Motorpoint - £300 deposit, any tricks?

ad1927

Hello,

I recently had a pleasant mugging at Motorpoint.

Well, maybe I am exaggerating a little, but I have left there with some concerns.

I checked their website last Saturday, and spotted a car I was interested in. When I got there, I was told the type of car I was looking for wasn't on site. I was then pulled away from all the shiny cars, and into a colourful office where I was told a £99 deposit would be needed if I wanted to get the car from their Burnley site to my local site.

I asked them, "If I don't like the car, will I still get my deposit back". "Yes, you will".

Anyhow, the guy then started giving me figures for finance, and I said I was interested in the figures, but I wasn't buying until I actually saw the car. Suddenly the deposit was £300 (£200 needed to take it off sale). "Will I get my deposit back if I don't like the car?". "Yes you will".

I don't know what it was about the experience that led me to start thinking so illogically as to part with £300 of my cash just to view a car, but I did it, and I regret it.

Anyway, on Sunday, I called them again - just to clarify that the deposit is refundable. Again I was told yes, but I would probably love the car as soon as I have seen it.

As it goes, I have decided that I didn't really like the Motorpoint experience, and I don't really want to buy the car now.

The car will not be available for viewing for another 5-8 days. I was told to sign a document that "secured" a £1000 value on my current car - and I signed some other document relating to the deposit.

I really want my deposit back. What options are open to me?

1) View the car - tell them I don't like it, and ask for a refund?
2) Call them and ask for a refund now (is there a cooling off period for such things)?
3) Wave the £300 goodbye?

Any advice will be greatly welcomed. Do you foresee any problems in me getting my refund back based on the above?

Would I need to give them more than a "I don't like the car" to get the refund back, or will I need to spot "problems" with the car?

Many Thanks

maninthestreet

Exactly what documents have you signed? Did you read them properly before signing them? If you signed those documents at their premises, there may no cooling off period.

ILW

Have you asked them for the deposit back?

ad1927

I signed the documents at their premises.

I believe that what I paid is a holding deposit. Just checking an online version of their forms, and they say this is fully refundable.

At no point in this transaction have I actually viewed the car.

I haven't asked for the deposit back, because I am concerned it may make the situation more awkward.

Thanks for the responses.

Sylvian84

My advice would be go and see the car and if you don't like it ask for your deposit back as they said it was refundable.

LandyAndy

Do you have to come up with anything more than 'Oh, no, I don't like it'?

I would expect them to try very hard to counter your reasons.

albionrovers

Tell them your circumstances have changed and need to pull out.

albionrovers

Tell them your circumstances have changed and you need to pull out.

neilmcl

ad1927 wrote: »

I haven't asked for the deposit back, because I am concerned it may make the situation more awkward.

Well if you dont ask, you dont get.

BenL

Is this the form?

https://www.motorpoint.co.uk/upload/motorpoint%20terms.pdf

As you were in the showroom I think only points 6 and 7 apply to you.

The text in part 13 onwards looks to be for internet/phone reservations where people can get their deposits back.

Did you bring home a copy of the documents you signed? Is anything an actual order form?

TradePro

To be fair to Motorpoint (and I'm not as a rule!), they need to 'seperate the men from the boys', and I don't think it is unreasonable of them to ask for a deposit before going to the time, effort and expense of moving a car from one branch to another (especially if there is distance involved).

I'm not sure why you have decided against buying the car at this stage (you were obviously very interested in it at the time), but if you definitely don't want to go ahead, you need to tell them now. I work in the industry, and would be much happier refunding someone now, rather than when I had expended the aforementioned time, effort and expense. Hope that makes sense.

It doesn't sound like they have done anything wrong (yet, at least) so perhaps your remorse if unfounded?