Leaving a deposit. Private sale
Discussion
NorthernBoy said:
V8A*ndy said:
Leave him a cheque for a £100 for him to hold.
Then when you buy the car give him the whole amount in cash and have him rip up the cheque.
I'd not accept a cheque as deposit. I did it once before, and it bounced,Then when you buy the car give him the whole amount in cash and have him rip up the cheque.
POORCARDEALER said:
Depends how long i am holding the car for to how much deposit i want....£200 mininum, if its more than a week then a bit more.
As a dealer, (presumably with premises, website etc) I wouldn't have a problem leaving anything upto £500 or so for a car. Whack it on the cc for some payment protection and bobs your uncle.For a private seller, I wouldn't want to leave anything more than £150 or so, simply because the provenance of premises and therefore ability for comeback is far less.
V8A*ndy said:
Leave him a cheque for a £100 for him to hold.
Then when you buy the car give him the whole amount in cash and have him rip up the cheque.
I did this several times when selling ex-fleet cars for the company I used to work for.Then when you buy the car give him the whole amount in cash and have him rip up the cheque.
Never had any problems, a cheque to hold, a signed receipt and the full amount in cash ASAP
V8A*ndy said:
NorthernBoy said:
V8A*ndy said:
Leave him a cheque for a £100 for him to hold.
Then when you buy the car give him the whole amount in cash and have him rip up the cheque.
I'd not accept a cheque as deposit. I did it once before, and it bounced,Then when you buy the car give him the whole amount in cash and have him rip up the cheque.
My view coincides with others on here who say "If you can't trust him with £500 would you buy a car off him?".
If the answer is still yes, leave nothing and go back with the full amount and take a gamble on him selling it to someone else. It's just a car, after all, I'm sure you would find a similar one somewhere else if you took your time.
M.
carl_w said:
£500 seems a lot. I'd leave £100 and get a receipt for it along the lines of "Received £100 from Mr Garlick as deposit against <car make> <model> <reg no>. Balance of £xxxx payable on collection". SIgned of course.
I've always left about £100, when buying a car, also get a written recipt.This will cover there re advertising costs etc. £500 is way too much.
It is quite suprising how many people leave a deposit on a vehicle and then change their mind a few days later, I suspect as usually they have found a cheaper car or a car they like more....it is also suprsing that most think it is ok and expect their deposit back!
"Best" one I ever had was a guy, who left £500 on a car we had intending to collect two days later...collection day is due he turns up, sits in my office and says "you know I really wanted an orange elise, not a yellow one, well after I had placed deposit with you, orange one appeared on market, just what I wanted so I bought it.....any chance we could split my deposit between us?
I gave him it all back as I liked his honesty, liked him as a person, and we have other people wanting to buy the car....made a real change from been lied to!
miniman said:
Garlick said:
Not a Merc 
Well, as close as one can get, given that it is the Japanese Mercedes...
Garlick, given that you already have a Merc and what some would consider the gold standard (W124), does the Lexus offer anything that genuinely stands out over the Merc to justify the purchase? Genuine question. I understand it'll be an uber barge waft machine, but I'd have thought the Merc could do that quite well. Ok there is that V8 but still...
It's just with all the apparent increases in costs, the rise in the price of fuel, insurance etc for me at least, it'd have to do something special (vs a car/cars I already owned) to be bothered with the purchase.
V8A*ndy said:
NorthernBoy said:
V8A*ndy said:
Leave him a cheque for a £100 for him to hold.
Then when you buy the car give him the whole amount in cash and have him rip up the cheque.
I'd not accept a cheque as deposit. I did it once before, and it bounced,Then when you buy the car give him the whole amount in cash and have him rip up the cheque.
g3org3y said:
miniman said:
Garlick said:
Not a Merc
Well, as close as one can get, given that it is the Japanese Mercedes...Garlick, given that you already have a Merc and what some would consider the gold standard (W124), does the Lexus offer anything that genuinely stands out over the Merc to justify the purchase? Genuine question. I understand it'll be an uber barge waft machine, but I'd have thought the Merc could do that quite well. Ok there is that V8 but still...
