Motor traders - need opinion
Discussion
Hi there
Quick question to motor traders and perhaps everyone really. Recently sold a car as trade, gentleman came to view car from London (I'm based in Sussex) and he liked the car and agreed to buy it, very nice chap and he agreed he'd send me £100 deposit once he's home as no cash on him. OK so off he went, and sure enough next day I received a deposit. Six days passed (In which time I took the car off the web and turned away the two bits of interest I had) and he arranged to come get car, to help out I agreed to pick him up from nearest train station 12 miles away and bring him to unit. On arrival he tried to transfer the funds online (It was 8pm) and was unsuccessful. I gave him Barclays details, Natwest and even a friends Nationwide and his bank couldn't send funds. Completely out of options I took him back to station. 48 hours later he contacts me to say he wants to pull out of deal and wants deposit back. I offer to drive the car up to London for £50 travel cost so that someone can follow me up and bring me back (£50 would barely cover the petrol in two cars, but I was being helpful). He told me this wouldn't work and still wants the money returned. I have not agreed to refund the £100 deposit as I have un-advertised car, would need to re-advertise it, have rejected interest and my time and petrol taking him to and from station. Can anyone let me know if I'm in the wrong here, because as far as I can tell I have been as amicable as I can. Regards
Edited to add it's a registered business, fully insured with working premises. I am a trader and sold to a private buyer, just to clear that up
Quick question to motor traders and perhaps everyone really. Recently sold a car as trade, gentleman came to view car from London (I'm based in Sussex) and he liked the car and agreed to buy it, very nice chap and he agreed he'd send me £100 deposit once he's home as no cash on him. OK so off he went, and sure enough next day I received a deposit. Six days passed (In which time I took the car off the web and turned away the two bits of interest I had) and he arranged to come get car, to help out I agreed to pick him up from nearest train station 12 miles away and bring him to unit. On arrival he tried to transfer the funds online (It was 8pm) and was unsuccessful. I gave him Barclays details, Natwest and even a friends Nationwide and his bank couldn't send funds. Completely out of options I took him back to station. 48 hours later he contacts me to say he wants to pull out of deal and wants deposit back. I offer to drive the car up to London for £50 travel cost so that someone can follow me up and bring me back (£50 would barely cover the petrol in two cars, but I was being helpful). He told me this wouldn't work and still wants the money returned. I have not agreed to refund the £100 deposit as I have un-advertised car, would need to re-advertise it, have rejected interest and my time and petrol taking him to and from station. Can anyone let me know if I'm in the wrong here, because as far as I can tell I have been as amicable as I can. Regards
Edited to add it's a registered business, fully insured with working premises. I am a trader and sold to a private buyer, just to clear that up
Edited by XJR500bhp on Thursday 9th October 11:48
Edited by XJR500bhp on Thursday 9th October 11:58
XJR500bhp said:
Hi there
Quick question to motor traders and perhaps everyone really. Recently sold a car as trade, gentleman came to view car from London (I'm based in Sussex) and he liked the car and agreed to buy it, very nice chap and he agreed he'd send me £100 deposit once he's home as no cash on him. OK so off he went, and sure enough next day I received a deposit. Six days passed (In which time I took the car off the web and turned away the two bits of interest I had) and he arranged to come get car, to help out I agreed to pick him up from nearest train station 12 miles away and bring him to unit. On arrival he tried to transfer the funds online (It was 8pm) and was unsuccessful. I gave him Barclays details, Natwest and even a friends Nationwide and his bank couldn't send funds. Completely out of options I took him back to station. 48 hours later he contacts me to say he wants to pull out of deal and wants deposit back. I offer to drive the car up to London for £50 travel cost so that someone can follow me up and bring me back (£50 would barely cover the petrol in two cars, but I was being helpful). He told me this wouldn't work and still wants the money returned. I have not agreed to refund the £100 deposit as I have un-advertised car, would need to re-advertise it, have rejected interest and my time and petrol taking him to and from station. Can anyone let me know if I'm in the wrong here, because as far as I can tell I have been as amicable as I can. Regards
