Pet Breeder Asking for extra charges

Cari9

Hi I'm new here so I'm hoping I'm posting in the right place. I've just got back into the rat owning hobby and opted to find a breeder over buying animals from Pets at home for example as there are a lot of welfare issues the animals usually come from rat mill farms. I couldn't get my rats from a rescue as I couldn't find any so I searched for a home breeder.

I've dealt with this breeder before and last time she asked for 50% deposit upfront and then the other half upon collection, which I agreed to but I was surprised by. Her prices were quite expensive as I have originally placed an ad for home bred rats £12 - 15 for two I wasn't fussed on coat types or colours, so she messaged me saying she frequently travels from Bangor through Chester up to Liverpool to meet her boyfriend every Sunday so she could drop them off at the train station if I could get there. As she's going that way anyway. She then asked for £20 each for rex rats. She didn't have smooth coated rats. As I hesitated she then told me she had other people interested and could I respond asap with the money. She's a young lady late teens (19+) I basically felt like she was trying to get me to agree as quickly as possible and not back out.

Everything went fine with that however she asked me again if I would like to buy some more, I agreed to three more. She basically told me they were now £25 each but she would do me a deal for £60 (this is expensive for me if I'm honest! and I would not of paid any more as it is, so I agreed on just the three and put down the half deposit again). I did not hear from her for 4 weeks after the rats were ready to go but she sent me photo updates every Sunday. She then asked me "if I was coming up to Caernarfon this time to collect?" which I was very confused by, I told her no as I don't drive unfortunately. She then started asking if I knew someone who could give me a lift instead? This wasn't what we had previously agreed on.

She then sent another message saying she now charges a "delivery fee" and the prices have now gone up, she asked for another £10 + £5 in a week rat food for the three, and then the rest of the money £30, now before I collect done through internet banking as she claimed she had had people rip her off before. And can I put the money through now? I wasn't very happy with this usually on buying rats its you go and see the animals, pay on purchase and I pointed out to her this offered no protection to me as a buyer. I felt quite iffy about paying a deposit yet wants me to shell out £75 upfront which I hadn't agreed to and would not of done this if I had known.

What I'm not happy with is I'd put a deposit on a set agreement, now I have no choice but to pay the "extra costs" she's now charging - otherwise I won't get my deposit back. I paid for her train ticket even through she's not making a detour from her usual train route to her boyfriend so as far as I know I'm not costing her any more money. I haven't paid the £30 final sum yet. Am I in the wrong here feeling exploited, or is she? Also would I be entitled to my deposit back in a situation like this? x thank you for reading

UKTigerlily

Cari9 wrote: »

Hi I'm new here so I'm hoping I'm posting in the right place. I've just got back into the rat owning hobby and opted to find a breeder over buying animals from Pets at home for example as there are a lot of welfare issues the animals usually come from rat mill farms. I couldn't get my rats from a rescue as I couldn't find any so I searched for a home breeder.

I've dealt with this breeder before and last time she asked for 50% deposit upfront and then the other half upon collection, which I agreed to but I was surprised by. Her prices were quite expensive as I have originally placed an ad for home bred rats £12 - 15 for two I wasn't fussed on coat types or colours, so she messaged me saying she frequently travels from Bangor through Chester up to Liverpool to meet her boyfriend every Sunday so she could drop them off at the train station if I could get there. As she's going that way anyway. She then asked for £20 each for rex rats. She didn't have smooth coated rats. As I hesitated she then told me she had other people interested and could I respond asap with the money. She's a young lady late teens (19+) I basically felt like she was trying to get me to agree as quickly as possible and not back out.

Everything went fine with that however she asked me again if I would like to buy some more, I agreed to three more. She basically told me they were now £25 each but she would do me a deal for £60 (this is expensive for me if I'm honest! and I would not of paid any more as it is, so I agreed on just the three and put down the half deposit again). I did not hear from her for 4 weeks after the rats were ready to go but she sent me photo updates every Sunday. She then asked me "if I was coming up to Caernarfon this time to collect?" which I was very confused by, I told her no as I don't drive unfortunately. She then started asking if I knew someone who could give me a lift instead? This wasn't what we had previously agreed on.

She then sent another message saying she now charges a "delivery fee" and the prices have now gone up, she asked for another £10 + £5 in a week rat food for the three, and then the rest of the money £30, now before I collect done through internet banking as she claimed she had had people rip her off before. And can I put the money through now? I wasn't very happy with this usually on buying rats its you go and see the animals, pay on purchase and I pointed out to her this offered no protection to me as a buyer. I felt quite iffy about paying a deposit yet wants me to shell out £75 upfront which I hadn't agreed to and would not of done this if I had known.

What I'm not happy with is I'd put a deposit on a set agreement, now I have no choice but to pay the "extra costs" she's now charging - otherwise I won't get my deposit back. I paid for her train ticket even through she's not making a detour from her usual train route to her boyfriend so as far as I know I'm not costing her any more money. I haven't paid the £30 final sum yet. Am I in the wrong here feeling exploited, or is she? Also would I be entitled to my deposit back in a situation like this? x thank you for reading

I have no idea if you'd be entitled to the deposit back, but usually it's to secure the animal/s, so unless any medical issue she didn't disclose or anything like that, it's not likely (I don't think)


Personally, i'd never buy from a breeder, there are rat rescues all over the country. I'd also see them & the Mother first and would never accept them being delivered.


I would let them go, and approach one of the nationwide rat rescues instead

onwards&upwards

What’s the point of buying from a breeder if you don’t go to see the conditions the animals are kept and raised in? You could just be buying from the kind of rodent farm that supplies the places like a Pets at Home!

sheramber

What makes you think she is a responsible breeder rather than a back street breeder whois breeding for profit.

You have fallen into the trap of being sucked in into paying more and more and you don't have any proof that you will actually get the rats or what condition they will be in.

Cut your losses now before she asks for more money and put it down to experience.

Find your local rescue and get a rat from there. RSPCA and Blue Cross have rats.

Other smaller rescues also have rats.

Trina90

sheramber wrote: »

What makes you think she is a responsible breeder rather than a back street breeder whois breeding for profit.

You have fallen into the trap of being sucked in into paying more and more and you don't have any proof that you will actually get the rats or what condition they will be in.

Cut your losses now before she asks for more money and put it down to experience.

Find your local rescue and get a rat from there. RSPCA and Blue Cross have rats.

Other smaller rescues also have rats.

I second the RSPCA recommendation - they had loads in when I was looking. Shelters around here have no end of rats, they're always coming in. I wouldn't think it was any different elsewhere. The girls I chose to rehome from the RSPCA were lovely rats.

Soot2006

Stop throwing good money after bad!



We got three friendly, fat squishy rat girls from our local animal rescue. Gave them £50 donation (their "recommended adoption price" was £5 per rat but we're adults with good income and wanted to support their work) and they lived in our rat colony for many happy years. Others we got free from the vet (dumped outside), specialised rat rescue, a "returned" rat free to a good home from PAH and many more free from Gumtree. Rats everywhere. Cut your losses if it's not realistic to just go and pick them up. You'll end up more and more out of the pocket.