Buyer deposit

[daleherbert]

A fellow agreed to buy my car for �450, shook hands and left �100 deposit. He was due to return two days later to pay the balance and take the car. The day after agreeing to the purchase he called, left an excuse and asked to pull out of the agreed deal. Should I return the deposit?

[hugnie21]

I don't think so. He has breached the verbal agreement you had so you are entitled to keep the deposit, surely?

[RATTER15]

The deposit is yours, what would be the point of giving a deposit if you can just change your mind and get it back again.

[hugnie21]

Thanks for my star!

[oldwoman]

How big was he?

[Peter Pedant]

I think the deposit is yours,
however he did act in good faith
and you are selling a crate - �450 for Gods sake
and return a very large part of the deposit.

I say this only because last week I agreed.....no I was charged a full day at a London hotel, because I vacated at 2pm and was told I should have cancelled at 6pm the previous day! When I left the room, it was not yet cleaned, and really �170 seems a hell of a lot for the use of a room for two hours.

Return most of the deposit - you will feel good about yourself and so will he.

[gerry]

I would say that the guy that was going to buy your car is entitled to have his deposit back.The sale didn't go through & unless you mentioned to him at the time that the depoist is non returnable then he is entitled to have his money back.

[noxlumos]

Keep the money, that's why you take a deposit to stop people mucking you about. As far as he's concerned you might have turned away 10 genuine buyers because you thought it was sold to him ( indeed you might), so keep it that's why you take a deposit.

[daleherbert]

Thanks all, espeially oldwoman.

I took �30 and gave him back �70. I definitely lost the chance to make the sale due to the nice fellow reneging however, the �30 penalty is enough for me to pay for another advert in the local rag and also list it on Ebay.

By the way, it is not a crate but a lovingly maintained modern classic.