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Original poster

Bought a van via bank transfer but haven’t received van

24 replies

BegYaParsnips · 18/07/2020 09:15

Hi all,
Basically I own a construction company. I needed another vehicle for a new employee so went to view and test drive a van about 3 weeks ago (it was on a Friday). This was with a well respected dealer in the area. I’ve never bought a vehicle from there before but know many who have.
I paid a £200 deposit via debit card and was told to pay the balance (£14,800) via bank transfer before collecting the vehicle on Monday. I transferred the money at lunchtime on the Monday and just as I was setting off to go and collect the van, the vehicle called to say there was a problem with the back wiper. They’d get it sorted and deliver it the following day. No problem there.
Except despite me phoning every single day since, I have no van. I spoke to them yesterday morning and said enough was enough, I’ve had to give my van to my employee and I now have no transport with 3 children and a business to run.
I asked if I could have a refund Because I need to buy a van this weekend. The guy said that was fine, I emailed him my bank details and he promised it would be sorted by the end of the day.
I still haven’t had a refund and I don’t know what to do. I realise I’ve been foolish by paying via bank transfer. I couldn’t sleep last night worrying about this so used the time to apply for a company credit card to put bigger purchases on in future so I have some protection.

Where do I go from here? £15000 is a hell of a lot of money to have nothing to show for.

OP posts:
Todaythiscouldbe · 18/07/2020 09:19

Have you checked with your bank that the payment isn't in pending transactions? It's a possibility.

Original poster
BegYaParsnips · 18/07/2020 09:20

The dealer confirmed they’d received the payment so is that likely?

OP posts:
Todaythiscouldbe · 18/07/2020 09:23

They're sending it back to you, it's a different transaction. On the business bank account at my company a transaction over £5k being paid to someone for the first time isn't instant.

Fanthorpe · 18/07/2020 09:24

Go to them to collect it?

OneEpisode · 18/07/2020 09:28

When I started to write this I thought it would be more helpful.
Just the £200 you paid on a card could give you some protection under “chargeback”.
(I now think Section 75 of the consumer credit act might not help because it’s a debit card. That S75 would have extended protection to the larger amount paid by bank transfer too. )

ProfessorSlocombe · 18/07/2020 12:57

@OneEpisode

When I started to write this I thought it would be more helpful. Just the £200 you paid on a card could give you some protection under “chargeback”. (I now think Section 75 of the consumer credit act might not help because it’s a debit card. That S75 would have extended protection to the larger amount paid by bank transfer too. )
From the OP this is a B2B sale. "Consumer" protection won't apply.
prh47bridge · 18/07/2020 13:42

If the money doesn't appear you could take them to court. Given the amount of money involved this would not be a small claim so you may want to use a solicitor for this. However, you need to be sure that they are able to pay. If the reason for them messing you around like this is that they are on the verge of going out of business, taking legal action is unlikely to get your money back.

ProfessorSlocombe · 18/07/2020 13:47

@prh47bridge

If the money doesn't appear you could take them to court. Given the amount of money involved this would not be a small claim so you may want to use a solicitor for this. However, you need to be sure that they are able to pay. If the reason for them messing you around like this is that they are on the verge of going out of business, taking legal action is unlikely to get your money back.
You'd hope that wouldn't be an issue with a "well respected dealer", although in these straightened times, anything is possible sadly.

If that is a real possibility the OP might be better advised to physically turn up on foot and only leave in a van. Then at least they'd have their 9 points.

(A friend once ordered a complete computer system back in the 90s, and the monitor kept being "delayed" in delivery. He made a special journey to their depot and made them load it into his car. He swears he saw the bailiffs on the way out ...)

OneEpisode · 18/07/2020 19:44

I’m back with more unhelpful advice. It’s just the £200, because it’s a debit card, but the chargeback rules are different between visa and MasterCard. The op being a business shouldn’t matter either way.

OneEpisode · 18/07/2020 19:47

An unincorporated business would have some Consumer Credit Act rights too, but no credit was involved so my not useful...

Atadaddicted · 18/07/2020 19:50

You are a business owner?

The mind boggles

OneEpisode · 18/07/2020 20:06

It’s quite common for a car dealer to have many of the vehicles on their forecourt on finance (from their supplier for instance). That finance would need to be repaid before they can sell the vehicle. A car registration check could tell the op if the car is subject to this now.
If this dealer has got in trouble with their lenders they may not have been able to release the lender’s charge to sell to the op. And made up that wiper excuse.
It’s possible that the dealer has no assets, so taking them to court might not actually help.

AlphaDalpha · 18/07/2020 20:20

Are they main dealer? If so contact the brand directly and flag your issue with their franchised dealer, that usually boots them up the arse. (Part of my job is fleet management).

Bobbybobbins · 18/07/2020 20:25

I would be tempted to go down there and not leave until you either got a van or confirmation that the money is in your account.

Original poster
BegYaParsnips · 19/07/2020 07:05

@Atadaddicted thanks for that. Helpful. Yes I am a business owner. A successful one at that. I look after my employees. I’m regularly invited to give talks at local colleges about women working in construction. I know what I’m doing. I’ve always bought my vehicles from another local dealer and always paid via BACS and never had an issue. I only went to a different dealer this time as i had a specific van in mind that my usual dealer didn’t have in stock. I have never encountered a situation quite like this before so asked for advice on here. Just like I did when my dog went on hunger strike, when my DS started wetting the bed, when my DH died, when I fell out with my DM and couldn’t see if it was me or her being the CF. That’s what these forums are for, no?

Any who. Thanks for all the advice. It’s not a main dealer unfortunately.
I phoned yesterday from DDs phone and lo and behold they answered. They said the payment would be made by end of play Monday. If it’s not in my account by Tuesday morning, I’ll go down there. When I spoke to them yesterday they were all “yes this is very poor service from Ford not sending out the part”. It’s a bloody wiper FFS.

OP posts:
Regulus · 19/07/2020 07:11

Are they open today? If so go down there and don't leave until you have your money.

LittleCabbage · 19/07/2020 07:11

Sorry to hear of your troubles OP. Just ignore @Atadaddicted. I saw them being nasty on someone else's thread last night too, completely unwarranted. Don't know what their problem is.

Regulus · 19/07/2020 07:17

Agree with littlecabbage also I've bought business to business and used bacs for large amounts, and vice versa if I've known the company.

zoomzoghedgehog · 19/07/2020 17:11

Bugger- always use credit card as protected more I made a mistake with bank transfer bank didn't give me money back

AlphaDalpha · 19/07/2020 21:50

Make sure you fully inspect the van, if I was cynical I'd be worried they were repairing damage they'd cause...

Original poster
BegYaParsnips · 20/07/2020 16:31

Had every intention of going to the dealer this morning but my toddler was throwing up all night so couldn’t leave her with anyone to go.
So I sent a stinking email saying if the funds weren’t in my account by lunchtime, id be naming and shaming on social media and going to trading standards. I think the lack of sleep gave me a bit of an angry edge Grin

And they refunded me this morning!

Lesson learnt - never pay via BACS. My company credit card is on the way and purchases will be made on that.

Thanks so much for all the advice!

OP posts:
OneEpisode · 20/07/2020 17:10

Oh Beg, so pleased.
I hope you can celebrate when toddler is better!

lifesalongsong · 20/07/2020 17:30

Good to hear you got your money back, I don't think you did anything wrong, thousands of people but vehicles by bank transfer every week, I'm sure sometimes things go wrong that are outside your control.

A credit card is good for the future though

LittleCabbage · 20/07/2020 19:15

Yay! 😊

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