Elderly parents 'conned' out of sale of there Motorhome!

KitKite

Hi All. I hope someone can help
I have just found out that my parents have sold there Motorhome to a dealer at a very low price. My Parents are in their 80's and my Father stopped driving a while back due to his age and ill health.

Their Motorvan was worth, based on similar models I have seen, in the range of £12/13k to £16k.

My parents contacted a Motorhome dealer in Cambridgeshire. After a few days of purchasing my Parents Motorhome it immediately went up on their website for the sum of £15000. My parents was told it was only worth £8000.

I believe they where taken advantage because of their age. Possibly the dealer might have misrepresented the value of the Motorhome.

I understand a dealer has to make a profit and that my parents would have got more through a private sale.
I would have expected a dealer to offer in the region of £11k to £13k to my Parents.

Can anyone give some advice as to any consumer protecting laws that are relevant to dealers, fare value and treatment regarding the elderly.

I would be greatful if anyone could help with adice.

Chris
S.London.

m0bov

Doubt it, they contacted the company and agreed to the price. They should have tried another dealer to compare the prices offered.

PCMcGarry

KitKite wrote: »

Hi All. I hope someone can help
I have just found out that my parents have sold there Motorhome to a dealer at a very low price. My Parents are in their 80's and my Father stopped driving a while back due to his age and ill health.

Their Motorvan was worth, based on similar models I have seen, in the range of £12/13k to £16k.

My parents contacted a Motorhome dealer in Cambridgeshire. After a few days of purchasing my Parents Motorhome it immediately went up on their website for the sum of £15000. My parents was told it was only worth £8000.

I believe they where taken advantage because of their age. Possibly the dealer might have misrepresented the value of the Motorhome.

I understand a dealer has to make a profit and that my parents would have got more through a private sale.
I would have expected a dealer to offer in the region of £11k to £13k to my Parents.

Can anyone give some advice as to any consumer protecting laws that are relevant to dealers, fare value and treatment regarding the elderly.

I would be greatful if anyone could help with adice.

Chris
S.London.

What price did they accept?
Where have you got your prices from?
What is the trade price for the vehicle?
Was it in A1 condition or did it need work?
Would your parents have found a buyer at 12-13K this time of year?

It was clearly their choice to sell, why didn't you step in earlier?

KitKite

What price did they accept?
£8000.

Where have you got your prices from?
The dealer's website, other dealer websites and Private sellers online.

What is the trade price for the vehicle?
?

Was it in A1 condition or did it need work?
It was in fair condition. It went on the dealers website within a few days ready for sale at £15000

Would your parents have found a buyer at 12-13K this time of year?
Probably Yes.

It was clearly their choice to sell, why didn't you step in earlier?
Tell me about it. I understood that the dealer was just going to have a look.

PCMcGarry

Well until you know trade price for the motorhome it's hard to see if they've been conned. All you have so far is asking prices.

neilmcl

Well if the lower end was around 12K for a private sale, I'd imagine the trade price (for cash) to be 8K-10K. Clearly they got the bottom end but doesn't mean they've been ripped off, especially if there was work to do to the van and they were no doubt after a quick sale. Also, don't forget the motorhome might be advertised at 15K, doesn't mean it's going to get anywhere near that price.

If you think that price was bad my parents sold their 04 left hand drive van in September for a little over 10K and it was immediately being advertised for £19,950. It still hasn't sold at the dealers.

unholyangel

If they were given materially inaccurate information on market conditions in a bid to entice your parents to enter into the contract on less favourable grounds than normal market conditions, then it would possibly be a breach of unfair trading regulations (consumer protection from unfair trading regulations 2008).

Generally though, the law isn't concerned with whether you get a good deal - just the trading practices of the retailer.

Undervalued

Not motorhomes specifically but it is not uncommon for a dealer to advertise something at twice the price they paid for it.

As others have said they will almost certainly end up getting less. A cash buyer will want a discount and other trade ins will complicate the overall profit.

As a dealer they will have to offer a warranty and presumably there will be an element of VAT in the final price?

They have their business overheads and wages to pay.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting your parents got a particularly good deal but it is a big step from that to "conned".

hollydays

Why could your parents not ask you for some help to sell it?
Have you thought of speaking to the company?
As with many dealers, they tend to try to make you feel you have an item that's not that great and that they don't really want that much.
Do you know what words were used to complete the sale at this price?

Motorhome are pretty desirable, there's no shortage of buyers.

JayCartwright

hollydays wrote: »

Why could your parents not ask you for some help to sell it?
Have you thought of speaking to the company?
As with many dealers, they tend to try to make you feel you have an item that's not that great and that they don't really want that much.
Do you know what words were used to complete the sale at this price?

Motorhome are pretty desirable, there's no shortage of buyers.

Until he knows what the trade price for the vehicle is he can only guess at how much under the odds his parents accepted.

I don't think there will be many buyers at this time if year.

lincroft1710

If it is a large dealership that is not too far from Peterborough, then they are quite negotiable on sale price and often reduce asking prices when motorhomes don't sell.