Well known car dealership and "refundable" deposit

[Logg1e]

Last week we were encouraged to pay a £100 refundable deposit on a car.

We went to buy this car this week, but they had made a mistake with the tax disc, apologised when I spotted it, but said they wouldn't recompense me for it (I didn't even expect them to change it - said I would if they covered the extra cost!!).
I said in that case I didn't want the car. I play straight and expect them to. Fair enough they said.

They said they won't return the £100 deposit as the V5 is already on its way to us (I doubt it as they only had two hours' notice that we would buy the car). They said they will only return the deposit when we take the V5 in.

Can anyone shed any light on this situation?

[Logg1e]

Sorry, to clarify, they stand by their apology and wouldn't rectify their mistake, so the sale was off. £7000 car sale gone for the sake of a tenner.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Crazy. Its not Evans Halshaw is it?

[Damnautocorrect]

Did you sign the v5?

[Logg1e]

No, we haven't got it yet. I didn't sign the little slip either.

[hpsaucy]

If they taxed the car for you, the V5 would have been completed and given to post office

[Logg1e]

Thanks Hp of course, so that has been set in motion definitely.

[Damnautocorrect]

Ok they've forged your signature on the v5 there's a get out for you.
It is true that they can't unregister the vehicle from you as it were the only way the dvla will do this is if the customer dies before delivery.

[Damnautocorrect]

Did you supply an insurance cover note?

[anotherplace]

Evans Halshaw? Steer clear.

[Logg1e]

I've got a feeling they're going to claim that we owe them for the V5 and tax.

The car will go from having 1 owner to 2??

[Logg1e]

damn yes, when we went to buy and collect the car, not before they taxed it.

Are you sure they must have forged my signature??

[Logg1e]

Was going to ring the DVLA to find out some facts. I had not given any permission for anything to be done in my name.

[Damnautocorrect]

Yes you have to sign the bottom section to get it put in your name. They can tax it from just the green slip (no signature on that bit) but then it wouldn't be sent off so no keeper change if you see what I mean.

[Logg1e]

Damn why wouldn't they have sent off the little slip after I left the store, to cover their back (presumably because they would have to forge my signature on that?)?

[VivaLeBeaver]

If the v5 is in your name I guess its your car.

Good buy for £100.

[Damnautocorrect]

The green bit doesn't get sent off that gets given to you. The main bit (that you and the previous keeper sign) is sent to the dvla
Was the fuck up that the tax is more expensive?

[Logg1e]

What should I do?

[LIZS]

If the deposit was refundable then they have been overhasty probably because the end of the month bonus target is nearing- . The fact that the ownership will be one up is their problem if you no longer want it. tbh I'm amazed they won't rectify the tax disc issue rather than lose the sale. Was the deposit on a cc?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Point out to them they're arguing over £10 and that the car will depreciate by more than £10 for now having two previous owners. Tell them if they sort out this £10 mistake you will still buy the car.

[Logg1e]

The little green bit, they kept when we decided not to buy.

The mistake was that I said I wanted a year's tax put on the car, not six months. I said this in person last week and reminded them again on the phone this week when we said we'd like to come in and buy.

[Logg1e]

Viva I could not believe they were willing to let the sale go over £10. I said mistakes happen, not a problem, but we'd played straight with them, no messing them about, and that if they gave me £10.50 to cover the extra cost, I would accept the six months tax.

The sales man kept going back to his boss to check everything, so it was the managers decision.

I recognise that we are not great customers because we were cash-buyers rather than signing up to a finance package.

[Logg1e]

Debit card LIZ unfortunately. We don't buy anything on credit. Apart from the house.

[Damnautocorrect]

Personally I'd tell them to poke it unless you really want THAT car especially given they've forged your signature. Also you might have wanted to take delivery 1st April so you don't lose a month (or was that the mistake)
Take it up with Evans halshaw head office and if it's a main dealer their head office (e.g fords head office) and the DVLA.

I'd be sure you'd get your money back threaten the dVLA, some dealers have a system to tax on site and an audits a right pain especially if they've been using faxed cover notes and faking signatures

[hpsaucy]

They may not have forged your signature, you can tax a vehicle using v?? Form. By taxing the vehicle the DVLA will be notified.

[Damnautocorrect]

Let me guess manager was hiding in his office not coming out?!