We've read with interest the various messages about our business Owl Trading and the purchase of RHD cars here in France and we'd like to offer a response to the various points of interest. We have been operating this business for several years and can provide sellers with any number of references from satisfied sellers.We bank in the UK because we are a UK VAT registered business, albeit with facilities here in France.We have never 'bounced' a cheque for anyone. As far as we are aware, the issue of a cheque here in France carries criminal implications if insufficient funds are available, irrespective of the bank where the funds are drawn. Apart from not wishing to 'do time' in a French jail, we are keen to preserve our good name and continue to grow our business.Banking charges for UK euro cheques vary by bank but are usually around the 16 to 20 euro mark.We offer sellers a concrete price, with no risk or expense to themselves. If it is unacceptable or we attempt to reduce it on collection of the vehicle the seller can simply shut the door and it has cost them nothing. They certainly will not have driven hundreds of miles for a disappointment!We bear a real risk too. We agree a deal based upon the seller's description then arrange collection and payout. When we arrive to collect a vehicle we will have already invested time and money in transportation.As we haven't seen the vehicle until we arrive to collect it, bank drafts are impractical.The prices we offer are obviously normally lower (though some sellers have told us on occasion that ours was a better price than they had been offered) than a seller might achieve if he/she returned the car to the UK and was willing to invest time and effort in selling the vehicle there. Our price reflects the costs of transportation - fuel; tolls; ferry charges; return travel; overnight accomodation; wages etc - plus a margin (modest!) for ourselves. (In all of our years of doing business we have to say we've never managed to accomplish all of this, wages and margin excluded, for under 300 euros as one Forum member said he did!) Individual prices quoted reflect the desirability of the vehicle and its location in France.Hope this is helpful to anyone contemplating using our service. Just give us a call for more details on 0565 20 42 80
