BCA Buyers Fee

[surveyor]

Contemplating buying a car from Auction. Got a fairly specific marque and model in mind, which may or may not be in budget.

First question though, BCA seem to by rather shy about their buyers fee's. Anyone any idea what it would be on a £5 - £6k purchase?

[Sir Bagalot]

surveyor said:

First question though, BCA seem to by rather shy about their buyers fee's. Anyone any idea what it would be on a £5 - £6k purchase?

No they don't. Have you called them?

From memory it's about £400 @ £5K

[surveyor]

Yes they do - otherwise it would be on the website surely, especially as they emphasise how straightforward it is for the private buyer...

I will call them today, but difficuly to get an answer on a sunday eve..

Thanks.

[bassanclan]

They are not evasive at all.

You can email them Email: [e-mail]

or ring them up and ask for the buyers fee on an exact hammer amount.

[soxboy]

surveyor said:

Yes they do - otherwise it would be on the website surely, especially as they emphasise how straightforward it is for the private buyer...

I will call them today, but difficuly to get an answer on a sunday eve..

Thanks.

It's not being evasive, it's more that it's a bit of a moveable feast, plus if they publicised the buyers fee was effectively 10% of the hammer price for that value of car for a private buyer I doubt they'd get any takers at all!

[surveyor]

I did not say evasive I said shy.

I stand by this, as despite the plentiful references to the charges on the website, they don't give the actual charges.

When posted on a Sunday evening I don't think they would have answered the phone.

[confused_buyer]

They are posted in all their auction halls. It's going to be around £400 on a £5k car.

[tim0409]

I completely agree with the OP - I was looking for this information recently and it was conspicuous in its absence from their website, especially given the wealth of other information they include.

[confused_buyer]

tim0409 said:

I completely agree with the OP - I was looking for this information recently and it was conspicuous in its absence from their website, especially given the wealth of other information they include.

They're all the same (Manheim as well). I notice BCA are now giving a new spiel at the start of auctions along the lines of "this is a trade environment - not a retail environment" as I think by trying to look an easier buying place they've had problems with people upset when they get 20m and the turbo packs up. They're also demanding higher deposits (20%) from non-account customers.

Apart from some fancy websites and nice leaflets in the auction halls car auctions are pretty much the same as they were 20 years ago (higher fees apart!) at the sharp end.

[surveyor]

Thanks to posters above

Anther newbie question.

I have been quoted a guide price. Are these based on a specific model and mileage, or based on someones opinion of a specific vehicle?

Is there a general trend to go over or under?

Cheers

David

[POORCARDEALER]

There has been some issues recently regarding private buyers taking legal action against auction houses regarding pups they have bought been unfit for purpose etc, apparantly with backing of Trading Standards.

[surveyor]

POORCARDEALER said:

There has been some issues recently regarding private buyers taking legal action against auction houses regarding pups they have bought been unfit for purpose etc, apparantly with backing of Trading Standards.

I'm looking at an ex-lease car which hopefully minimises my risk - not keen on picking up a car that has been chucked into an auction because it's a problem.

But I know I'm taking a risk... Provided what I pay vs retail value gives me the fund that I expect, then worst case scenario is it ain't the bargain that I hoped for.

[b19rak]

Or you can find a friendly trader that will buy the car in the pec you want, check it over, hpi it. Bung him £400 cash + final auction price. At least the car will be checked over by the trade rather then going in yourself at the deep end.

[GreigM]

POORCARDEALER said:

There has been some issues recently regarding private buyers taking legal action against auction houses regarding pups they have bought been unfit for purpose etc, apparantly with backing of Trading Standards.

would be interesting if the buyers were successful, as if so surely the same would apply to ebay auctions?

[confused_buyer]

POORCARDEALER said:

There has been some issues recently regarding private buyers taking legal action against auction houses regarding pups they have bought been unfit for purpose etc, apparantly with backing of Trading Standards.

That explains their new emphasis on "trade environment" and dire warnings they give out at the start of sales. In light of this news I am tempted to visit Manheim Colchester's regular Thursday night festival of tat for a laugh (haven't been in years) to see some private buyers asserting their consumer rights (before being escorted from the premises by two large Polish guys). Of course, they'll need to be rescued from the many scattered broken down cars which litter the A120 at about 8.00pm on a Thursday first.

Edited by confused_buyer on Wednesday 9th November 16:23

[confused_buyer]

surveyor said:

I'm looking at an ex-lease car which hopefully minimises my risk - not keen on picking up a car that has been chucked into an auction because it's a problem.

If it was on a maintenance lease they are usually relativelty free of major faults. Any lease company will happily slip one through with a dodgy clutch, iffy autobox or mystery electrical fault however. They need to shift all their cars, not just the nice ones.

Price wise any CAP figure is for the car in general and you judge the condition. If you can predict under or over you should go and work in the motor trade!

Be very careful what you pay, no point in paying over the odds plus buyers fees etc. and the risk, preperation etc. and end up paying close to what you can buy one from a regular source for.

[surveyor]

Well I am just back.

Clearly I was spotted as a newbie, but no one (as far as I know!) took the piss, and I felt looked after.

Now the proud owner of a 520d 07 on 115k, having just had a service and four new tyres. One owner, ex-lease car.

The experience was daunting at first, but quite enjoyable. Time will tell as to whether it is a mistake, but I am happy with the car and everything seems to be as solid and firm as should be.

[leodlion]

Been thinking about this myself. And after checking the BCA website, and many other places I emailed them

Below is there table for Normal buyers who buy a car (current March 2012). Dealers and people who buy more than 3 per year get a cheaper rate. Bloody Expensive HPI check if you ask me, as that is all your paying for if you read there T&C's.

Below is there email sent to me with the fee's

A buyer's fee is payable on each vehicle (or lot) purchased. This covers the cost of the services provided to you and all other buyers by BCA including amongst other things, the cost of premises and staff and the giving of an undertaking against the vehicle:-

(a) proving to be stolen property, or

(b) being found to be the subject of outstanding hire purchase or similar, or

(c) having been, or having been treated as, a total loss by an insurance company prior to the date of the sale and this fact was not disclosed, or

(d) having an odometer reading warranted as accurate and which is subsequently proved to be false.

The buyer's fee depends on the value of the vehicle and your MyBCA Card, depending on the number of vehicles you have purchased in the previous 12 months. All buyer's fees are subject to VAT.

Although BCA do not publish the Buyer's fees, the Standard fees are on display at all BCA branches. Below are some examples of the Standard buyer's fees:

Hammer Price Buyers Fee

£500 £216
£1000 £275
£2000 £315
£3000 £348
£4000 £373
£5000 £394
£6000 £416
£7000 £437
£8000 £458
£9000 £479
£10,000 £500
£11,000 £521
£12,000 £542
£13,000 £563
£14,000 £584
£15,000 £606

[bluesntwos]

Don't even bother trying to buy a cheap car at BCA if you're a private individual. I bought a Mondeo in April '11. Hammer price £1300, buyers fee £300! Plus £26 to send the logbook off (which is curiously absent from the post above).

[Defcon5]

How much did you get it for then Surveyor?