Car Dealer Will Not Return Deposit?

wrkactjob

On an impulse I thought I would get my wife a little convertible MX5.

I found one on Autotrader rang the dealer and put down a £250 deposit over the phone on my visa debit card. I intended to go see the car at the weekend to buy it ( full price £2500 ).

My wife though that evening decided she didn't like it so I rang the next day to apologise and get my deposit back.

No luck. The dealer said it was a contract and he will keep the money.

Do I have a leg to stand on? It would have been nice if he had warned me that it was non returnable before he took it.

victor2

What do you think the purpose of a deposit is?
Presumably to ensure he doesn't sell it to anyone else. So the dealer takes it off the market, possibly turns away other prospective buyers and when you change your mind, gives you your money back?
Sorry, but in my opinion, the dealer has every right to keep it.

Tiddlywinks

What were the terms of placing the deposit? Did you ask if you might get a refund if wife changed her mind? Did he say it was non-refundable?

Has he done any work in anticipation of you collecting the car? Paperwork, MOT, service or whatever?

I have to say my sympathy is with the trader - at the very least you have wasted his time and he may have missed an opportunity to sell it to someone else in the meantime.

s_b

it seems a common occurance in this motoring section
trader ripped me
trader kept my deposit

if you had left a deposit local and spoken with the guy explaining it was for your wife you could have come to a holding deposit agreement of so many days
remember he turned down a nice little fiesta in chop for this yesterday that he had a punter for
be aware under the terms of the contract you abided to he may well take you to court for breach of contract

wrkactjob

Wasted the dealers time?....he had the deposit for 15 hrs most of which was overnight. He did no work, the car is still for sale and has no right to my money!

k3lvc

wrkactjob wrote: »

Wasted the dealers time?....he had the deposit for 15 hrs most of which was overnight. He did no work, the car is still for sale and has no right to my money!

In which case you obviously know best and are wasting everyones time asking the question.

vaio

wrkactjob wrote: »

Wasted the dealers time?....he had the deposit for 15 hrs most of which was overnight. He did no work, the car is still for sale and has no right to my money!

maybe, but if you are correct then what is the purpose of a deposit?

s_b

ive never given a deposit back but i have come to arrangements
the devil is in the detail my customers sign my invoice committing to purchase and i commit to not sell to a 3rd party
deposits are 2 way streets not for customers to use and abuse at will
ive yet to get my day in court but always willing to see mr beaky and claim my out of pocket expenses when i win

wrkactjob

No problem, I have contacted my bank, I explained I gave my card details to the dealer as a gesture of goodwill but didn't give him any authority to withdraw funds on a cardholder not present basis.

They have agreed to reverse the transaction.

Result.

Tiddlywinks

wrkactjob wrote: »

Wasted the dealers time?....he had the deposit for 15 hrs most of which was overnight. He did no work, the car is still for sale and has no right to my money!

So, if you're so sure, why ask about it on here?

If he had no right to your money, why give him your debit card details in the first place without checking out the terms of the payment?

Why should dealers have to put up with people like you who commit to buy on a whim, check in with 'the boss' and then find they aren't allowed to go ahead with the deal - why shouldn't the dealer get to charge a 'timewaster tax'?

Tiddlywinks

wrkactjob wrote: »

No problem, I have contacted my bank, I explained I gave my card details to the dealer as a gesture of goodwill but didn't give him any authority to withdraw funds on a cardholder not present basis.

They have agreed to reverse the transaction.

Result.

So, you lied then.