Buying a puppy. Breeder applying pressure for payment.

[fandangored]

Breeder applying pressure for payment and asking for transfer or cash payment BEFORE viewing day with puppy at 4 weeks..?

Already paid a £200 pre reserve fee!!!

Should I continue or red flag and run?!

I'm not sure why bank transfer on the day isn't an option. The days of having to wait for money to clear are well gone.

i have accounts in 2 different banks.
An online transfer between them is not instantaneous.

If you are after a dog with a calm temperament, why aren’t you adopting? Puppies aren’t calm and there are a huge amount of work, their temperament isn’t at all clear for several years. Adopt an adult dog and you avoid all that uncertainty

Hmm, our puppy's breeder actually wouldn't take a deposit at all, even after visiting and reserving a pup. She said she preferred people to be able to back out even at the last minute rather than feel financially committed to a puppy if they had any doubts.

Does the puppy come with four weeks of insurance, at least?

You go withdraw it

She sounds a bit exasperated so not sure how you phrased your query. I read that she wants to know the money is there, and you’re serious. Although bank transfers these days are usually instantaneous but if she’s not on her mobile banking app to check she won’t know you’ve paid.

I'm also curious to know the contents of the OP's message, and what time it was sent. I don't see anything wrong with what the breeder is asking.

Can I ask why you've paid anything when you haven't seen it?
I doubt this is the kind of person to give any money back if there's something put you off buying x

No insurance given

Never had to give a deposit. Forgets this one. What breed are you after? Where did you find the breeder?

Not necessarily true if it is two different banks. I have recently done transfers that have taken 1-2 days to clear. It entirely depends on who both people bank with.

That would be unusual for a KC registered breeder, KC dogs usually come with the first month insurance included.

The vet thing sounds very odd.
I’ve sold vehicles using bank transfer, if it doesn’t go through instantly we just stand there and chat until it does, usually not more than 10 mins. When I’ve sold livestock it’s cash on collection (no deposit) or bank transfer on collection.
Whats in the contract? Surely you should have seen that before paying the deposit

Adopting a dog is like a lucky dip, you don't know what your getting
Other people played a part in raising it, ultimately people who didn't want it in the end. For what ever reason.
If you raise a dog from pup- you know exactly what you've got.

The vet thing is the red flag ! Any new pet should see your vet ASAP.

Adopt an adult dog and you avoid all that uncertainty

Eh what?
Tell that to my neighbours who adopted an adult dog to find out 2 weeks later it was completely reactive to people on bikes. They had it PTS after it bit twice - badly.

I don't think she sounds knowledgeable at all, I think she sounds like a typical Facebook 'breeder'. Why does she even need you to pay the full amount when the pup is only 4 weeks old? Why is it any of her business when you take your puppy to the vets? Why is she wanting you to pay the full amount before she's even met you? N9t good signs.

The breeder sounds very responsible,

lastly it already states in my contract that if anything is found which deems your puppy unsuitable to be a family pet then you will have a full refund.

Why is she wanting you to pay the full amount before she's even met you? N9t good signs.

She isn’t. She is asking the op to bring the money with her on the day she visits the puppy.

Isn't the vet thing more of an issue? It sounds like she is banning you from taking the dog to the vet on the basis it may pick something up but this also means the vet can't identify anything which the dog already has and therefore had when it left the breeder.

Or pay in advance if she doesn't want to pay in cash - why? The pup is 4 weeks old, there is no rush for full payment yet she's happy to accept it without even meeting OP. That's not OK.

Problem is I know nothing about her! No info, no details, no address all online. I've not received the contract yet! I want to see it. She's sending paperwork out in the post in next few weeks..

I would likely feel pressured to buy puppy upon viewing day.. having already paid a "pre reserve fee" of £200 - viewing first then collection 4 weeks after..

The dog is a cross breed of poodle and cavalier hence why not KC as they only have single breed.

Mum and dad should be KC though, I hope so!

Don’t choose the payment method as your hill to die on, OP. It sounds like she has had at least one person say “oh I just transferred the money to you on the app - it’ll just take an hour or two”, take their puppy home and then no money appears, or ended up standing around for ages waiting.

@roselilylavender
The breeder has offered a full refund if it turns out that the dog is not suitable.

If you're not happy with her terms and conditions, walk away. Sounds like she's been stung by people before so asking for cash seems pretty reasonable.

Bank transfers are instant.