If you are selling a vehicle think twice before agreeing to an online ad with a company claiming to have buyers lined up. A Langley, B.C., man says he's out $500 and didn't get what he was promised.

It's a pleasure to drive, and a beauty to look at, but owner Peter Spaa never expected he'd still be driving his diesel 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Last November, Spaa advertised the truck for sale on Craig's list and through the Buy and Sell. Then he got a phone call from Global Auto Registry.

Spaa liked their promises.

"I said I want $39,900 for my car, which at the time I should easily be able to get. And they turn around and said, 'oh, that's too low, we can get $42,500,'" he said.

The cost? About $420 plus $105 for insurance so if the vehicle remained unsold he'd get his ad money back.

But no one ever called about his ad and Spaa hit a roadblock when he tried to get his money back.

"I phoned them about three or four months later and they said 'You missed your time to call in,' I said 'When was my time to call in?' and they said 'Three or four days after your expiry date'", Spaa said.

Then he contacted CTV. Our investigation found Global Auto Registry has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureaus. It has received 133 complaints in the last 36 months.

"It sounds like the company is making promises that consumers are alleging they are not meeting," said BBB's Simone Lis.

Global Auto Registry is also under investigation by two government agencies -- the Business Practices Consumer Protection Authority and the Financial Institutions Commission -- to see if it's operating within B.C. law. FiCom is investigating the sale of insurance which requires a license

The BPCPA has had seven complaints against Global Auto Registry and one against WK Consulting which does telemarketing for Global Auto, since August. All resulted in "Compliance Obtained" meaning thousands of dollars went back to consumers.

We contacted Global Auto Registry several times. Their voice mailbox was full. Our emails through the website were never returned. Peter is hopeful he will be getting his money back.But more than anything he wants other sellers to be cautious.

"I don't think anybody else should get screwed," said Spaa.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen