Advice needed on dealer changing price after deposit

CB1878

It does sound as though the sales person got a bit confused. The fact that they did not get your to sign an 'order form' confirming the figures, and only gave you a receipt may back up their inexperience.

The point about the manufacturer is valid to a point, as the dealer will have a 'franchise agreement' that is in place to maintain the good name of the manufacturer. However, if your did contact the manufacturer the fact that the dealer has offered you your deposit back will probably be enough for the manufacturer to take it no further with the dealer. The fact that the dealer is willing to tear up the deal for the cost of the road tax may mean you actually have a good deal, and they simply cannot go anymore. I know it is frustrating, but if you really like the car then perhaps you should try and meet them in the middle for 6 months tax or some fuel?

butterfly72

Funnily enough the same thing happened to me today! Yesterday I negotiated with the sales man over the phone and came to a deal. I left a returnable holding deposit so I could change my mind and they would take the car off the market. Said car now says sold on their website. Today he came back to me saying that the deal was only if he could get it approved by his manager and that they cant let it go for less than £250 more! I'm 100% sure this wasnt the case, I wouldnt have agreed to leaving a deposit for the higher price. Would they really take the car off the market when a final figure hadnt been reached knowing I could back out?

Anyway I'm thinking about it. It really is £250 more than I wanted to spend.

Biketrials08

It's like a new craze, dealer tried this on with me this year, negotiated over the phone, get there and he tells me the number must have been a mistake, knob! I pointed out that he had written the number on his notepad in front of him to which he had no reply and carried on at the agreed price. Car dealers, never met a decent one.

OddballJamie

Well, went back in yesterday to speak to the sales girl and she doesn't deny she said 12 months VED was included but as it's not written down on a contract I can't have it.

Tired to explain to her what a verbal contract was and her response was "you haven't signed anything, so it's not a verbal contract", then tried again and got the same response.

Then tried the offer and acceptance route and that got no where either as although she said originally I could have the VED included, her boss now says I can't. Convenient that her boss wasn't in yesterday also.

She offered me the deposit back to "cancel our contract", (contract she said we didn't have earlier). I gave up at this point and asked for my money back, which she couldn't do until today and would call me grr! So I walked out very annoyed.

Haven't had my call as yet today about my deposit.

Kind of experience I would have expected from a small trader, but not from a franchised main dealer who have been trading for decades.

CB1878

Really annoying situation I am sure, and I am quite shocked so many people have had this happen recently. It has been a few years since I worked in a main dealer, but I remember something about a deal sheet being an 'offer to purchase', but they should complete some form of 'order form' for you to sign. My feeling is that you are going to find it difficult to get them to do this, even though it is down to their error.

It is disturbing that this is happening quite a lot, a deliberate tactic or just numpty salespeople?

OddballJamie

New sales person from what I gather, was refunded today and an apology for the misunderstanding.

worried_jim

But now you have to go and find another car- surely it wasn't worth all the hassle over £140?

diesel_dog

worried_jim wrote: »

But now you have to go and find another car- surely it wasn't worth all the hassle over £140?

That's what I was thinking but then if you flip the coin, what are they going to be like if any possible future problems arise?

OddballJamie

diesel_dog wrote: »

That's what I was thinking but then if you flip the coin, what are they going to be like if any possible future problems arise?

That's exactly what we were thinking. It's more the principal of it all than the amount of money.

We're not in an immediate need to change cars for 2-3 months so I'm sure something else will come along in that time. Next time I'll get it all in writing and deal with the organ grinder.

Jase_from_Up_North

Similar situation for me, deposit on a car which was part exchange, cash and finance, verbally quoted finance figures which have now arrived via email after I requested them multiple times in writing, and now they've risen by £11 a month.