Car buyer backing out and asking for deposit back!

[LemonyFresh]

A few days ago I sold a car for £250 (about half the price I could've sold it for easily) as I needed a quick sale as I'm picking up my new car on Monday. I needed it gone quickly as I only have one parking space for my house, so asked for a £50 deposit to ensure the woman was a serious buyer and would pick up the car at the weekend. She readily agreed to this, gave me the £50 straight away and said she would be round on Sunday to pick it up.

I was very clear that I needed the car gone quickly, hence the cheap price and need of deposit. I also told her I would cancel all other viewings (3 in total) and the car was hers.

This morning I received a message saying the car insurance would be too high for her so she didn't want the car anymore and she would be round today to get her deposit back! I messaged back saying sorry she didn't want it but I won't be returning the deposit as this is the reason I asked for it on the first place - to secure a sale and to ensure a serious buyer wanted it. I have no where to keep the car after Monday and I would have to relist and arrange more viewings, wasting my time and effort.

She has sent me back another shitty message saying it's not her fault and it's not like she's let me down

AIBU in keeping this deposit and not feeling guilty about it? She should've checked the insurance before viewing the car or leaving the deposit with me. What's the point of the deposit if she does this anyway?

To be honest depending on the amount of hassle you want I'd either give back deposit or keep it or sell her the car. Bear in mind the police would be interested if she did put a brick through your window and I'd be tempted to message her saying you'll call the police if more threatening messages.

If you're happy for her to possibly sell the car on and make a profit then by all means sell it to her.

because she knows where shelives?

For fuck's sake! If she agreed to buy without even viewing then fuck her! Why are you giving the deposit back when she is clearly a moron?

She has viewed the car and driven it - was very happy at the time and gave me the deposit instantly.

YANBU. That's what a deposit is.

If you want cash quickly with no hassle, sell it to webuyanycar.

You'll probably get your £250 if it's really worth more. There's no point in the hassle of private selling if you're not going to get top whack for it

I know I sound like a mug but I can't be bothered with the stress and a car that's taking up my only parking space.

I said to her she could re sell for a nice profit and she's saying she will now be round tomorrow to buy it. I think she's just a bit thick and now realises what a bargain it is, and how unreasonable she was being.

Just have someone with you when she comes, take cash only and call police first sign of trouble.

Keep it! That's what a deposit is for after all!

Stupid woman.

For future reference, when you want a quick sale keep taking viewings until someone gives you the whole price in cash. Don't cancel viewings on a deposit, as you have found that doesn't always mean you have sold it.

Gabs even if the buyer knows where she lives, if OP did ring the police (which is what my detective friend and ex bosses (solicitors) would advise too.

Or they would advise to block buyer and ring police if she (buyer) turned up.

If she has driven it then yanbu. However I'm very much like you and would probably just refund it to save arguments. At £250 I'm sure you can sell it again quickly and just stipulate you won't take deposits next time. They either buy it or you keep advertising.

i thought op said she paid without viewing it?

sorry misread she wanted to pay without viewing

You know that she's going to turn up tomorrow and try to make you sell it for a much cheaper price, don't you. She will either say you agreed a price, or she will give you a sob story about how she needs the car to visit her dying parents or something.

And then she will try and get you to accept payment in instalments, or give you half the money then not come back for weeks. Seriously, just cut her off and don't engage. Other people will buy your car.

The last time I sold a car privately, you would not believe the idiots and chancers who called me. One demanded I sell it to him for £800 less than the very favourable asking price because that was the maximum he could get on his credit card. There were also at least 10 calls from people whose first words were 'what's your best price?' When I pointed out that I would hardly tell someone that before they even looked at the car, they got arsey.

AND this is why women are downtrodden all the time. Because we just lie down and take it.

Do you think she would have said the same to a man?

pidgy fully agree, I was selling one not long ago and someone emailed to ask me "what is the lowest price you will go to?" I responded with "the asking price". Clearly negotiation was not their strong point 😂

That is literally the point of a deposit. What a tit. I'd keep it, if she calls the police you might have to give it back but even they will understand your side of it!

distance Yes, I 100% agree. I am a bit of a petrolhead and have always liked cars so I've dealt with my fair share of sexist twats over the years.

It's this 'oh ok, I'll let you bully me because I can't be bothered to stand up for myself' mentality that makes me cross.

If nothing else I'd be keeping the deposit at least until I'd sold the car to someone else, using the reasoning that the £50 might be to pay to store it elsewhere until it was sold. And list it for £50 more to cover returning the deposit. But only once it's sold.

If you can get someone else to deal with her tomorrow, I really would. Otherwise I'd worry more that she would come with someone, 'test drive' the car and drive off with it, leaving you with £50 and her with the car.

Oh the horrors of selling a car privately.... I hated it.
The amount of time wasters - people who didn't turn up, who wanted it for hundreds less.... And the best one was a woman who really wanted it, but didn't get paid for another week, but really wanted it, so could she just take it now, and pay me next week. Eh no.
I'd say if she's willing to take it off your hands (or if anyone is), then I'd just do it, for the hassle to be over.
Gumtree was just full of chancers. I eventually sold via an advert in the local Tesco postcards board!

A while ago now but I sold mine on eBay. Lots of photos and very detailed description of the car and any areas of damage. Also very clear instructions that it would be a buyer collect and cash only.

I had to deal with several questions from people who hadn't bothered to read the advert, because the info they wanted was in it already - which was annoying. But it cut out the timewasters and tyre kickers. Sold it to a very nice lady who came with her Dad. I'd pre-printed my receipt and got the log-book slip ready to send off to the DVLA, so the whole exchange took about 5 minutes by the time she arrived.

I've had good experiences with actual buyers (as in the people who actually bought the cars) but turned some real idiot chancers down.

I can understand you're desperate to sell but I would have explained the deposit is non refundable then blocked her number and relisted immediately.

Selling a second had car privately is certainly a good way to learn fast how to deal with idiots, the entitled, opportunists and the delusional. But you have to switch on your 'take no shit' mode.

Buyers will always try it on, especially if you're a woman. and they are male. I cannot tell you the number of times I've been selling a car and a male buyer has assumed a) that I was selling it on behalf of DH and demanded I contact him to negotiate, b) tried to invent faults on the car to knock the price down or c) tried to pretend they were doing me a favour so I could by extra shoes, love.

This is the first time I've sold a car and I've definitely learnt by my mistakes. I think I have been a bit naive and vulnerable! I'll see how it goes tomorrow but I won't take any shit or get walked over, I just hope she signs the receipt and takes the car, no fuss!