I sold my car and was not avaiable at the time of sale and the spare key was missing - If my mother signed a piece of paper saying she would provide a key and the person who bought the car now wants a large amount of money to buy a new key - does that signed piece of paper stand up in court?
2007-03-17 09:41:56 · 6 answers · asked by Mandy R 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
That is between your mother and the buyer. Within the four corners of the contract your name is not mentioned and you did not sign. You cannot be held responsible.
2007-03-17 09:46:30 · answer #1 · answered by Colette B 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Anything with a signature is binding. However, making a new key is only a few dollars. The new owner of the car will only get the value of that key because any "emotional distress" caused by not providing an additional key will be dismissed. Just ask the jackas* to go with you to a hardware store and cut a new key. No court will compensate a plaintiff for more than the value lost. The most the idiot could get out of you is the cost of a key and perhaps 3.50 worth of gas to get the one he has duplicated unless the key is electronic and has a code. That can be costly. In that case, the extra key still has to be provided. It is in the contract. Don't sweat it unless it goes to court.
2007-03-17 17:00:59 · answer #2 · answered by MMM 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's a special coded key from the dealer, it could cost $10 to duplicate the one you gave the buyer. So if he's asking $20, just give him the money, but make sure he gives you a signed receipt saying that you've paid him in full for the promised key. A remote controller type key was not promised. Your mother only said she'd have you look for the other spare key. At most you owe him a spare key.
2007-03-17 16:47:28 · answer #3 · answered by bobweb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Signed papers are typically called contracts. If your mother was acting on your behalf, and you gave her permission to do so, then she can legally bind you to a contract acting as your agent.
In court, the judge will want to know if you gave your mother permission to handle the sale. If you did, then you could be bound to pay for the key. If not, your mother may be liable, but would have to be named in the suit or sued separately.
2007-03-17 16:48:42 · answer #4 · answered by danny_boy_jones 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If she signed an agreement, setting forth her obligations, and the agreement also specificed what the other party was responsbible for doing (payment, or whatever), then it counts as a contract and is binding against her.
2007-03-17 16:47:40 · answer #5 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless this was verified by a notary, I highly doubt it.
2007-03-17 16:50:20 · answer #6 · answered by Axel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