Help - Car Deposit Error Advice please!

Sybersal

Mid March I found a used car in a main dealer some distance from me that I wanted to P/X our current car for. Unfortunately nothing closer. My Dad kindly paid £500 deposit on his credit card around 22nd March. My husband and I collected the car on the 29th March paying an additional £700 via debit card then the rest was down the p/x and the new finance.
Off we drove into the night.
Today I have had a call from the Dealer querying the deposit - I said my Dad paid on 22nd by credit card. He hung up (no apology) and then 20 mins later called back to say the £500 deposit had not gone through and could I check with my Dad - now where do we stand with this - surely it is their error for not checking this before we bought the car - they had a week before we drove off in it (and nearly 5- 6 weeks since)
Help!! (Have said my dad away so can't check for a couple of weeks but advice gratefully received!
:cool::)

Apples2

Stop being ridiculous, ask your dad if it has gone through, if not. Pay it and enjoy the car.

You are trying to steal.

catflea

Your father should speak to his credit card company. If the charge was authorised and the dealer/their finance company have not claimed it yet then thats their problem (they have up to 6 months to debit the card).

If the charge has gone through then they are trying to pull a fast one, or they cannot reconcile their records correctly.

I'm not going to pretend to know the legality of the situation if the card was declined but surely the ethical thing to do would be to pay up?

Weirdlittleman

OP what would you be doing if they had overcharged your deposit?

Sybersal

If I had been over charged I would have definately noticed much earlier - perhaps even before I collected the car not 6 weeks later!!!
I am not trying to 'steal' anything - but the guy who called me was extremely rude - when clearly they have made a mistake!
My Dad is checking (there is no reason for it to be declined)
My receipt however confirms the deposit was paid!!

Lavendyr

OP I do apologise for the rude reply you got first off. Sometimes the phrase "please be nice to all Moneysavers" is missed by some people.

The garage could be trying it on and it's never pleasant to be spoken to as you describe, but it's not yet clear that they have made a mistake - it could be that the card transaction was blocked pending authorisation, for instance.

First things first, you simply need to ask your dad to check his credit card statement or ring his credit card company and confirm whether or not the charge went through. If it did, then ring back the garage and ask them to check their records.

Just because there is no reason for it to be declined in your view does not mean that the bank has no reason to decline it. Often transactions are declined because of unusual transactions, and this certainly counts as an unusual transaction. However, were this to be the case I would have expected the transaction to have been declined on the spot, or a referral required.

The only other thing I can think of is that the amount was below the dealer's floor limit, in which case it could have been authorised on the spot and subsequently declined, but £500 would be a high floor limit, I would have thought, no matter the industry.

Anyway, check with the CC company then go back to them. I wouldn't advise going in all guns blazing - it doesn't sound like they would react well to this. Simply explain, politely, that you have confirmed with the CC company that the charge has been made and that you have evidence of this, and ask them to correct their records.

Weirdlittleman

Sybersal wrote: »

If I had been over charged I would have definately noticed much earlier - perhaps even before I collected the car not 6 weeks later!!!
I am not trying to 'steal' anything - but the guy who called me was extremely rude - when clearly they have made a mistake!
My Dad is checking (there is no reason for it to be declined)
My receipt however confirms the deposit was paid!!

If they had done this then when you queried it been less than co-operative and made you run through hoops to get your money would you not have also been a bit rude?

WTTM

Sybersal wrote: »

If I had been over charged I would have definately noticed much earlier - perhaps even before I collected the car not 6 weeks later!!!
I am not trying to 'steal' anything - but the guy who called me was extremely rude - when clearly they have made a mistake!
My Dad is checking (there is no reason for it to be declined)
My receipt however confirms the deposit was paid!!

You are just at it! How long does it take your dad to check his statement ? Seconds ?

Garage should have noticed earlier but no problem that they didn't - but surely you will be thinking that your dad should have noticed earlier whether or not a £500 transaction has/hasn't gone through his card.


MOMENT

Sybersal

I am quite shocked by some the responses - firstly yes it would take my Dad seconds to check his credit card statement - had he not currently been in hospital recovering for surgery - so as soon as he can I am sure he will (I am not going to trouble him at the moment)

I am not sure what Weirdlittleman is getting at - I have not heard from the Company (a main dealer - not a little garage) since we drove away in the car 5 weeks ago yesterday (a week after they took this deposit)
I am not trying to get away with anything - just bemused and upset by a rude man calling twice today, and now with the attitude on this board.
I am actually quite sorry I asked!
Thank you for those of you who have been nice.
(Yes it has been a stressful time with my Dad in hospital)

WTTM

Sybersal wrote: »

Help!! (Have said my dad away so can't check for a couple of weeks but advice gratefully received!
:cool::)

Sybersal wrote: »

My Dad is checking (there is no reason for it to be declined)

Sybersal wrote: »

I am quite shocked by some the responses - firstly yes it would take my Dad seconds to check his credit card statement - had he not currently been in hospital recovering for surgery - so as soon as he can I am sure he will (I am not going to trouble him at the moment)

3 posts above in order that you posted them appear to be inconsistent with the truth.

Before getting on your high horse with people, start by giving honest facts and you might get somewhere.


MOMENT

Sybersal

Because I actually did not see the need to give out personal information - but the comments that have been left have been slightly upsetting.
My Dad will check but unfortunately not for a week or so (I did tell the Dealer he was away)
Anyway I am sorry I asked, perhaps someone can kindly tell me how to delete my post - this was the first time I had asked for advice, I did not expect to be called a thief, a liar, or trying to pull a fast one.

All I wanted to know was if they had a right to their money IF they are correct - if you buy something in a shop and the shop keeper realises after you have paid he has under charged you - who has the Rights. Instead I have just been insulted.
Quite shocked to be honest.