Lookout! Would YOU buy a used car from a liar?

"So it is mechanically sound then", we ask for the second time from behind the counter of the petrol station, to the burly Greek guy who we are told owns the garage and the dusty 4x4 parked outside that we are interested in buying.

It's hot, he's busy, we're fed up of searching the Internet for the perfect vehicle and now we don't care what it looks like, just as long as it runs okay and can carry a week's worth of chicken, feta and olives and an obscene amount of bottled water, plus the occasional teenager and two small but rambunctious dogs.

He had been quite good up until this second attempt at the question. Now he seemed a little distracted, irritated even and the question.

"Yes, yes, of course!" Whatever he was doing underneath that counter became earnestly compelling as for the second time he looked down and away and busied himself with something other than the potential sale standing in front of him.

I was reminded of the times I have stood at other counters and have had to interrupt a conversation about a party, a boyfriend or some other's questionable dress code between two shop assistants whose faces tell that they do not take kindly to dealing with a returned item so close to closing time, which betrays their 'Of course, madam' speech. It's never as obvious as the eyes being thrown up and tut tutting at my very presence, though the deep breath in, the quick glance and half smirk to one another, or tightening and pressing together of the lips as the one just grits her teeth and gets on with being nice to someone she would rather not be nice to, tells it all. Then there are that fast food restaurant where I stood entirely alone as twelve servers attended to the drive through contingent whilst I waved madly in the background of their awareness to get attention, or when I've stood practically nose to nose with a cashier who answers the phone to another customer, twice, before looking my way to attend to the flesh and blood waiting patiently for attention.

If I were in Basil Fawlty mode this.is when I would be explaining that I was so awfully sorry to interrupt the fanatically important job of counting buttons or whatever but I would in all honestly like to BUY YOUR CAR that has been showcased within this very forecourt for the past 18 months with not so much as a glimmer in the eye of a potential purchaser for, well, ever, probably.

No, you are right, it was not that he was distracted, he was in fact hiding the fact that he was lying.

No one is ever truly comfortable when they are lying, thank goodness. So the body displays the nervous energy and the perpetrator just wants to get the whole ghastly business over with, even if that means no sale.

I know there are some very genuine folks out there whose job it is to sell cars, though if you meet one, would you please tell me? No, we didn't buy that car.

i also know that everyone needs to lie sometimes for all the worthy reasons we tell ourselves and I accept that, though buying a car is a risky business when parting with hard earned cash and buying a car from someone who speaks a different language is even trickier. However, the language of lies is the same the world over, so when this happens, keep your money and walk away.

You ask THE question, such as 'is it running okay?', 'has the timing chain been replaced?', 'are there any problems I need to be aware of?' etc and....
1. The subject looks down and away before or during answering
2. They scratch or rub the back of the neck
3. Some part of them starts tapping, such as fingers or foot
4. They move a finger or hand over their mouth
5. They place an object between you and them (like a cup or bottle).

These are just five 'red flags' and people will do these things randomly when in conversation with each other HOWEVER, this is how to know if they are LYING to you. Catch and fully observe the movements when you ask the all important question. So many questioners look away at this point! It's amazing! It is as if we feel embarrassed to the person we are questioning and we give them a little privacy as we do not want to be perceived as intimidating. Look and keep looking.

Next, once you have seen one of the above, change the subject and look for relief. Let there be a little relaxation, a little laughter or joviality even. Then, ask the SAME question again. Ask again later, though in a different manner and if you get three red flags, run like the wind.

Okay, go get your lovely new car and lookout for those lies!