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I am the legal owner of a geo prism automobile, registered to me, titled to me, and insured by me. It was an an older model but was fully operational and was my only means of transportation.in early December, my husband and I became estranged and he took my car from a birthday party and never returned. Several days later I was informed by friends, that my vehicle had been sold for scrap metal. My husband took the car to Parks Auto Salvage on Hwy 17 in Ravenel, SC, and sold my car for $176.00. I bought the geo prism in 2005 with money given to me from a civil case for injuries received in an accident.
After I found out that my geo prism had been sold, I called Parks Auto Salvage two days in a row and inquired about my vehicle. I was told by the man who buys the cars there, that he would not buy a car without a title under any circumstances and my car was not there. I continued to look for my car assuming that I was misinformed. I called the Charleston City Police and I was told by Lt. Hill that I was the owner of the car. He said for me, to go to Parks and tell them to present my property and if they didnt, for me to call the police. I went to Parks 30 minutes before the office opened. The gates to the yard were wide open so I walked in. There I found my car totally destroyed, flattened like a pancake, with my legal tag still on the back of the car. None of the parts were removed from the car. I got the impression that someone was in a hurry to get rid of my car. I was hysterical when I saw the car. I told the crane operated that I was calling the police. He also called the police. Charleston County Police responded because Parks Auto Salvage was in the county not the city. When the Chas. County police arrived I was arrested for trespassing. I went there to recover my stolen property!!! The county police officer said that the car was community property and my husband could do whatever he wanted with the car. I could not have sold the car if I wanted to because the car had a lien on it
There was a title loan on the car that is in my name and I am responsible for paying off. There were still 4 payments to be made. Shortly after that, I lost my job because I had no transportation. I lost my job, car and my freedom. I have incurred legal fees also. This is a crime. You can call it fraud, theft, whatever you want. It is still a crime. Thus far I have contacted the Dept of Motor Vehicles, the Charleston County Police and not one person is willing to help me bring criminal charges against Parks Auto Salvage. Several attorneys refused to take the civil case. I want to know why there was no vehicle history report done by Parks or no form TR-3 salvage title filed with the motor vehicles department. The car was driven into the salvage yard and it was obvious that the car was very operational and legally on the road. My vehicle was not scrap metal or a junk automobile. I will not let Parks Auto steal my car. I had legislation drawn up to prevent this from happening again in the state of South Carolina. To date I am still responsible for the loan on the car and the property taxes on the car because the hwy dept won't recognize it as a stolen vehicle without a police report. The SC Code of Laws states that SLED and the SC Highway Patrol have the power to inspect and monitor the auto salvage yards. I have searched the SC Code of Laws and I would like to refer you to section 56-29-30,56-5-5920,56-5-5945,56-19-810,23-3-175,56-3-2350. SLED, the Dept of Consumer Affairs, Attorney General, Governors Office, Solicitor, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and many others refused to help me. I finally got a car theft, car fraud lawyer and he brought a judgment against them. Dont be victimized by any business.
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