Last week I looked into getting a new second hand car on PCP, the said car is in Essex some 70 miles from the showroom where I live, they said they wanted a £500 deposit which I paid despite my best judgment considering the equity in my part exchange car is over £3000.  I am fretting now as a week later still no sign of the new car as the driver who collects cars is off with Covid.  I did ask the salesman what happens if after I test drive the car and I dont like it, he she they would look into refunding!!  Would they legally be able to keep the £500.  I signed nothing and no real explanation was made about why they want it apart from the cost of bringing the car down from Essex 

In the words of Homer Simpson .. "Doh !"

Did you get a receipt for your £500 and what is the wording on it if you did get one?

How did you pay the £500, please say it was with a Visa/Mastercard Credit Card ?

i know, I am so stupid.  Just an email receipt saying thank you for deposit - it was paid by Mastercard and it was the quickest payment I have seen, the next day it was taken from Mastercard, can I claim back 

Well you have some cover since it was paid by Mastercard.

Since the "deposit" was allegedly needed because the car was going to have to be brought from a garage 70 miles away (I kind of see their reason), BUT they haven't as yet brought the car so costs can not have been incurred.

Tell them you no longer want the car, it has taken too long, and you want your deposit refunded.

I would also contact your credit card company and launch a dispute. Although the amount has been charged to your card, the garage will not actually receive that money from Mastercard for approximately 28 days. If you open a dispute with Mastercard now then they will put a hold on the money until either the garage issues a refund or until you agree that case has been resolved and that the money can be paid.

 

It is not clear to me if you have decided you want the deposit back and definitely don’t want the car as it has taken too long or if it’s just that you are worried what the situation might be if you don’t want the car after seeing it in the flesh. 

Thank you Unofix that is helpful information.   

Isetta, yes the latter, what if I dont like the car once test driven, nothing was made clear whether they will withold an amount for "inconvenience" or even the whole amount 

Is there nothing on the dealers website regarding deposits/reservation fees?

It is not unusual to see these requested, particularly when transferring vehicles from one site to another is involved, but those I have seen make clear what happens in the event of a sale not proceeding.

 

Eric, a search on their web takes you to a Motorpark site where all the cars are and you are able to reserve but says nothing about reservation fee.  I do feel stupid doing it but i spoke with my mastercard people who have said i can cancel if i dont get the car by a reasonable time period, given that the chap has covid although a week has passed since I made the deposit - the card people told me not to worry 

1 hour ago, supergran0606 said:

i spoke with my mastercard people who have said i can cancel if i dont get the car by a reasonable time period, given that the chap has covid although a week has passed since I made the deposit - the card people told me not to worry 

Good news there at least. You did well in actually getting to speak to a real person, given my recent experiences of trying to contact my insurers, bank, doctor, etc, etc!😀

19 hours ago, unofix said:

Well you have some cover since it was paid by Mastercard.

Since the "deposit" was allegedly needed because the car was going to have to be brought from a garage 70 miles away (I kind of see their reason), BUT they haven't as yet brought the car so costs can not have been incurred.

Tell them you no longer want the car, it has taken too long, and you want your deposit refunded.

I would also contact your credit card company and launch a dispute. Although the amount has been charged to your card, the garage will not actually receive that money from Mastercard for approximately 28 days. If you open a dispute with Mastercard now then they will put a hold on the money until either the garage issues a refund or until you agree that case has been resolved and that the money can be paid.

 

how long do you think is a reasonable time to wait before I call for the money back, it is a week today 

1 hour ago, supergran0606 said:

how long do you think is a reasonable time to wait before I call for the money back, it is a week today 

Presumably the excuse will be out of isolation soon.I would give it 14 days, that’s a reasonable time period for a transaction 👍