Is this normal - Car dealer requires deposit before mechanical inspection?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Is this normal - Car dealer requires deposit before mechanical inspection?

event2

187 posts

Master Geek

#232207 4-Apr-2018 20:54

After a bit of advise here, I'm looking at purchasing a car from a dealer in another town from me so I would like to get a pre-purchase mechanical inspection done on the vehicle. The dealer has advised that this can be done but requires a $500 deposit and if the inspection is satisfactory I am required to buy. consumerprotection.govt.nz advises to never pay a cash deposit as there is on obligation for the dealer to refund this.

Is this normal? Any advice appreciated.

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553 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1988376 4-Apr-2018 20:55

Sounds dodgy. Whilst I can understand wanting to avoid tyre-kickers, I don't think requiring a deposit, and especially not requiring a purchase is kosher.

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#1988377 4-Apr-2018 20:57

Who is paying for the pre-purchase inspection? If you then tell them to go jam it where the sun does not shine

If the car yard then I would say valid

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event2

187 posts

Master Geek

#1988418 4-Apr-2018 21:29

I would be paying for the pre-purchase inspection. So it would be a $500 deposit plus $160 for the inspection.

The other thing that has set alarm bells off is they have emailed me a pro forma invoice for the car and its doesn't have any mention of the pre-purchase inspection.

It doesn't feel right, I will have another chat to them tomorrow and go from there.

mattwnz

20045 posts

Uber Geek

#1988435 4-Apr-2018 21:59

Why the heck do they need the deposit then, if you are paying for the inspection? Don’t dealers normally get AA inspections done anyway as one of the costs of selling. There is no risk to them, I would avoid. If you aren’t happy with the report, I would worry about how easy it will be to get the deposit back.

muppet

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#1988442 4-Apr-2018 22:08

Flee.

Geektastic

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#1988452 4-Apr-2018 22:25

Copy Brave Sir Robin: run away! run away!

FireEngine

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#1988458 4-Apr-2018 22:34

Danger Will Robinson!

No justification, as said if the report shows something the deposit will be hard to get back...

Regards FireEngine

Dratsab

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#1988462 4-Apr-2018 23:04

Dodgy doesn't even begin to describe this. Send the pro forma invoice back with a letter of rejection. Keep copies of both as they'll probably try and get debt collectors involved. Irrespective of what they may try and say down the track, you have no form of contract with them, just an expression of interest which extends to a pre-purchase mechanical inspection.

To be honest, you should be arranging said inspection anyway, not the seller.

bigalow

562 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1988468 5-Apr-2018 02:13

mattwnz: Why the heck do they need the deposit then, if you are paying for the inspection? Don’t dealers normally get AA inspections done anyway as one of the costs of selling. There is no risk to them, I would avoid. If you aren’t happy with the report, I would worry about how easy it will be to get the deposit back.

this is true most car sealers get a AA etc inspections done when they get the car to sell

are they registered ?? http://www.motortraders.govt.nz/cms

and member of the LMVD etc ??

Goosey

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#1988475 5-Apr-2018 06:12

Hmmm

1) dont buy the car from these guys, make sure that pro forma is cancelled as you didnt accept anything prior to suggest you would accept a pro forma.

2) if you ever want pre inspection, always go for the really indepth one and never let your dealer do this themselves

Dial111

972 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1988478 5-Apr-2018 07:00

I would definitely walk away, you're in for a world of grief with this outfit by the sounds of it.

nakedmolerat

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#1988483 5-Apr-2018 07:22

@event2 red flags! red flags! red flags!

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#1988487 5-Apr-2018 07:34

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DaveDog

336 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1988539 5-Apr-2018 08:43

event2:

After a bit of advise here, I'm looking at purchasing a car from a dealer in another town from me so I would like to get a pre-purchase mechanical inspection done on the vehicle. The dealer has advised that this can be done but requires a $500 deposit and if the inspection is satisfactory I am required to buy. consumerprotection.govt.nz advises to never pay a cash deposit as there is on obligation for the dealer to refund this.

Is this normal? Any advice appreciated.

It isn't normal and if I was you I would walk away immediately and don't go back... I'd run even - as fast as you can.

chevrolux

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#1988550 5-Apr-2018 09:00

Arrange a pre-purchase check with the AA yourself, and pay the AA (or their agent) directly. Then tell the car dealer to take the car there and get it done.

If they aren't keen, I would immediately assume they aren't confident the car would go through a pre-purchase check smoothly.

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