Two car quotes from same dealer.

Langtang

Crabman wrote: »

Could you please clarify - have they retained your "fully refundable" deposit even though you cancelled the order?

Yes, they have. They meant that they give you back the deposit upon delivery of the car. It didn't mean that if I decided against buying the car, I could get my money back. This was my mistaken interpretation.

Their reason was, that they'd "ordered" the car and now that I was cancelling, they'd be left with an unsold car. To be fair, I'd only ordered it a couple of weeks ago, and they stated 22 weeks for delivery. I think my car was still a twinkle in the mechanics eye at this point. I am going to write to the franchise and find out what their policy is.
I did try and get the order transferred to my new dealer but Honda said they couldn't do it.

robatwork

Glad you cut your losses and walked away.

Langtang wrote: »

I They told me that I would get the best deal available when the car arrives, but could not tell me for definite that it would be the cheaper option.

It's this kind of schister salesman double talk that gives car dealers such a bad reputation. Maybe these chancers just circulate from Estate Agent to double glazing back to car sales.

bod1467

Have a look at the MSE article about deposits.

Nodding_Donkey

Well done on walking away.

I think I'd now be talking to Trading Standards, or whatever they call themselves now, about the 'refundable deposit'

sspyrou

That is terrible. Normally a deposit is refundable until the point the factory starts building your car. Up until that point, all the deposit is doing is securing you a place in the build queue and should be refundable.

Langtang

That's is exactly what I thought too. Then I got this in a reply from the franchise manager:


"We take deposits for every car we sell as when we order their new car from Honda we have to pay for it, regardless of you taking it or not, it will arrive at our dealership"


He let his guard down in the next sentence though:


"I would be happy to put the £500 deposit as a credit in our service and parts departments so you can spend it as you wish."

loskie

Did you pay the deposit by credit card? If so try the CC Co for a refund.

Langtang

loskie wrote: »

Did you pay the deposit by credit card? If so try the CC Co for a refund.

I did as it happens. I might try that route.

mark5

I bought a car through car wow, the price was brilliant there was no part ex option etc though, the same dealer did offer part ex for normal garage transactions though.

Langtang

I emailed Honda to enquire if the car was going to be produced, and if the garage would still have to accept the car. I was told that I had cancelled the order in sufficient time for it to be taken off the production schedule, so the car won't now be produced.
Not sure where I stand and how strong my case is now in regards to getting my deposit back?