BMW approved used car ‘Reserve’ fee

[Calculon]

I found a used car on BMW’s website and ended up buying it. I expected the £250 fee to reserve it would be deducted or refunded. And that’s what the sales guy told me verbally should happen (refund). It didn’t, and they’re no longer responding now the deal is done. Have I got the wrong end of the stick here? Or is the total bill actually the selling price, plus the reservation fee on top?

My credit card company have asked me for evidence in writing of a refund being applicable.
The car was bought at distance due to my location, which made things trickier.

Any (helpful) advice?

Cheers

[Ussrcossack]

Helpful advice
Next time don't pay any more than you expect and don't trust a sales persons word

[sherman]

So you paid £10k (i.e) +£250 when the sticker price was only £10k?

Why did you not make a final payment of £9750?
You must have authorised this payment in someway?
Have you essentially just tipped the dealer £250 for not even showing you the car?

[TheDrownedApe]

the fee is refundable - ours was refunded back to our credit card on the day of collection.

[LuS1fer]

Is the reserve fee also a delivery fee?

[Calculon]

LuS1fer said:

Is the reserve fee also a delivery fee?

Good question, but not as far as I know, as they said it was free delivery.

TheDrownedApe said:

the fee is refundable - ours was refunded back to our credit card on the day of collection.

That's good to know. Was it also BMW / £250?


I paid the invoice as he said the deposit would be automatically refunded.

[DanL]

Can’t say I’ve ever heard of a reservation fee. There’s (often) a holding deposit, refundable if you test drive it and don’t like it, or knocked off the price of the car if you purchase…

[SkodaIan]

How long since the car was delivered?

If its less than 14 days ago, and you never went to their premises before handing over the money, try waving the threat of using your right to cancel under the distance selling regulations at them.
If you tell (not ask) the dealership you will return the car for a full refund unless they refund the deposit they said they would, that might focus their minds a bit....

[TheDrownedApe]

Calculon said:

That's good to know. Was it also BMW / £250?

I paid the invoice as he said the deposit would be automatically refunded.

Yes BMW Warrington - reserved it on a Monday (£250 CC) and collected/bought it the following Sat

[P1H]

Calculon said:

I found a used car on BMW’s website and ended up buying it. I expected the £250 fee to reserve it would be deducted or refunded. And that’s what the sales guy told me verbally should happen (refund). It didn’t, and they’re no longer responding now the deal is done. Have I got the wrong end of the stick here? Or is the total bill actually the selling price, plus the reservation fee on top?

My credit card company have asked me for evidence in writing of a refund being applicable.
The car was bought at distance due to my location, which made things trickier.

Any (helpful) advice?

Cheers

Ignore most of the above.

This is their mistake, when I’ve purchased an approved used BMW they reduced the final payment by £250 to reflect the reservation fee was paid in advance.

Before you go down the credit card route I’d suggest escalating at the dealership. If practical I’d also consider visiting in person to clear up the misunderstanding.

[MitchT]

OP - did you effectively buy an Approved Used BMW online and have it delivered? I thought they wouldn't do this because they didn't want to be on the hook for distance selling regs. Be good to know if this is something they will actually do.

DanL said:

Can’t say I’ve ever heard of a reservation fee.

There's a button to "Reserve & Buy" next to each car listed on the Approved Used BMW search results. It's £100 on the ones I've got in a tab on my browser.

[DanL]

MitchT said:

OP - did you effectively buy an Approved Used BMW online and have it delivered? I thought they wouldn't do this because they didn't want to be on the hook for distance selling regs. Be good to know if this is something they will actually do.

DanL said:

Can’t say I’ve ever heard of a reservation fee.

There's a button to "Reserve & Buy" next to each car listed on the Approved Used BMW search results. It's £100 on the ones I've got in a tab on my browser.

Ah, interesting! Yes, there is - I’ve never used it, I’ve always spoken directly with a salesperson to do this sort of stuff…

[MitchT]

DanL said:

Ah, interesting! Yes, there is - I’ve never used it, I’ve always spoken directly with a salesperson to do this sort of stuff…

I only know about the button as I have a tab permanently open on my browser with my search preferences for a car I'm looking for, so I'll see anything that's listed the same day that it's added. Like you, I'd be on the phone to the dealer once I was ready to buy something, though I guess the online reservation is useful as long as you can still haggle on the final price after paying the fee.

[Niguy]

These franchised main dealers are taking the public for a ride - gangsters.

[nickfrog]

Niguy said:

These franchised main dealers are taking the public for a ride - gangsters.

Is that your experience? I never had an issue with franchised dealers.