Who has my registration?

[Shakespeare]

I received a registered letter from the bank that is financing my boat and trailer. The letter basically said that they had problems with the trailer title. I faxed in my registration information as requested and made a follow up call to the bank. The agent explained that they lost the title and he wondered if I had it. I said "No, I didn't". He also mentioned that there was something amiss with the VIN number. So I went home and compared the registration VIN number to the number on the trailer and sure enough it didn't match.

I think this all came about because I upgraded my trailer from a Wesco single axle to a dual axle and the finance guy at the boat dealer didn't catch the swap.

Soooo if any of you lucky guys bought a DLV and a single axle Wesco trailer at Chatlee Marine sometime after the 1st of October 2007 then you may be holding my registration and visa versa. If you meet that criteria you may want to compare your registration VIN number with the actual VIN number on the trailer. If you have a mismatch, then you win the big turkey. How about letting me know if that's the case.

001 You always assume that everybody is doing their job correctly and that no follow up is necessary. Sheesh!

Mike C.

[brevoortia]

You always assume that everybody is doing their job correctly and that no follow up is necessary. Sheesh!



Seriously? That's your standard operating procedure? I thought someone said you were a flinty military type. That doesn't sound like a typical policy for those guys.

I know what you're saying, but these days I take nothing for granted, I assume things aren't as advertised and I check on things that should be implied. People don't give a damn about anyone but themselves these days.

In fact I found out I was no longer on the voting roles when I went in to vote today. Why you ask? Did I move? Nope. I've lived in the same place for the past 4 years. But the state revamped their registration database this year, and some people got lost apparently. Just stupid stuff like that which makes me lose my faith in humanity as it stands right now.

[Big Will]

That's seriouse stuff Shakes... I'd figure the records at the dealership should be able to track back to the other party. Seeing how they put the wrong paper in your hand It shure would be nice of them to help resolve the issue for you and for the other affected party. Delicate situation though, I guess the other guy could demand his tandem axel trailer from you any day now...

Brevoortia, easy man, back away from the ledge. Your right in general, we can be a bunch of dumb asses - self centered, self serving, uncaring, predatory. Its a world of sales tecniques, advertisin', gas prices, - hey move over I'm getting on the ledge with you...

No, must resist, have to find the good in every situation.

Faith - its a word that has a lot of power. Good faith, that's what you were working with there Shakes.

Don't let it bum you out.

[Shakespeare]

Seriously? That's your standard operating procedure? I thought someone said you were a flinty military type.

No Brevoortia, I'm not a flinty military type. Most of those guys in the CCC are, but I'm only guilty by association. ;D How many times do you check the VIN when you buy a car or truck or whatever? I'm not ashamed to admit that I am so enthralled with my new purchase that the VIN number is the last thing on my mind.

My bank is in hot pursuit in the matter. I was hoping to catch anyone that purchased a single axle Wesco from Chatlees since October, just check your VIN number on the registration and make sure things par up.

The caper continues.

Mike C.

[Shakespeare]

Well I think this matter has been resolved. They (Chatlees) tracked it down to some guy living in High Point NC so after sending them copies of my NC drivers license and registration, they're submitting the request to the DMV to make the registration changes and to get the titles to the respective lein holders.

Guess I learned one of life's little lessons on this one... if you dont cover your own a$$ no one else will.

Mike C.

[Bad Chicken]

As I read this reply to the problem it really hit home because I deal with it daily. I work for someone who follows up and verifies every detail of every activity that takes place. In the end a huge amount of time is wasted confirming what is correct and is counter productive. The ultimate result is efforts that should be directed towards the positive are consumed and eaten up to satisify someone's compulsions. The reality is that to go through life you must have a realistic expectation that people will perform in a proper fashion. Otherwise where do you draw the line? It would be hard to drive on a two lane road unless you have faith that the person coming the oppisite way is not going to swerve into your lane. Bottom line is you did nothing wrong by assuming that your dealer filled out the paperwork properly. The problem probably occurs in only a small amount of the transactions they do and it sucks that it had to be you. It will get straightened out and life will go on. I wouldn't let it be a bigger problem than it is. If you get to stressed out over it just go fishing! 014 BC

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Shake, before i left Chatlee, i ckecked all vin numbers to make sure there is no mistake, i do that with my cars too, so today i went to dmv to register my boat and trailer and the guy there told me that there is a problem with the vin from the trailer.I told him that the certificate of origin and the actual number on the trailer were the same, he said that that number doesn't come up, so he send me home to take a picture of the actual vin plate on the trailer in order to ovewrite it(he kept a copy of the picture as proof) 006 . After that i got my regi and left. He said that is common with trailers sometimes with cars too, but mostly trailers, so maybe you have the same problem, which is not a problem.

[Gunnar]

Mike,
I'm glad you got it resolved. I know it would bother me to have that unresolved problem in the back of my mind and not be able to do anything about it. One less worry to have. 012 Gregg

[Shakespeare]

Bad Chicken... thanks for the inside insight. No disrespect, but I'd hate to have that job... checking what's 99.9% right all day long. Actually no stress on this at all nor any expense on my part. Just bewilderment and some effort faxing the paperwork around. In hindsight, If I would've checked the temporary registration at the dealer (like NEM did) the problem would have been caught and taken care of promptly without the crossing of VIN numbers. Here's the human emotional part... I'm looking at this one gorgeous boat sitting on the trailer in the dealer's lot and at that moment all I want to do is get the 'H' - 'E' - double_hockey_sticks out of there and get that baby in the water! I'm sure a couple of you can identify with that feeling. ;D

Thanks to everyone else for your comments and encouragement. Now... time to go fishing. 014

Mike C.