Not happy with this sales technique

MCLF

Hi - my first post.

I'm very concerned about what's happening with my elderly father and would like opinions.

Dad hasn't driven for several years, during which time he's become more forgetful and lacks concentration.
A few months ago he was reissued with a new driving licence from the DVLA, but didn't show any interest in purchasing a car.

He rang up his local garage on Friday and requested a brochure. The man he spoke to suggested a test drive and turned up the same day. Dad was happy with the car and agreed to buy it there and then - which is most out of character. He gave him £100 deposit.

The next day the salesman turned up at the house with paperwork and tomorrow dad will give him a bankers draft for the full amount (£14000).

The car seems suitable for their needs and the price appears reasonable. My concern is the speed with which all this has happened.

I'm not sure dad is safe to drive. By coincidence he has a GP's appointment later this week and I would like to attend and discuss safety with the GP before he goes ahead with the purchase.

Is he now locked into the deal?
If so, is a bankers draft the safest way to pay?

halibut2209

Does seem a bit fast. If you're concerned the easiest thing is to forget about the £100 (a relatively small amount considering the full purchase price) and talk with your Dad. If he really wants a car, then you go through it all with him

George_Michael

You normally have a 7 day cooling off period for any financial contract that is made away from the traders normal place of business.
This right applies even if you invited the dealer/trader to your home. (it used to be for cold calling only, but was recently changed).
I've posted the details below.

I would be very tempted to cancel, and then if your dad still wants a car, have a good look about and do lots of haggling.
I wouldn't be surprised to find that the contract signed was for the maximum price possible for the car concerned with no discount of any kind, and I sure you will be able to negotiate a far better deal.

1) Contracts made at home (or at your workplace)

Since October 2008 there are improved cancellation rights if you agree to buy something during a visit by a trader, whether or not you invited the trader to visit.

If you make a contract for over £35 with a trader in your own home (or someone else’s), or at your place of work, for goods and/or services …

You have, in most cases, a 7 day cooling off period in which you can change your mind and cancel.
The rules only apply if the contract is agreed while the trader is with you.
These cancellation rights do not apply if the trader visits and later sends you a written quotation, which you accept by phone or in writing when he is not present.
The trader MUST give you a written notice of your cancellation rights, including a cancellation form, which explains how you can cancel.
If the trader fails to give you this written information he commits a criminal offence and does not have a legal right to demand payment. Contact Trading Standards if this happens to you.
You MUST CANCEL IN WRITING. Cancellation takes effect the day you send the letter – not the day the trader receives it. Keep a copy and get proof of posting.
If you buy something online, by phone, fax, mail order, TV at home without any face to face contact with the trader you still usually have a right to change your mind and cancel but the rules are different. The trader must still send you written details of your right to cancel.
If you make a credit or hire agreement at home you still have a cooling off period but the rules are different. Your right to cancel must be set out in the agreement.

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Advice-Benefits/Trading-standards/trading-standards-right-to-cancel.en;jsessionid=E7E505A6F1A677ADB4689EEB70B60152.tcwwwaplaws2

halibut2209

Or what George said

mountainofdebt

Personally, for me, the over riding issue would be the ability to drive not the speed of the car purchase.

What I would do is to pursuade your dad to delay the handing over of the bankers draft until your dad has seen his GP.

Unfortuantely we are in a similar situation where we have real concerns over the ability of a relation to drive, but to due to the family situation we are unable to actually say something to the person or closer relatives. You, fortunately aren't in that position.

Even if your dad loses the £100, it will be a small price to pay to ensure his, and other road users safety.

As for the speed of the transaction, are you sure it isn't your dad driving (no pun intended) the speed ?

Hintza

My mother is nuts behind the wheel (according to the grandchildren who all now drive) but I would get my head in my hands if I suggested she shouldn't drive. :eek:

mo786uk

Its unclear from your post where he was when he agreed the contract. Did he have a test drive and then shown back to the showroom where he did the deal?