how exactly are you selling cars 'as trade' to members of the public? I'm afraid you are the sort of 'trader' that gives the Motor Trade in general a bad name.Quick question to motor traders and perhaps everyone really. Recently sold a car as trade, gentleman came to view car from London (I'm based in Sussex) and he liked the car and agreed to buy it, very nice chap and he agreed he'd send me £100 deposit once he's home as no cash on him. OK so off he went, and sure enough next day I received a deposit. Six days passed (In which time I took the car off the web and turned away the two bits of interest I had) and he arranged to come get car, to help out I agreed to pick him up from nearest train station 12 miles away and bring him to unit. On arrival he tried to transfer the funds online (It was 8pm) and was unsuccessful. I gave him Barclays details, Natwest and even a friends Nationwide and his bank couldn't send funds. Completely out of options I took him back to station. 48 hours later he contacts me to say he wants to pull out of deal and wants deposit back. I offer to drive the car up to London for £50 travel cost so that someone can follow me up and bring me back (£50 would barely cover the petrol in two cars, but I was being helpful). He told me this wouldn't work and still wants the money returned. I have not agreed to refund the £100 deposit as I have un-advertised car, would need to re-advertise it, have rejected interest and my time and petrol taking him to and from station. Can anyone let me know if I'm in the wrong here, because as far as I can tell I have been as amicable as I can. Regards
VAT or income tax?
£100 Deposit was to secure the car pending full payment. He was unable to conclude the deal, £100 lost!! Simples! You took the car out of circulation and potential sales lost waiting on him concluding the deal - which he didn't - money's yours!
If it was £100 deposit pending viewing the car which he didn't take after viewing for whatever reason, then you'd give it back.
If it was £100 deposit pending viewing the car which he didn't take after viewing for whatever reason, then you'd give it back.
TVR1 said:
how exactly are you selling cars 'as trade' to members of the public? I'm afraid you are the sort of 'trader' that gives the Motor Trade in general a bad name.
VAT or income tax?
How do I give motor traders a bad name? It's a registered business trading one year with many happy customers.VAT or income tax?
Edited to add I'm fully insured, trade plates and working premises
He gave you £100 as a deposit to buy the car, during this time you took the car off of the market and turned down deals. Then he pulls out and wants his deposit back? Well seeing as you'll now need to relist the car and pay PH/Autotrader/Ebay, plus clean it again (probably) it's not like you're making anything out of it.
Stand firm, he messed you about, and as collateral, you kept deposit to put in back into position you were in before he came along.
Stand firm, he messed you about, and as collateral, you kept deposit to put in back into position you were in before he came along.
XJR500bhp said:
TVR1 said:
how exactly are you selling cars 'as trade' to members of the public? I'm afraid you are the sort of 'trader' that gives the Motor Trade in general a bad name.
VAT or income tax?
How do I give motor traders a bad name? It's a registered business trading one year with many happy customers.VAT or income tax?
Edited to add I'm fully insured, trade plates and working premises
What is the sale price of the car? £100 doesn't strike me as a large amount for a deposit on something like a car, the whole idea is to hold the car to complete the sale - he didn't complete the sale, loses the deposit. If it was completely refundable in every situation then it kind of undermines the entire idea of requesting/placing a deposit anyway.
If it was a significantly larger amount, say £500-£1000+ then in your place I may refund some of that but keep some for admin, hassle and lost opportunity. For £100, he should have checked his bank balance more closely.
If it was a significantly larger amount, say £500-£1000+ then in your place I may refund some of that but keep some for admin, hassle and lost opportunity. For £100, he should have checked his bank balance more closely.
Car was £4300. I'd usually ask for 10% deposit and send him an invoice for this amount with balance still payable, but because we chatted for ages about other interests and genuinely got on, I wasn't too fussed. (lesson learnt there)
Anyway to up date I have refunded him. Simply because £100 is not worth him bad mouthing the business.
Thank you for your opinions
Anyway to up date I have refunded him. Simply because £100 is not worth him bad mouthing the business.
Thank you for your opinions
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