Car dealer won't give my deposit back

sebandie

Hi.I know that i'm not the first this has happened to.
I gave a £200 deposit by debit card over the phone for a car i wanted to buy 180 miles away.A cheque i had in the bank bounced the following day so i was unable to buy it.I sent three e-mails and phoned three times speaking to somone else to ask for my money back.The last guy i spoke to said i would not get my money back.
The person who took my deposit never said the deposit was non refundable.He also said that if i came up and viewd the car and it was not what i was expecting i would get my deposit back.
Where do i stand as regards to trying to get my deposit back.
Regards
Andrew

Sgt_Pepper_2

So you expected the dealer to take the car off the market and because you can't complete the sale you want your money back?

waynedance

sebandie wrote: »

The person who took my deposit never said the deposit was non refundable.He also said that if i came up and viewd the car and it was not what i was expecting i would get my deposit back.
Where do i stand as regards to trying to get my deposit back.
Regards
Andrew

So did you view the car and was it as expected? guess you never went to view just wasted his time. Why put a deposit on a car when you have no SURE means on paying for it. Expensive £200 lesson.

Get the impression from the posts of recent that ops think we will all feel sorry for them regardless of the situation.

missile

Sorry Andrew, dealer is under no obligation to return your deposit.

vax2002

Deposits are refundable in absence of a signed contract by both parties the deposit can only legally keep to what they can account for in losses.

Unfortunately even with a CCJ, most car dealers operate LTD companies with no attached assets so enforcing it is virtually impossible.

The top and bottom is NEVER give a used car dealer any amount of deposit you are not prepared to loose if either side backs out, once they have your money it is gone.
Go with cash and a knowledgeable person and conduct the transaction in 1 go including removal of the vehicle.

Premier_2

sebandie wrote: »

Hi.I know that i'm not the first this has happened to.
I gave a £200 deposit by debit card over the phone for a car i wanted to buy 180 miles away.A cheque i had in the bank bounced the following day so i was unable to buy it.I sent three e-mails and phoned three times speaking to somone else to ask for my money back.The last guy i spoke to said i would not get my money back.
The person who took my deposit never said the deposit was non refundable.He also said that if i came up and viewd the car and it was not what i was expecting i would get my deposit back.
Where do i stand as regards to trying to get my deposit back.
Regards
Andrew

So the dealer said the deposit was refundable if, on viewing the car, you discover it to be not as described.

Sounds like you have to get up there, and see if the car is as described or not to establish if there are any grounds for a refund.

Otherwise the dealer would be well within their rights to sue you for breach of contract if you fail to follow through with the purchase - damages would be the amount of loss that the dealer may incur by having to re-advertise and also any lower possible price the vehicle attains.

Why don't you get onto the person who gave you the rubber cheque rather than miss out on the car you were so keen to buy?

zappahey

I'm intrigued by these cars that are so rare and in demand that a deposit is necessary to even go view them.

s_b

zappahey wrote: »

I'm intrigued by these cars that are so rare and in demand that a deposit is necessary to even go view them.

i see people who run all over the country looking for the proverbial bargain only to tell me these cars are upturned ashtrays
to the OP the dealer quite clearly gave you a get out clause, travel to see him kick the tyres and then reject it,i think thats very fair of him but not sure how many body builder mates will be waiting to help you with a test drive

andygb

I have never, and would never pay a deposit on any car which I had never seen, checked over, and more importantly had driven.
I suspect that any sensible person would also feel the same way as me.
A deposit is your downpayment on a vehicle which you INTEND to buy.

vax2002

The money is gone, you have given it to a thug and crook.

Sgt_Pepper_2

vax2002 wrote: »

Deposits are refundable in absence of a signed contract by both parties the deposit can only legally keep to what they can account for in losses.

Unfortunately even with a CCJ, most car dealers operate LTD companies with no attached assets so enforcing it is virtually impossible.

The top and bottom is NEVER give a used car dealer any amount of deposit you are not prepared to loose if either side backs out, once they have your money it is gone.
Go with cash and a knowledgeable person and conduct the transaction in 1 go including removal of the vehicle.

vax2002 wrote: »

The money is gone, you have given it to a thug and crook.

So which one is it?:rotfl: