Claiming back cost of vetting

[Newuser82]

Hi, I’m hoping someone can help. I had a vetting done on a horse last week, horse passed no problem. Then seller changed their mind about selling her. They retired our deposit but obviously we had paid out for a 5 stage vetting which they wouldn’t refund. Has anyone had this happen and if so can we go about claiming our money back? Thanks

Returned not retired 🙈

No idea but I think you’d have a pretty good case.

I reckon only a small claims would do it but I don't think you'd win

@Eviethyme

I reckon only a small claims would do it but I don't think you'd win

Can I ask why? Just seems you proceed with vetting in order to purchase the horse so why should I be out of pocket due to them changing their mind?

I’d do small claims, they’ll probably pay out before it gets that far so worth a shot.
Success in court possibly depends on why they say they pulled out though.

It is a bit like house surveys though too, you don’t get your money back on that if it all falls through. It’s just a sunk cost.

Sadly you wouldn’t from a house

Oh that's really cheeky of them!
I'd guess, small claims. If you have BHS membership you could call their legal helpline.
(Worth joining for that and the public liability insurance if you haven't already)

They just didn’t want to part with her and changed their mind about selling altogether. Unfortunately I don’t have BHS membership 😩.

@Newuser82

They just didn’t want to part with her and changed their mind about selling altogether. Unfortunately I don’t have BHS membership 😩.

It's not hard to get @Newuser82 and only just over £5 a month. Would highly recommend, it's a great organisation (and charity)

Maybe she was never really for sale and wanted a ‘free MOT’. Bloody cheeky

@Polkadotties

Maybe she was never really for sale and wanted a ‘free MOT’. Bloody cheeky

That thought has crossed my mind actually!

Yeah we had surveys done on a house. They backed out. We were out of pocket.

Second the suggestion to join the BHS and ask them. They are good. I suspect it's a lost cause but obviously they'd know more than I do. If she'd failed the vetting the outcome might have been the same, but you wouldn't have claimed your money back then. If they had decided, on getting to know you better, that you weren't a good match for the horse and withdrawn from the sale that would also be in their right.