Help! Car dealership threatening to keep our "refundable" deposit!

[bouncingblueberries]

We're gutted. Last week a car dealership persuaded us to put a small (their words) deposit on a 2nd hand diesel car we were interested in looking at. The car was in Birmingham and basically couldn't be brought down to the south east unless we put a "refundable" deposit down. Felt under a lot of pressure to put down a deposit, so we did and the car was due to be brought down today.

However, dh and I got cold feet and decided we should look at some petrol cars as well. We weren't convinced we would do enough miles to justify the diesel and felt we could get a better deal with a petrol car.

So, we found a petrol model (same car as the diesel) yesterday and phoned the original dealership to tell them. Asked if they would be willing to give us a better deal on the diesel, they declined, so we asked them not to bother bringing the car down from Birmingham has we didn't want to waste their time. We had decided to buy a petrol model from another franchise and they were giving us a better deal.

But today, the salesman has been on the phone ranting and raving and threatening to keep our deposit, despite promising it was refundable if we didn't want to buy the diesel car . Can understand he's mad he lost a sale, but surely it's a free market?

Can they keep our deposit do you think? We would never have agreed to the deposit if we thought for a minute that it wasn't refundable!

did you get anything in writing? even just an email?

I suppose you could say "We agreed a refundable deposit to hold the car. You placed no conditions on the return of this deposit if we decided to not proceed. If you do not return my money within 48 hours, I will take you to small claims court."

no, nothing in writing. It's a major dealership as well, not just a back-street dodgy dealer.

That's a pity. But it does mean they've got nothing with your signature on it and it's your word against theirs - so threatening small claims court might do the trick.

thanks hectate.

I do wish you good luck with it. I hope you get your money back.

not very helpful i know but not usual for dealerships to set refundable deposits, in those circumstances. Its normally kept to cover transort costs if you have changed your mind that they will cover if you purchase.
sounds like a real pain, hope you get it sorted.

we were hoping that because we cancelled them bringing the car down, it wouldn't be a problem. It's just so irritating that we were told one thing and now have to put up with verbal abuse from a salesman!

aaaaargh!

oh no no no no no

no

Regardless the situation you have a right to be treated courteously and professionally.

You should complain to the big bosses!

wasnt Evans Halshaw by any chance?

How did you pay the deposit, credit card or a cheque. Ring your bank and STOP the payment.

Make a complaint about the salesman and the verbal abuse.

Thanks everyone. Dh is going to give the salesman one last chance to return our money (paid on a credit card) before contacting someone senior.

Monkeyfacegrace - no, not them.

If all else fails I'm going to turn up in person with 9 week old ds2, and sit in the middle of the showroom until I get my way

As was paid on a credit card speak to card company about getting this refunded.

Well, it took all morning but we finally got our money back! Hurrah! Now off to draft a strongly worded letter of complaint

Thanks for your advice everyone - didn't have to threaten small claims court in the end, but was useful having it up our sleeve.

Result! Glad to read this!

Also phone trading standards institute.

They will tell you exactly where you stand and what you should say to the garage.

They have helped us twice, their advice brought an end to both disputes. Once you quote them to a manager, they seem to be very keen to end the dispute!!

Well done.

Sorry x-posted. Well done!!