Is this illegal? (Dealership question)

[uncbeers]

Been a long time since I posted but I figured I would seek some help here.

Buyer living in Indiana found a used car to purchase in Michigan through a dealer. Went up to complete the transaction on April 9th. The Finance Manager had all paperwork but the used car title. The FM said they would find it and send it via mail so that the car could be registered in Indiana. Unfortunately it took multiple calls and emails to the dealer to finally get a response to where the title was. Finally, the buyer was able to send a family member in the Michigan area (on April 21st) to the dealership to pick-up the title to guarantee that it was going to get delivered since the dealership failed to do this originally. When the Michigan title was finally delivered to the buyer (via her family member), it had the buyer's signature on the title. Clearly not the buyer's signature and in a different ink than all other documents signed back on April 9th when the buyer was physically present and the title was missing.

When the dealership was asked about this signature on the title, they claimed they could do it in this case due to it being an out of state purchase and they acted within agent-title law. However, I don't see how a dealership could sign a person's signature unless they had a Power of Attorney or something of that nature? I see how they could sign their own information or maybe "on behalf of" but actually signing someone's signature without consent sounds like forgery.

Does this sound illegal to anyone else?

[IBCoupe]

Ask a lawyer.

[Dattebayo]

Agent-title law is news to me, but it's another state, so...

Anyway, if they have a bill of sale from the previous owner, it's all moot. What exactly are you worried about? If you have doubts, then check the car with local law enforcement to see if it's stolen!

[uncbeers]

Agent-title law is news to me, but it's another state, so...

Anyway, if they have a bill of sale from the previous owner, it's all moot. What exactly are you worried about? If you have doubts, then check the car with local law enforcement to see if it's stolen!

That's my problem...I'm not originally from either of the two states involved here. In fact, in CO I don't see the title until it's paid off.

Can you help me out and clarify how the dealer having the original bill of sale (it was a lease return so I'm sure they have whatever they need) allows them to forge another person's signature though? That's my hang-up...this whole deal has been a mess and has (if nothing else) steered me clear of this dealership ever again.


Thanks!