Car dealer not accepting debit card payment over weekend

Mata

Hi,


I am buying a used car from a dealer and planning to pick it up on Saturday. They telling me that if I pay using a debit card, sometimes they would not receive some "reference number" to their account right away (as it is weekend) and would not be able to approve the transaction. So they suggested I do a bank transfer in advance or pay in cash. Sounds suspicious.


Has anyone had similar request? What is the best way to deal with it?


Thanks.

glentoran99

wait until Monday?

arcon5

Sounds odd that. EPOS and handheld terminals are automated, should give thr transaction ref irrespective of time/date.

Unless they have problems with their internet connection or something daft?

All sounds strange

bigjl

From what I have been told over the years every area has a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on a debit card without authorisation.

When I bought a new WRX in Chadwell Heath in 2004 I paid £10k deposit and that needed authorisation.

I had never heard of that before and I was informed that the limits varies area to area. A year or so earlier that limit in Chadwell Heath was much higher.

I think it is to do with fraud.

Since Banks seem to work 7days a week I can't see how that can be an issue, as all they did was phone the dealer and ask me some security questions.

tim9966

When I bought my car at a large dealership chain (although a small branch) they also said they would prefer not to do it on a weekend as there is more chance of something going wrong, and harder to sort out.


In the end they did let me pay on a Saturday by debit card and it all went through ok.

loskie

I bought an MX5 from an Edinburgh main dealer. Paid £14 k by debit card (HBOS) no authorisation was required(I was surprised).
This was on a Saturday.

agrinnall

I paid the £10,900 balance on a new Fiesta a month ago on a Saturday and it went through without a hitch. The dealer is talking rot.

rich13348

Even if you do need to get authorisation it's normally an automated system that you phone and punch in the details of the card and the amount. It gives you another auth code and it allows the machine to continue. Pretty sure there would be a lot of !!!!ed off people told they can't pay by card when it asks for authorisation on a Saturday or Sunday.

BeenThroughItAll

In September I bought a motorhome and put £22900 through on my Nationwide card on a Sunday in Rochdale with no trouble.

MataNui

Run a mile they are lying to you. The payment terminals give an authorisation codes instantly.

If a used car salesman is lying about this what else are they lying about??

xHannahx

If the Epos doesn't give them an automated code, it gives them a reference to call through to a 24/7 automated telephone system.

They are talking rubbish, what else are they talking rubbish about?