Car dealer won't give my deposit back

david39

There's been a spate of posts on here over the past few weeks from people who have paid a deposit on a car, decided not to buy it and then expected their money to be refunded.

I cannot understand why someone would do that, unless it was a highly specialised model. If you see a second hand run-of-the-mill car for sale and want to buy it - have a drive in it, make sure it's for you and then either buy it on the spot or go away, without leaving a deposit, to sort out the finance or get a second opinion.

If you go back and it's been sold to someone else, what does it matter, there's dozens of the same model in the same condition for sale within a short drive of you?

somethingcorporate

FAQ on deposit refunds here OP:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=42873192&postcount=16

Good luck - for the sake of £200 for a dealer 200 miles away it may not be worth your effort (depending on how you value your time).

hartcjhart

vax2002 wrote: »

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

here we go another load of bo11ocks,
you really are a nasty little bitter person

Sgt_Pepper_2

hartcjhart wrote: »

here we go another load of bo11ocks,
you really are a nasty little bitter person

He's good at that!;)

hartcjhart

more on deposits here

http://viperandvine.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/refunds.pdf

I dont know if the OP would have any joy with D S Regs

TrickyWicky

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

He's good at that!;)

So are you

pendulum

david39 wrote: »

There's been a spate of posts on here over the past few weeks from people who have paid a deposit on a car, decided not to buy it and then expected their money to be refunded.

I cannot understand why someone would do that,

It might have something to do with dealers and their sales talk.

I've been given the old "at this price and condition this car could sell any minute, I've had people in the past come in and view a car, then go check some other cars out, by the time they've come back an hour later the car they really wanted is gone" - dealers like to try and get you committed, asking for a deposit seems to be a common trick, but it would never work on me.

GolfBravo

People don't realise that when they pay a deposit on a car they commit to buy it. Once you pay any amount of money you are commited to buy it. It doesn't matter whether it is £1000 or £1.

Yes, dealers sweet talk you into paying a deposit, it's part of their job. They sell cars. They get paid for selling cars, not for taking and returning deposits.

That's why you really need to do your homework before buying a car, it is a little more complicated than buying a pack of crisps. Even watching the movie Suckers (search youtube) will give you some good tips.

s_b

pendulum wrote: »

It might have something to do with dealers and their sales talk.

I've been given the old "at this price and condition this car could sell any minute, I've had people in the past come in and view a car, then go check some other cars out, by the time they've come back an hour later the car they really wanted is gone" - dealers like to try and get you committed, asking for a deposit seems to be a common trick, but it would never work on me.

i just put a header board in saying sold:D
they had my hours time earlier in the day and cost me time and my petrol on a test run then tried to beat me down on price back in the office after deal supposedly done
they then go elsewhere to look at an inferior product then return to me with what they think is their ace ,they are buying, possibly, maybe
tough:mad:
theres still a bum for every seat if you market your product right and im not selling to this one
i will keep this little gem for someone that i like and doesnt come buying with shorts on in april showers.............

Ainsley1

Asking for a deposit is a sales tactic that seldom in the current climate gives advantage to the buyer. It is a ploy used by one of the large main car sales chains. There is however a grain of truth in the reasons they give. Being advertised on the web where there is a big customer base they can be sold at any moment but conversely we all have a bigger group of cars to choose from. So, if you are keen on a particular car (that should not be often!) and need to travel to see it or need to delay to see it then it is effectively reserved for you. Risky though (as you have found out OP).