chris's scooby

A quick question.

We had a family come round to look at the VW Polo we're selling on Saturday. The missus agreed a price with them and they left a £100 deposit to hold the car.

The problem is they seem to be delaying coming round with the rest of the cash to pick the car up.

The latest is they're saying they'll call on Tuesday as they're not sure if they are still going to proceed with the purchase. The bloke sounded a bit put out when i suggested he could go whistle if he thought he was getting his deposit back...

Do i have to refund his holding deposit if he pulls out of the purchase after wasting my time for a week?

Lee247

I didn't think deposits were refundable. I know if you book a hall, say for a birthday, and you have to cancel you loose the deposit. Don't know if same applies to cars.

Jap2Scrap

Friend of mine was selling a 3000 GSi awhile back for £9000 and a lad came round and put a £500 deposit on it. He then phoned back later that night and said his parents wouldn't let him have it so could he have his money back. My friend asked to speak to his dad and told him that the deposit wasn't refundable and despite that the father still wouldn't let his son buy the car and fully accepted that deposits weren't refundable.

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

AFAIK when a deposit has been taken then there is a contract !

ie for a contract of sale to exist there is an offer to chaffer (treat), an acceptance and a "consideration" which is the deposit !

I'm not sure about the deposit being non-refundable unless it was part of the original deal. I have a feeling that you can keep a percentage of the deposit (consideration) but I'm sure the SN legal eagles will be along in a minute

Midlife.....