Stealership deposit ripoff

Hey guys, quick question regarding a deposit I put down for a car to be brought in for a test drive.

I went into a dealership on Saturday for a wander, no intention of buying just wanted to see what was there and if there were any good looking deals.

I asked a guy about a Disco and he said they had none in but could look on the system and see what was available – I told him I was not in to buy but I would be interested in finance details.

So he looked on the system and found a nice Disco and he could get it brought it for a test drive, so I got him to run the figures out of interest which were quite good (7%APR) and I said OK then bring it in. He needed a deposit for the car to be brought in (I guess so I didn’t just disappear and never come back). I said look I am not buying I would need to think about it for a few days anyway and he said look it’s fully refundable I can get it in for you for a test drive. So I gave him the deposit and went home.

Monday night I go to see it, and he is not there and the car is not there, his colleague told me that he had gone home (some emergency) and that the car had come in too but it was faulty (gearbox) but he would call me in the morning. I was not too impressed because I didn’t get a call saying don’t come in.

I went in on Tuesday night and he was there and so was the car, I took it for a spin; it was very nice, not a single fault with it. As I had said on the Sat when I left I was happy to see it for a test drive and I would need to think about the figures, which I had done and decided unless I could get him down a couple of g’s I was not going for it.

So back to the office I said OK, all very good, nice machine, let me go and think about it now I knew what it was I was paying for. He tried everything in the book to keep me there, “oh I need to know, my manager will chew my balls”, “I could get fired over this, your making me worried”.

So I said I would call him before he finished at 8PM, 7:45 I went to call him and he actually beat me to it he said OK what’s your answer. I said I have chewed the numbers over and I don’t think I can do it (to be honest I had realised it was not the time to be buying a car really – hold onto my money and the 90 needs some bits and pieces). So he did the oh I can get some money off it maybe, I will not get any commission but I will give you £500 off it. It was actually quite tempting, but I said nope I’m sorry.

Then he said OK, look I don’t think I will be able to get your deposit back as we had to buy that car in and the manager will be mad. I said I don’t think I have broken any T&C’s, speak to your manager and get it back for me.

He rubber eared me all day yesterday, so I went in a lunch today and before I could get a word in he took me aside and said I can’t get your deposit. I said where does it say this in black and white, and he pointed to some T&C on the back of a sheet of paper, I said but where and he just said it’s in there somewhere.

So I said look I need to go, I will read through them and get back in touch, I read through them and there are only two references to “deposits” on the entire page.

• If the contract is cancelled under the provisions of clauses 2 or 3 hereof the deposit will be fully returned to the purchaser and the seller will be under no further liability.

• If the purchaser shall fail to take and pay for the goods after 14 days of notifications that the goods are ready for delivery the deposit will be forfeited without prejudice to the sellers rights to recover any losses incurred by reason of the purchasers default.

Now the part 2 and 3 it refers to basically says the goods will be as described, the seller will have the goods in 21 days, if they are new they will have the manufacturers warranty and terms and conditions, pre delivery work will be done, the price will stay the same, the car will be manufactured to the same spec as the one you intended to buy.

So all in all I don’t see where they are getting this from, all I can think is that it’s going to come out of the salesman’s pocket if he returns it so he’s feeding me a line.

I called the head office and they are looking into it and will contact me within 48 hours with an answer.

What do you guys think?

Spinning ya a line, buying it in?Well why say you have it in stock.Walk into the showroom and make all hell with the powers that be.If he says i have to go speak to anybody say you will come with or get them out here etc.

Thought you said it was a quick question!!

It sounds as if you went to Motorpoint, if they have the vehicle in another branch they usually charge you £80 to have the vehicle delivered to the branch of your choice. I don't think they usually give you the money back but take it off any future purchase

a charge is not a deposit.

do us a favour and name and shame if you get screwed by this coont will ya

It wasn't motorpoint, I will name and shame once I know whats happening. It was a deposit, I was told it was fully refundable, and as you can see from the T&C extract there is nothing to the effect of "if you get a car brought over and you don't take it we will rob you" mean I said to the guy its a manual, I want an auto. So it wasn't even what I wanted.

Might be wrong here, but those sound like Ts & Cs for the purchase of a vehicle/parts, and you never contracted to buy anything, so how can he say you haven't picked it up within 14 days and your deposit isn't refundable?

I think I would tell him to shove his Ts & Cs up his exhaust manifold, ask firmly for your deposit back in writing, and make it clear you will be off to the small claims court if not..

Tell him if he doesn't give you the money back losing a sale will be the last of his problems. and take 2 of the biggest friends you've got when you go back to speak to him.

Ring the local trading standards office tell them what has happened and ask them if they'l have a word with the tw&t. Failing that go in there and kick up a massive stink in front of as many customers as you can. Tel them all loudly what a rip off artist they are and refuse to leave till you've got your money back.

If a dealer charges you £80 to get a car in for a test drive, very simple, go to a different dealer!!! If they don't want your business it's their loss, there are lots of cars out there available. Why would a dealer charge a deposit for effectively a test drive if they didn't intend to keep it??? Something doesn't add up!

LCJ and odenne have it for me, but no way do you walk away without your money. Its his loss, and to cap it all I would tell his boss AND head office that they have lost your custom forever. Finaly, blast the story and name over every Landrover forum you can find.

how much was the deposit?

have they got cars outside ? go in demand you deposit back in full and let them know if they dont then they should keep the deposit and put it to the repairs they are going to need to do to their stock.
its amazing what a fairy liquid bottle full of brake fluid and thinners mixed can do to shiney cars.

redhand said:

Tell him if he doesn't give you the money back losing a sale will be the last of his problems. and take 2 of the biggest friends you've got when you go back to speak to him.

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I have just the guys in mind I have considered going in with the heavys, one of them is 6foot6 and the other is 6foot4 and weighs in at about 22 stone!

I am waiting for the HQ to get back to me, I hope they will ring me up and say its all sorted.

If not I will go in on a Saturday and kick up a stink, I will name and shame once I know whats happening, its not a LR dealer. It was a big dealer who often have LR's in stock. I only went in because I knew they were doing a good APR.

Then I will get a firmy written letter if that doesn't work (I know a few QC's).

bet that the salesman has pocketed the cash and the branch know nothing about it hoping that you would buy the motor.

It was done on a debit card, so thats quite good because I have the little reciept - I am going to go to the manager tomorrow and say I have this little receipt - I have no car... what you going to do...

discomania said:

It was done on a debit card, so thats quite good because I have the little reciept - I am going to go to the manager tomorrow and say I have this little receipt - I have no car... what you going to do...

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Contact the card issurer and claim it back off them.

Come on name names - can't hold on much longer
Arnold clark?

They might not be good at much else but go to the youGov.whatever website get the number you require and speak to the a govt employed advisor over this. As soon as you start quoting law, chapter and verse on paper to him and his manager. I think you will find jack the lad will produce the cash you forked out rather swiftly. I did it recently and got a deposit back............for a couch!!!