Deposit paid on Used but I can't commit to the purchase anym

Deposit paid on Used but I can't commit to the purchase anym

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Marmal4de

Original Poster:

4 posts

11 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Hello!

This is my first post here so apologise if it's in the wrong catagory!

Yesterday I went hunting for a used car without my husband. I went to the Trade Centre UK.

They found my a vehicle that seemed like a really good price, I test drove it and liked it. It was a good price so I made a deposit (to stop someone else grabbing it) I made it quite clear that I wanted a refundable deposit and told them that I would be consulting my hubby and looking elsewhere. They were totally OK with that.

I've now gone over it with my husband and the 3 door situation just isn't going to work for us.

I'm more than happy for them to keep the deposit as it's only £100 but I felt sick when I read one of the paragraphs in the terms and conditions (I know, I know, read before you sign)

"On or before the collections date you must pay the balance of the purchase price and collect the vehicle. If the purchase price or the balance as stipulated is not paid within fourteen days of the collection date we reserve the right to give you notice in writing cancelling the contract. If we do cancel the contract we shall try to sell the vehicle to someone else. If it is not sold within a reasonable time we will sell it at auction. Within 7 days of the date of the sale we will give you a statement showing the sale price and any additional costs which we have incurred in reselling the vehicle and we will refund the balance of your deposit if any after deducting the amount which we have lost. If our loss is greater than your deposit then you must pay us the difference within 7 days"

Can anyone be kind enough to explain the legality of this situation? I'm dreading calling them on boxing day when they open.

TYIA

Juanco20

3,280 posts

200 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
I wouldn't worry about it. Worst case they will keep your £100

Marmal4de

Original Poster:

4 posts

11 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Thank you for your reply. I do hope that is the case...

Juanco20

3,280 posts

200 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Marmal4de said:
Thank you for your reply. I do hope that is the case...
Which garage was it?

Marmal4de

Original Poster:

4 posts

11 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Trade Center UK

Juanco20

3,280 posts

200 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Marmal4de said:
Trade Center UK
Sorry, would help if I could read.


MYOB

4,999 posts

145 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Did you get as far as agreeing a collection date?

Regardless, worst case scenario is you will lose the deposit.

Marmal4de

Original Poster:

4 posts

11 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Yes we agreed a collection date of the 27th. It was a hypothetical "if we collect, as we are looking around"

The are open on boxing Day so I will call them as soon as they open so they can get it sold.

The deposit loss I can take, an expensive lesson for my inexperience and naivety. What's worrying is that they are going to come after me with huge bills because they have had to auction it etc.

MYOB

4,999 posts

145 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Don’t worry about it. The above clause applies if payment wasn’t received in full within 14 days of collection.

Personally, given what was said to you, I would cancel and still ask for the deposit to be returned. However, if they say no, it’s probably not worth pursuing given the aggravation.

Monkeylegend

27,196 posts

238 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
And next time take hubby smile

Wacky Racer

38,972 posts

254 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Why not choose a five door car at a similar price? They have loads to choose from usually.

Pistom

5,570 posts

166 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Terms and conditions can be concerning at times but they're not usually there to make your life difficult - just to protect the business.

In this case, I really can't see them doing any more than keeping the deposit.

blue al

1,036 posts

166 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
I would argue that should keep the deposit as in all likelihood the car would have depreciated the 100 quid in a few days and if it put of another prospective buyer then they might need to sell it jan at less than your agreed price?

Ifinishposts

1,491 posts

144 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Read their reviews and run far, far away and don't look back.

giggity

865 posts

168 months

Saturday 23rd December 2023
quotequote all
Ifinishposts said:
Read their reviews and run far, far away and don't look back.
This

OzzyR1

5,916 posts

239 months

Sunday 24th December 2023
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You said:

Marmal4de said:
I felt sick when I read one of the paragraphs in the terms and conditions (I know, I know, read before you sign)
What was it you actually signed?
Sounds odd to have all that small print for a minor deposit, but that said, likely they use standard paperwork/T&C's for everything.

If you didn't agree to buy it at £XXXXX and collect on XYZ date, there is no contract so the clause you reference not applicable.

Hope you get the deposit back.








RD-1

1,129 posts

168 months

Sunday 24th December 2023
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Is the 3 door thing the real reason?

If you lead with that, they’ll almost certainly steer you into a 5 door they have in stock

It’s likely they’ll keep the deposit, but not pursue the rest IMO.

Best of luck.

Pistom

5,570 posts

166 months

Sunday 24th December 2023
quotequote all
blue al said:
I would argue that should keep the deposit as in all likelihood the car would have depreciated the 100 quid in a few days and if it put of another prospective buyer then they might need to sell it jan at less than your agreed price?
That's a sound argument but just processing the paperwork will have cost them.

They're entitled to keep the deposit and OP doesn't have any issue with that.

Dingu

4,345 posts

37 months

Sunday 24th December 2023
quotequote all
Pistom said:
blue al said:
I would argue that should keep the deposit as in all likelihood the car would have depreciated the 100 quid in a few days and if it put of another prospective buyer then they might need to sell it jan at less than your agreed price?
That's a sound argument but just processing the paperwork will have cost them.

They're entitled to keep the deposit and OP doesn't have any issue with that.
There is no chance a Trade Centre UK car is losing £100 in a few days. It a bottom end of the market used car, not a brand new Audi.

PhilkSVR

1,478 posts

55 months

Sunday 24th December 2023
quotequote all
Pistom said:
That's a sound argument but just processing the paperwork will have cost them.

They're entitled to keep the deposit and OP doesn't have any issue with that.
The poster states that she made it clear that she left a deposit on the basis that it was refundable. If that was the case surely she is entitled to a refund. If they weren’t prepared to accept the deposit on that basis then don’t accept it.