The good old car salesman trick 16 October 2022 at 9:32AM in Consumer rights 17 replies 1.2K views

Jammychips

You've heard it all before, I know!  But when it happens to you it's devastating. My son (22years, gullible and easily led) walked to Carshop to look at cars.  He wanted to spend budget about £10,000.  He had £5,000 to put down as the deposit.  He drove away 3 hours later (after closing time) with a £17,000 car, and a finance deal of 4.5 years (less £4,500 deposit and £500 on gold standard insurance extras).  He wouldn't even come home after coming out driving the car.  He's devastated that he's bought the car, and taken out 4.5years of finance.  I'll give them their due, the sales people are amazing at their job - but really, I can't quite believe that this can still go on in this day and age (obvs I'm also naive!).  We've tried to appeal to their better nature, but CarShop will not take back the car unless it's faulty and just kept saying that they didn't force him to buy the car.  Where can we go from here?  Anywhere?

RobM99

I doubt it, Changing your mind doesn't wash, sadly. Is there a "cooling off" period?

MattMattMattUK

Everyone has made purchases that they regret, unfortunately regret does not get one out of a contract.

He can sell the car, pay off the finance and buy a cheaper car without finance, it will likely cost him a few thousand to do so but it may be the best option. 

user1977

Does your son agree that he's "gullible and easily-led"? If so, why did he go by himself (assuming he did)?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

He seems to change his mind very quickly/easily, could that be part of the problem?

He wanted to spend budget about £10,000. 

He drove away 3 hours later (after closing time) with a £17,000 car, and a finance deal of 4.5 years (less £4,500 deposit and £500 on gold standard insurance extras).

He wouldn't even come home after coming out driving the car. He's devastated that he's bought the car, and taken out 4.5years of finance

shiraz99

RobM99 said:

I doubt it, Changing your mind doesn't wash, sadly. Is there a "cooling off" period?

By law there will be a cooling off period, but this is just for the finance he would still have to pay for the car in full.

@Jammychips, what are these "gold standard insurance extras" you talk about? If it's GAP insurance then a dealer must, by law, give two clear days between giving the necessary prescribed information about the policy and the customer agreeing to it.

Aylesbury_Duck

Where's the "trick"?  

I'm afraid he's either got to make the best of the deal, or cut his losses by selling the car.  He needs to work out which is the least expensive option.

dil1976

A car salesman selling a car isn't a trick, its called doing his job. Your son shouldn't of gone alone if he in your words is gullible and easily led.

screech_78

You can’t believe in this day and age that someone will do their job? I’m sorry, I don’t care how gullible and easily led your son is. Nobody held a gun to his head and he was free to say no. He is an adult. 

I cannot see what the salesman has done wrong in any way. There are no tricks. This is on your son and there isn’t a way out of it, unless the company shows goodwill (and even then, I don’t see why they should). 

pinkshoes

If he is gullible and easily led then it would have been wise to either send someone else with him, or prepare him before  he went on how to deal with salespeople.

The salesman has just done what he is paid to do - get the customer to buy the most expensive car they can afford. Nothing wrong with that. 

It's a really important lesson in life to learn to say no thanks and walk away if you need to.

At least he can learn from the experience and not do it again!

TimSynths

I'd want to employ that sales person they did their job. Sold a car and upsold too.