Buying a car

CashMoney

Yes the initial deposit of £200 was via credit card. So now that they have taken the full amount before I have seen the car, is this classed as a distance sale?

macman

CashMoney said:

So what if I don’t like the car or the way it drives, can I ask for a refund? Am I covered under a “long distance sale” because I paid for the car in full before seeing or driving it?

I don't understand why you are purchasing a car you have neither inspected not test-driven?
If you don't like it when you do see it, it's too late, as paying a deposit means that you are committed to purchase it, unless the contract specifically states that your deposit is returnable should you change your mind. A deposit doesn't just reserve the vehicle, it confirms an agreement to purchase it.

Brewer21

Watch out, there are dodgy dealers around, and I mean big name dealers who have less than honest ways of working.
I booked an appointment to view a car, fortunately it was only 30 miles away. I arrived and liked the car so wanted to leave a deposit pending a test drive. They couldn't let me have a test drive on the day of viewing even though the arrangement was to view and test drive the car, that's what the appointment was for. They told by all means you can leave a deposit but it won't be refunded should I not actually buy the car as I've viewed it in person. The story went on if I'd left a deposit online or over the telephone, car unseen I'd be entitled to my money back should the car not meet my expectations.
What a load of b**** I told them, you're not having a penny of my money with that attitude.
It was a stalling tactic I found out later, when asked a couple days later if the car was now ready to test drive they said it was sold, one week later the car was still for sale and the screen price increased by £500.
Some are total rip off and liars, I've dealt with a fair few of them in my time.😩

kaMelo

Each to their own I guess but, other than a trade sale (at trade prices) there is no way I'd part with the cash before seeing the car let alone driving it.  The idea that a dealer can't take payment or payments are limited on a weekend is a non-starter, they'll sell more cars on a weekend than any other day. 
If they are unwilling to take payment on the day then move on, something doesn't smell right.

penners324

Why haven't you test driven a similar car before ordering?

penners324

Is it new or uses?

Poquito

Sounds dodgy to me. People purchase cars all the time, how can it be a stipulation that you pay on full for a car you’ve never seen or driven? How do you know exactly where this bank transfer is going? Legitimate businesses take cc’s. We’ve never paid for a car by bank transfer. Also why did you leave a deposit, what was it for? If the car was already there why didn’t you just go and see it test drive it, then arrange payment. If you’re on here asking because you don’t feel comfortable, then I think you already know it’s not the right thing to do. Better to lose £200 to a scam than a few thousand! 

Bigwheels1111

When I purchased my new car in 2016 from Peugeot, I put down  £500 deposit on credit card.
Then the day I picked it up the rest was on another credit card No issues.
Money upfront, avoid avoid.

Ebe_Scrooge

Poquito said:

Legitimate businesses take cc’s.

Bigwheels1111 said:

When I purchased my new car in 2016 from Peugeot, I put down  £500 deposit on credit card.
Then the day I picked it up the rest was on another credit card No issues.

Putting aside the (perfectly reasonable) questions about buying a car without having seen it, it's worth reiterating that plenty of legitimate car dealerships will refuse a credit card for anything other than a small deposit.  They have to pay a fee (a percentage of the transaction value) to the credit card company (which is how the credit card companies make most of their income).

In the olden days, they'd pass the fee on to the customer.  They're not allowed to these days, so they simply refuse to accept cards for anything over a certain amount.

So yes, there are plenty of points to be cautious about in this tale - but paying a small deposit by CC then the remainder by bank transfer is not, in and of itself, a cause for concern.

Grumpy_chap

CashMoney said:

So what if I don’t like the car or the way it drives, can I ask for a refund? Am I covered under a “long distance sale” because I paid for the car in full before seeing or driving it?

Not a distance purchase if you collect in person.