How do I write a demand letter for personal property?
RE: DEMAND FOR THE RETURN OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
Dear [NAME],
This is an official notice to make it known that you are in unlawful possession of the following property:
2014 BMW 650i Gran Coupe
$9,300 per Domestic Wire Transfer
I/We, [NAME], demand that you return the aforementioned property immediately.
You do not have the right to keep my property, and you are legally required to return it at your expense.
If there is no response to this letter, all legal rights will be explored, including, but not limited to, legal proceedings necessary to recover the property.
As already mentioned, this demand letter for personal property serves as official notice to you and may be tendered in court as evidence of your failure to return the property. If legal action is to occur to resolve this matter, it may involve having you pay attorney’s fees.
It is in the best interest of all parties to resolve this matter as soon as possible.
The demand letter gets its main message across, but there’s room to make it stronger and more persuasive from a legal perspective.
Right now, it does a good job identifying the people involved, describing the property clearly, and stating that its return is being demanded. It also wisely mentions the possibility of legal action, including the recovery of attorney’s fees, and notes that the letter itself could be used as evidence in court—these are solid starting points.
That said, there are a few key areas where the letter could be improved. One major issue is the lack of detail explaining why the person receiving the letter is wrongfully holding onto the property. Just saying their possession is “unlawful” isn’t enough without any background.
The letter should explain how the person came to have the vehicle in the first place—was it loaned to them, part of a deal that fell through, or taken without permission? This context is critical to support the claim and strengthen the demand for return.
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I just completed a demand letter for my 2014 BMW 650i Gran Coupe.

I understand you completed a demand letter for your BMW. Have you encountered any issues with the payment or transfer process?

Payment for what specifically?

Have you received any response or feedback regarding the demand letter from the recipient?

I haven’t sent it yet.

Is there anything else the lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they’ll be able to help with your demand letter.

The jurisdiction is in Texas.

Hello! I'm delighted that you've chosen to contact us for assistance. My name is Jon, and I'm here to assist you as an attorney.
I understand that dealing with legal issues can be stressful and confusing. Don't worry, I'm here to help, and I hope to provide you with a solution to your problem.

What question about the letter did you have?

Please review my demand letter for an automotive shop in Houston, Texas, that the detective requested in order for the police to go to the shop and check on my car and retrieve or make a demand for its return.

Ok, you would have to copy/paste that wording in here.

RE: DEMAND FOR THE RETURN OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
Dear [NAME],
This is an official notice to make it known that you are in unlawful possession of the following property:
2014 BMW 650i Gran Coupe
$9,300 per Domestic Wire Transfer
I/We, [NAME], demand that you return the aforementioned property immediately.
You do not have the right to keep my property, and you are legally required to return it at your expense.
If there is no response to this letter, all legal rights will be explored, including, but not limited to, legal proceedings necessary to recover the property.
As already mentioned, this demand letter for personal property serves as official notice to you and may be tendered in court as evidence of your failure to return the property. If legal action is to occur to resolve this matter, it may involve having you pay attorney’s fees.
It is in the best interest of all parties to resolve this matter as soon as possible.

Got it. I just need a few minutes to finish typing out a complete response for you. It won’t take long—typically just a few minutes or so.

Is the letter sufficient? Do I add any of the language you are typing out in your response?

The demand letter gets its main message across, but there’s room to make it stronger and more persuasive from a legal perspective.
Right now, it does a good job identifying the people involved, describing the property clearly, and stating that its return is being demanded. It also wisely mentions the possibility of legal action, including the recovery of attorney’s fees, and notes that the letter itself could be used as evidence in court—these are solid starting points.
That said, there are a few key areas where the letter could be improved. One major issue is the lack of detail explaining why the person receiving the letter is wrongfully holding onto the property. Just saying their possession is “unlawful” isn’t enough without any background.
The letter should explain how the person came to have the vehicle in the first place—was it loaned to them, part of a deal that fell through, or taken without permission? This context is critical to support the claim and strengthen the demand for return.

Also, the reference to “$9,300 per Domestic Wire Transfer” is unclear—it’s not obvious how this relates to the vehicle or the demand. That connection needs to be made clear for the information to carry any weight.
The demand for the vehicle’s return “immediately” sounds urgent, but legally it’s more effective to set a specific deadline. Saying something like “within seven (7) calendar days from the date of this letter” gives the other party a firm timeline and helps build a stronger case if legal action becomes necessary.
The letter should also explain exactly how and where the vehicle should be returned, including contact details to arrange the return.
Finally, it’s a good idea to send the letter by certified mail with a return receipt. That way, you have clear proof that it was sent and received, which can be very helpful if this ends up in court.

The $9,300 was an invoice sent to me for payment in advance for the full replacement of a brand-new engine installation sent in full by wire to the mechanic. My address is listed just below my name at the top of the letter.

This new information significantly clarifies the purpose of the $9,300, making it a crucial element in your demand letter. It establishes that you paid for a service (engine replacement) that presumably wasn't completed, or at least didn't result in the return of your vehicle.

I do have an email that details everything that I sent to the Stafford Police Department and eBay (this is where the service contract was generated from).

You can use the contents of that email effectively in your demand letter. It shows that you took steps early on to address the issue, which helps establish a record of your efforts with both the authorities and the platform involved.
The timestamp on the email also helps create a clear timeline, showing exactly when you first raised the issue. On top of that, it confirms that the service contract came through eBay, which is key to backing up the legitimacy of your claim.
Chances are, the email also includes important details about the transaction, the vehicle, and the service that wasn’t provided—details that will support what you're asking for in the demand letter.
You don’t need to attach the email to the letter, but it’s smart to reference it. Doing so lets the other party know you’ve already taken steps to resolve the matter and have documentation to back up your claims. Be sure to keep that email handy, along with your wire transfer receipt and the certified mail receipts for your demand letter, as part of your full set of records.

I appreciate the courtesy.

I do hope the information I provided was helpful and addressed your question. If there's anything else you need, please don't hesitate to reach out—I’m always happy to assist. Wishing you a fantastic day ahead!
