Last Friday I bought a car with a cash deposit from a PP

[Go To Top]

To be picked up today. Sat. I got a message from seller that she sold it to someone else. No attempt to return my deposit so far. 1976 MGB drivable. $900. I think it it is worth over $2000.

[Paul F.]

Hope you got a receipt that stated it was a refundable deposit..

[Go To Top]

Paul, I did not.

[C(-)ris]

I wonder what the legal precedent for this is. It happens fairly regularly when selling/buying cars. Regardless of if it was a refundable deposit or not, he is owed his money back since he wasn't the one who failed to follow through with the transaction.

However, if you took her to court, what would you get? Can you sue her to get the car? Legally, it was being held for you and you alone with the deposit. Perhaps a civil claim for loss of use or loss of profit? I wonder if you could sue to get the actual car back.

[chopper]

Frankly, I'd consider it a super cheap way to get out of owning an MG.

[Paul F.]

How big a deposit we talkin' here?
Might make the difference between walking away, and investing in a big box of dolls heads and a quart of pigs blood to try and "convince" the seller to kick down the refund...

[Big Daddy Cool]

Go To Top wrote:
I think it it is worth over $2000.

So did someone else evidently, and with quicker reflex/pickup skills.

[GeneL]

chopper wrote:
Frankly, I'd consider it a super cheap way to get out of owning an MG.

:agree:

[Janit]

They owe you the deposit back. The deposit was supposed to hold the car for you. Failing to return the deposit to you would be theft.

[onthedownlow]

I had done this before ($500 deposit), although it was stated it was a refundable deposit. After purchase and pickup, they did refund me the $500, per my request (I would rather have that $500 for immediate use than to use it to lower the price a little more for the auto-loan).

They do owe it back to you, and their etiquette is completely wrong. Was the initial purchase/deposit via an eBay ad, or something else?

This did just happen on Saturday and it is only Monday. Obviously contact them, but give them a business day to get it right, especially if it is a dealership of-sorts.