Deposit return from a second hand car dealer?

gavcradd

Hi, I wonder if anyone could help with a situation my friend finds herself in?

Basically, she went to a car dealer a few weeks ago to purchase a car for her daughter and saw one that she liked. However, there were a few issues with it (it had a tow bar that her daughter didn't want, the passenger seat didn't move forwards properly and there were one or two dents). The garage agreed to fix these and so she paid a £200 deposit. Nothing was signed, all of this was verbally agreed (shame I know).

On going to pick the car up a week later, the tow bar had been removed but the bumper underneath was damaged and had not been repaired. The passenger seat and dents had not been fixed at all and the car was very dirty with a flat tyre. Obviously worried about what after sales service she was going to get, she asked for her deposit back but this was refused.

I have written to the garage for her, explaining the situation and formally asking for her deposit back but this has been ignored.

Any ideas? Is it time for the small claims court? Is she likely to succeed?

Thanks for your time!

pcombo

Even if you did take it to court is there any evidence to say that the garage would sort the damage.

All they will say is car was sold as seen. It's like all second hand car dealers are from the same blood, To get a deposit of them is very very hard regardless of what laws say otherwise.