It's just with all the apparent increases in costs, the rise in the price of fuel, insurance etc for me at least, it'd have to do something special (vs a car/cars I already owned) to be bothered with the purchase.
Insurance? Haven't checked yet......
Garlick said:
g3org3y said:
miniman said:
Garlick said:
Not a Merc
Well, as close as one can get, given that it is the Japanese Mercedes...Garlick, given that you already have a Merc and what some would consider the gold standard (W124), does the Lexus offer anything that genuinely stands out over the Merc to justify the purchase? Genuine question. I understand it'll be an uber barge waft machine, but I'd have thought the Merc could do that quite well. Ok there is that V8 but still...
It's just with all the apparent increases in costs, the rise in the price of fuel, insurance etc for me at least, it'd have to do something special (vs a car/cars I already owned) to be bothered with the purchase.
The Merc is fantastic and I'll miss it terribly, but 4.0, all the toys and a new car is too tempting. That Merc is a good one, but I'll get another one day.
Insurance? Haven't checked yet......
I didn't know you were planning to get rid of the Merc (or have already got rid by the sounds of it)?
just a slight curve ball, why not transfer the full amount electronically? you can do this without charge either on your banks web site, or over the phone.
Having done this several times now, its the easiest quickest and safest way of money changing hands. When I sell a car, I give absolutely NO discount for cash or cheque when negotiating the price, as its a right royal pain in the butt to go to the bank, but I may lop £50 off if you do an electronic transfer.
Having done this several times now, its the easiest quickest and safest way of money changing hands. When I sell a car, I give absolutely NO discount for cash or cheque when negotiating the price, as its a right royal pain in the butt to go to the bank, but I may lop £50 off if you do an electronic transfer.
Edited by philoldsmobile on Monday 3rd January 17:54
Gruber said:
Paul - completely off topic, but your TVR sounded lovely burbling up the Kings Rd this morning. And good to see you had the roof down!
Good stuff! It was a cold day wasnt it? I got many stares as I was wearing a polo shirt with bare arms, but with a V8 powered heater and heat soak through the footwell it means you're always toasty at slower speeds.
Hi Recently sent a 10% deposit to secure a car that was advertised as being repaired to a fantastic standard following a CAT D some time back and also said it drives without any mechanical issue and recent cam belt with service history
We got there and the car was poorly repaired with terrible panel gaps on all door, the rear shock was leaking and clonking and the brakes were worn and the ABS didn't work. It only had 2 weeks MOT left !
The cam belt was changed but some 8 year prior and the last service stamp was some 50k miles prior. Other faults included rusty exhaust, air con not working and passenger window didn't work. There was a V5 but it wasn't registered in his name or address.
I said given the standard of repair and faults i wasn't going to have the car and wanted my £150 deposit back, he agreed and i left my details for him and 7 days later i've still not received a refund.
He had no losses as the car was advertised on gumtree for free. We paid out fuel for the 160 mile round trip
Should i pay the additional £35 and take him to the County court for misrepresentation
Thanks for reading if you got this far
We got there and the car was poorly repaired with terrible panel gaps on all door, the rear shock was leaking and clonking and the brakes were worn and the ABS didn't work. It only had 2 weeks MOT left !
The cam belt was changed but some 8 year prior and the last service stamp was some 50k miles prior. Other faults included rusty exhaust, air con not working and passenger window didn't work. There was a V5 but it wasn't registered in his name or address.
I said given the standard of repair and faults i wasn't going to have the car and wanted my £150 deposit back, he agreed and i left my details for him and 7 days later i've still not received a refund.
He had no losses as the car was advertised on gumtree for free. We paid out fuel for the 160 mile round trip
Should i pay the additional £35 and take him to the County court for misrepresentation
Thanks for reading if you got this far
Rossco196x said:
Hi Recently sent a 10% deposit to secure a car that was advertised as being repaired to a fantastic standard following a CAT D some time back and also said it drives without any mechanical issue and recent cam belt with service history
We got there and the car was poorly repaired with terrible panel gaps on all door, the rear shock was leaking and clonking and the brakes were worn and the ABS didn't work. It only had 2 weeks MOT left !
