Used car deposit

bhamjez

I placed a deposit of £100 with a used car dealer on a Saturday he gave me a receipt which stated that I had entered into a contract to buy the car he said the car would be ready on the following Tuesday as it required some work to be done it wasn't ready as they misdiagnosed the fault I was told it would be ready on the Friday it was not as they ordered the wrong part I'm told now it will b the following Monday I'm a bit fed up now about being messed around am I entitled to get my deposit back any help would be much appreciated I had nothing in writing to say when the car would be ready I've not even test drove it yet

wealdroam

bhamjez wrote: »

I placed a deposit of £100 with a used car dealer on a Saturday he gave me a receipt which stated that I had entered into a contract to buy the car he said the car would be ready on the following Tuesday as it required some work to be done it wasn't ready as they misdiagnosed the fault I was told it would be ready on the Friday it was not as they ordered the wrong part I'm told now it will b the following Monday I'm a bit fed up now about being messed around am I entitled to get my deposit back any help would be much appreciated I had nothing in writing to say when the car would be ready I've not even test drove it yet

Generally, a deposit demonstrates a commitment to buy.

This post may help:

Is a deposit ever refundable?

[Deleted User]

You have no outright entitlement to a refund of the deposit, but you could certainly argue that you want to cancel because of the numerous delays and see what they say in response.

bris

You can give them a 14 day "time is of the essence" letter to comply or cancel.


here is an example for you https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/template-letters/letters/problems-with-services/letter-to-make-time-of-the-essence-services/

Zandoni

I'd just tell them that they hadn't kept to their part of the contract and ask for my money back.

Fosterdog

You paid a deposit on a car you haven't even been able to test drive yet? Why would you commit to buying it without a test drive first? What if you finally get to test drive and really don't like the car?

That being said give them a time is of the essence letter but personally I wouldn't give 14 days 7 days should be more than reasonable considering they originally said the work would be done within 3 days and then only added a further 3 days on when that couldn't be done.

steampowered

They told you the car would be ready on Tuesday, but it wasn't ready on Tuesday. They haven't kept to their end of the bargain.

I think you are perfectly entitled to ask for your money back. If they misdiagnosed the fault that is entirely their problem.