I arranged to have our old Mazda MX3 picked up at our apartment parking lot to be donated to the SPCA last April of 2004. The truck driver gave me a receipt. I even dropped off a Release of Liability form at a local DMV office. Months later, the San Francisco SPCA sent us a letter thanking us for our donation.

Everything seemed like clockwork, but then we received a Notice of Stored Vehicle sent by san Jose PD sometime early January this year. Some nut, probably the would-have-been registered owner, was driving the MX3 without a license. I called hoping to deal with this misunderstanding and got a recording, and somewhere in their phone system was an assurance to simply send in a Release of Liability and disregard what I got, and so I dropped off another form at the same local DMV and never worried about it again.

Just this weekend, we received a $1,100 collections bill for impound charges. Well that is just friggin' great, a ding on our credit. Apparently, the MX3 was sold at an auction and the payment wasn't enough to cover the storage fees. I called Rickenbacker, the collection agency. All I have to do...

That's some phrase. Recap: All we had to do was call the local SPCA to donate our car, sign off the title, hand it over to the tow truck driver, and send a Release of Liability to DMV. Now all this!!!

Per Rickenbacker, all I have to do is mail them copies of whatever I have showing we donated that damn MX3 last April of 2004, give it about three business days, and call them back to confirm and ask for a letter to show no fault. As for that ding on my credit, I'll have to wait and see.

You want to donate a car? Know who you're dealing with. I'm sure the SPCA has no control over protocols and procedures, and I'm sure the same goes with any other non-profit organizations. I suggest you get rid of that car yourself. Sell it yourself and make sure the ownership transfer happens, and if you still want to donate, then donate what you'll get for your car. If you want to have them pick up your car, then go ahead. I'm sure this sort of thing won't happen to you...