Car Receipt - Sold At Wrong Price

[dcsmith]

I bought a car the other day and put a £100 deposit down on it and got a receipt for the car with the price and everything, it was meant to be going in for its MOT today but he rang me and said it was the wrong price, but I can have it at a cut price, (still £400 more).

I have written proof of the sale for original price

[rosyherb]

ok... im no expert, but here goes of my understanding... (other has done business law)

a shop can put a 99p price tag on something, when you take it to the till they can say its £99, you make an offer and either agree to pay it or walk away.
he accepts it.

on the receipt does it have an outstanding amount on it...
ie when paying for a holiday is states £600 holiday price, £100 deposit, £500 balance to pay.. etc.

if your paperwork completed by them has an agreed price i would think you/he have entered in to a contract at that price and the deposit is a sign of good will. However i am guessing that until the total price has been paid he can withdraw from the sale (as per houses).

Citizens advice i think.

just had a quick check, is the additional monies to pay for work to make the car pass its MOT, in which case you should be able to take it sold as seen or pay for the work required.

Trading standards at your local council would be worth a quick contact... you may well not be the first.

[pdq1]

Are you sure you haven't been gazumped. We don't know what discount you received when you bought the car but maybe someone came along a little later and offered a better price than you. As the contract had been made with you he felt under obligation to give you first refusal.

It all sounds fishy to me...I would ask for your deposit back!

[IggyB]

They have entered into a legally binding contract and your deposit is evidence of that - legally they should honour your agreement, however as mentioned it does sound fishy and I wonder if you really want to go ahead with the purchase even if they agreed to go back to the original price?

[Just-Jude]

Sounds like a dodgy dealer! Get your deposit back and tell them to keep the car.

[jake-the-peg]

Which sounds to me like it failed its MOT and needed a load of work, perhaps new set of tyres, brakes etc. and dealer does not want to be out of pocket.

I suspect you could force the issue legally but is it really worth the hassle to you?

I'd be tempted to ring up and tell him that unfortunately for him he's agreed the sale but as a sign of good will you'll meet him half way at £200

That might be what he's expecting anyway and what the additional cost to him really was

[pdq1]

Jake if the garage had found through the MOT needed a lot of work I would have thought they would like to get rid of it pronto at the original price. But anyway the MOT had yet to be carried out.