Buying car from dealer - deal verbally agreed now wants deposit?

Grovis

Hi there. Have my eye on a car and have successfully haggled £600 off the asking price, asked for a 12 month MOT (it will be due for first ever one in Dec 11) and full tank of petrol to seal the deal. The car will come with a 3 month warranty, full valet and a touch up on some cosmetic damage. Basically this has all been agreed verbally with a sales person and they asked for a £500 deposit (deal is worth £7k) which I declined to pay when I was there today as I needed to discuss with my other half.

What are you thoughts on this? I fear if I give them £500 they will renege on what was agreed verbally (it took loads of haggling to get them to agree). Should I insist this is all confirmed in writing? They were asking I call them tomorrow to give them card details.

My gut feeling is to offer no deposit or only £100 which will cover the MOT and tank of fuel. The valet and touch up are things they need to do anyway if they want to sell it.

I am assuming credit card is ok? They are a large regional dealership with about 10 sites. Cheers.

Flyboy152

Grovis wrote: »

Hi there. Have my eye on a car and have successfully haggled £600 off the asking price, asked for a 12 month MOT (it will be due for first ever one in Dec 11) and full tank of petrol to seal the deal. The car will come with a 3 month warranty, full valet and a touch up on some cosmetic damage. Basically this has all been agreed verbally with a sales person and they asked for a £500 deposit (deal is worth £7k) which I declined to pay when I was there today as I needed to discuss with my other half.

What are you thoughts on this? I fear if I give them £500 they will renege on what was agreed verbally (it took loads of haggling to get them to agree). Should I insist this is all confirmed in writing? They were asking I call them tomorrow to give them card details.

My gut feeling is to offer no deposit or only £100 which will cover the MOT and tank of fuel. The valet and touch up are things they need to do anyway if they want to sell it.

I am assuming credit card is ok? They are a large regional dealership with about 10 sites. Cheers.

The deposit is paid to extend a commitment to both seller and consumer. This is then supported by a sales order, on which is described the vehicle and any financial information already agreed, as well as any other supplementary agreements, such as the work they have promised to carry out. This will be your "confirmation in writing."

What makes you thing the dealer will go back on his word?

forgotmyname

Get them to put it in writing and pay the deposit. Someone may buy it with the faults you
want fixed so if you really want it get back quick.

Unlikely for them to fix the faults unless its affecting the resale value and is cost effective to repair.

andygb

If I have liked a car in the past, enough to want to buy it, then I have put a deposit down, whether for trade or private purchase, cannot see a problem, and I have taken deposits for cars which I am selling. It saves time wasting, and lets someone know that you are serious.

harveybobbles

If you didnt leave a deposit then the car isn't really yours to be honest.

What if someone goes in an accepts the lack of MOT and isn't bothered about fuel...? And is willin to pay closer to £7000 than you...

scheming_gypsy

The dealer will also be wanting your deposit to secure your interest in the car before they have all the work done.

TomBridges

When you go back, you will *probably* have to renegotiate the deal, unless you just so happen to have come across a nice dealer.

By not paying the deposit you have declined what was agreed.

It is perfectly normal to pay a deposit (usually £500) to secure the car at the agreed terms.

You might find it is gone by the time you go back.

pinkteapot

We recently bought a car and yes, a deposit is normal. However, go there and pay it in person and insist on a receipt. Not just a receipt for the deposit, but something which shows the agreed price with any terms you have agreed to.

We got a full receipt for the car when we paid our deposit which listed work we had asked to be done. It then said Total Price: £x. Deposit Paid: £y. Balance outstanding: £z (difference between agreed sale price and deposit already paid).

MX5huggy

I declined to pay when I was there today as I needed to discuss with my other half.

Well done for not paying the deposit in that case, but as soon as you are sure you want the car pay the deposit and get it in writing what you are paying the deposit for.

Chimpofdoom

Yup, as others have rightfully said.. get it all in writing first. Then stump up the cash.

I had all this happen to me once when I bought my current car. Dealer promised he would fix the scratches, fix the knocking noise in the dash, I didn't get in writing and come pick up day.. guess what!

None of the work done and the dealer fobbed me off by saying "it's a used car.."

Needless to say.. I haven't visited them this time for a new motor..

s_b

from a dealers prospective............
customer negotiates terms of sale
dealer accepts
customer leaves deposit (non returnable as stated on invoice)
dealer does work customer specifies
customer comes makes sure work to agreed standard pays outstanding balance drives away (or receives deposit back if not to required standard)
everything clearly written down on original deposit form with full details of customer,time of collection,all work to be done etc
there must be some right car sales places out there if they dont do basic stuff like this

bottom line is if you dont want to do a deal dont negotiate and walk away its so bad manners