how much the motorhome is worth?
I think around $10,000, but I’d have to check.
Charlie said:
You could try small claims court to get your money back. Do you know how much the motorhome is worth?
Small claims in Utah handles up to $15,000, so that’s an option.
If you call the police, they might not charge her. Ownership is murky since it wasn’t registered in your name.
Zephyr said:
If you call the police, they might not charge her. Ownership is murky since it wasn’t registered in your name.
Yeah, I thought about bringing the police, but IDK if they’d see it as theft.
Zephyr said:
If you call the police, they might not charge her. Ownership is murky since it wasn’t registered in your name.
Probably not theft unless you can prove it was legally yours. Might be better to go the civil route.
Your mum selling it without your knowledge is super dodgy. Have you tried talking to her about getting your money back?
Amari said:
Your mum selling it without your knowledge is super dodgy. Have you tried talking to her about getting your money back?
I did, but she says she sold it because I wasn’t giving it to her friend like she wanted.
Amari said:
Your mum selling it without your knowledge is super dodgy. Have you tried talking to her about getting your money back?
Yikes. That sounds like a mess. Definitely keep those texts—they’re your best evidence if you take it to court.