Car Dealer changed deal and wont refund deposit

Saul_2

Hi, on Thursday the 12th I paid a £300 deposit on a car 200 miles away from a car dealership. They said there was work to be done on the car and it would be ready for collection on Saturday 14th. I was going to travel down to trade in my old car and drive back with the new one.
On Friday the 13th the dealer texts me saying the car wont be ready and not to drive down. I phoned back and he tried to get me to buy another car because the work would cost too much and he couldn't sell me the one we had agreed too. I said I wouldn't look until i got my deposit back. A bit of huffing but he said ok and took my numbers for the card. I didn't want another car and thought that was the end of that.
After work today (Monday 16th) I phoned him back because the money wasn't back in my bank like he said. He is telling me the deal is back on and that it still counts as the original deal basically as well as not agreeing to giving a refund. I think this is utter crap otherwise why did I bloody give my card number to him? (bit of anger there sorry..) I'm wondering what to do now? He totally told me i was being refunded and now he has changed his story. Are there watchdogs or something for this??

Phoning tomorrow to talk to the manager.

maninthestreet

He's going to supply you with the car you originally agreed to purchase. You have actually inspected this car, haven't you??

Saul_2

No, It was to go through the MOT and service before I drove down. Then the day after giving the deposit he said his manager wouldn't let him sell the car due to the amount of work needing done to it. I have already made arrangements with another car not thinking my deposit was on its way back into my bank which is why I cant purchase the car now.

forgotmyname

Go and inspect the car and see if it's as described and promised.

Then decide where to go.

vax2002

You have given someone £200 for a car you have never even seen exists ?
You must be made of money !

First line is to find out who you gave it to, if it's a limited company, then 99% certainty that's the last you will be seeing of your £200.
Legal options very rarely produce from LTD companies.

Saul_2

I think it is a reputable (debatable now) company. Legit. I could be wrong obviously. I cant take the car now though. I have already made arrangements for another one because they said we couldn't get the one promised.
They do have a proper dealership, I'm just not sure I should be naming names here. Is that allowed?

Edited: You know you say these things and the seem so obvious but I cant believe what I actually done now. Guess its one for the lessons learnt bin. Just assuming this company is legit. What would be my next course of action?

vax2002

By what method did you pay, Credit card, debit card, gum beads ?
Please state which one and type.

Saul_2

Visa debit. (please be kind)

Edit: Bump, I'll phone today at 10.

photome

Why not name names.

I have bought a car from a dealer over the internet and payed a deposit, never saw the car until they delivered it to me.

Thousands of people buy cars that way these days with no issues

In your case it does look like its gone wrong, but hope you get it sorted

Vax,s advice is rarely right

Saul_2

Thanks for the support. It sounded on like the sales guy just trying to complete the deal after he made a mistake. But he shouldn't have told me the deal was off then. He see's that as still the same deal. It ended with him saying he isn't talking any more about it last night an that he felt, even though he said he couldn't sell me the car on Friday, it still counts as the same deal hence they are entitled to the deposit.

I'll see how it goes with the manager. If it goes sour I'll name names to hopefully help others in the future.

For more information, their mechanic told them the car was too much to service and MOT to make it worth selling to me, when I phoned last night he said the mechanic made a mistake and was all "the deals back on!". I was shocked, but I bet he wouldn't have ever called me back to let me know that if I hadn't checked for the deposit returning.

vax2002

I would take this up with Visa as you have said, ask them to file a charge back, you may have to tell them that the decision to demand a charge back is your decision to make, not the banks, they can get a bit confused and high and mighty.

Ignore my "followers", they are known as the idiots advice bureau..
Be aware from day 1 that a LTD company car dealer can be very hard to collect upon any CCJ obtained and may have several outstanding already, often the LTD company has no worthy assets to its name with stock sold via dodgy commission deals from another LTD company with the same directors.
A charge back is the first option to pursue, just stick to your guns.