When you say paperwork what kind of paperwork? Presumably he hasn;t signed anything yet?


Anyhow, as George Michael says he shuld b able to cancel no problems if he agreed in his house.

Mark_Hewitt

£14,000 or £1,400?

I don't know your Dads state of health or what he wants to do but spending £14k on a car it should at least be brand new and you'd want to be driving it all over the country.

If he just wants a city runabout, then there are lots of much cheaper alternatives.

I'd try to get him to stop the purchase if possible, and if he really does want a car then help him choose.

MrRedundant

As far as I can tell the dealer has done nothing wrong. Your father approached them and they simply fulfilled his wishes. He wouldnt have asked for a brochure or test driven a car if he didnt want one.

The other issues are nothing to do with the dealer.

George_Michael

I don't think anyone has said that the dealer did anything wrong, but people are simply giving advice following the OP's concern that "I'm not sure dad is safe to drive".

He goes on to state that his father has "become more forgetful and lacks concentration", and is understandably concerned that he may not be up to driving, and may not have understood the implications of the paperwork he was signing. (again, not the dealers fault).


If the contract was signed at his house, he probably has the legal right to cancel it, and then has more time to consider and discuss the options available,

MCLF

Thanks very much for your fast and helpful replies.

I've just returned home after sorting this out so I'll let you know the outcome.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that the contract signed was for the maximum price possible for the car concerned with no discount of any kind, and I sure you will be able to negotiate a far better deal.

Yes, I agree. Looking on the internet for ideas of prices indicated he wasn't getting a particularly good deal.

As for the speed of the transaction, are you sure it isn't your dad driving (no pun intended) the speed ?

Up to a point. He probably agreed the sale on the day. But my concern was that they came to the house the following day with the paperwork.

Personally, for me, the over riding issue would be the ability to drive not the speed of the car purchase.

Of course. Dad had shown such a lack of interest in buying a new car and driving again that we all thought he'd decided his driving days were over. So when he told us what was happeneing it didn't give us much time to discuss it with him.

Unfortuantely we are in a similar situation where we have real concerns over the ability of a relation to drive, but to due to the family situation we are unable to actually say something to the person or closer relatives.

I discovered this week that RoSPA will assess your driving in your own car for £60. It's probably not something you can initiate, but I like the idea that an independent person can make the judgment. It's difficult for families - are we being over-protective for example?

Its unclear from your post where he was when he agreed the contract. Did he have a test drive and then shown back to the showroom where he did the deal?

When you say paperwork what kind of paperwork? Presumably he hasn;t signed anything yet?

I wasn't sure when I posted. I now know he signed 24 hours later, at home.

£14,000 or £1,400?

£14,000. Car was second hand and would have done less than 6k miles a year with dad.

As far as I can tell the dealer has done nothing wrong. Your father approached them and they simply fulfilled his wishes.

Dad approached them to request a brochure. They suggested a test drive and came to the house that day. After the test drive dad agreed to buy the car.
IMO this is acceptable sales technique.
However, I am not happy that they then returned to the house the following day with paperwork. Dad's not disabled, it's reasonable to ask him to visit the garage to complete the deal there.

The other issues are nothing to do with the dealer.

Last year we approached a garage for a car for my husband. As my husband is physically disabled the salesman happily brought the car to the house. We (husband, adult son and myself) were all delighted with it and said so. The salesman told us he'd phone in a few days to confirm that we'd like to order it. This gave us a few days to reflect on the decision. We did go ahead and are very pleased we did.
In contrast I feel that dad wasn't given the same opportunity to think about the decision or consult his children.
The situations are very similar but handled differently by the two salesmen.

The outcome is that during the GP's appointment he advised dad not to drive on health grounds and dad later made the decision to cancel the car. I asked him where he'd signed the paperwork and he confirmed it was at his house. From the answers given here I was confident he could cancel and the garage have agreed.