The cam belt was changed but some 8 year prior and the last service stamp was some 50k miles prior. Other faults included rusty exhaust, air con not working and passenger window didn't work. There was a V5 but it wasn't registered in his name or address.
I said given the standard of repair and faults i wasn't going to have the car and wanted my £150 deposit back, he agreed and i left my details for him and 7 days later i've still not received a refund.
He had no losses as the car was advertised on gumtree for free. We paid out fuel for the 160 mile round trip
Should i pay the additional £35 and take him to the County court for misrepresentation
Thanks for reading if you got this far
Why would you pay a 10% deposit on a £1500 ex write off without viewing it, or asking a few basic questions, or checks on line? We got there and the car was poorly repaired with terrible panel gaps on all door, the rear shock was leaking and clonking and the brakes were worn and the ABS didn't work. It only had 2 weeks MOT left !
The cam belt was changed but some 8 year prior and the last service stamp was some 50k miles prior. Other faults included rusty exhaust, air con not working and passenger window didn't work. There was a V5 but it wasn't registered in his name or address.
I said given the standard of repair and faults i wasn't going to have the car and wanted my £150 deposit back, he agreed and i left my details for him and 7 days later i've still not received a refund.
He had no losses as the car was advertised on gumtree for free. We paid out fuel for the 160 mile round trip
Should i pay the additional £35 and take him to the County court for misrepresentation
Thanks for reading if you got this far
Mot history is on line. Questions to the vendor prior to deposit or travel
'is it in your name and how long have you owned it'
'when and where was it last serviced'
'when was the cam belt changed'.
Edited by bennno on Sunday 16th April 13:07
Your mistake was leaving without the deposit..*
...i suspect if they are willing to misdescribe the vehicle, then i suspect they will continously forget to return the deposit, and make it too expensive/painfulto go after them..
I appreciate probably not what you wanted to hear.
* ok...it was probably leaving the deposit in the first place, but I can understand why you did.
...i suspect if they are willing to misdescribe the vehicle, then i suspect they will continously forget to return the deposit, and make it too expensive/painfulto go after them..
I appreciate probably not what you wanted to hear.
* ok...it was probably leaving the deposit in the first place, but I can understand why you did.
I spoke with the guy who sounded very genuine i was aware the car was Cat D and the ad clearly stated repaired to a "fantastic standard" it still states this in the add on gumtree. The ad also said recent cam belt, what is the definition of recent., 8 years ago
He said he had bought it as a stop gap whilst waiting his new VW and he also had a pre inspection from a VW dealer that only listed 1 fault but ignored all the other items like air con, window etc etc
I did check the MOT history and was aware of past issues. I paid the £150 to secure the car as i wanted to have some confidence i would turn up to inspect the car as we had to travel 75 miles and paid the £150 2 days prior. i didn't want to get there and find the car was sold prior as it cost me 5 hours to do the round trip
He said he would return the deposit and he invited me in his house to write down my bank details
Either way the car was clearly mis described and i'm also thinking he might be a car dealer pretending to be a private seller.
My take is that he did buy the car a run around then realised he had bought a pile of sh*t and wanted to pass it on to the next punter.
Thanks for replying
He said he had bought it as a stop gap whilst waiting his new VW and he also had a pre inspection from a VW dealer that only listed 1 fault but ignored all the other items like air con, window etc etc
I did check the MOT history and was aware of past issues. I paid the £150 to secure the car as i wanted to have some confidence i would turn up to inspect the car as we had to travel 75 miles and paid the £150 2 days prior. i didn't want to get there and find the car was sold prior as it cost me 5 hours to do the round trip
He said he would return the deposit and he invited me in his house to write down my bank details
Either way the car was clearly mis described and i'm also thinking he might be a car dealer pretending to be a private seller.
My take is that he did buy the car a run around then realised he had bought a pile of sh*t and wanted to pass it on to the next punter.
Thanks for replying
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