I paid the deposit for a car and the dealer then cancelled the sale - do I have any legal redress? | Ask Honest John

I paid the deposit for a car and the dealer then cancelled the sale - do I have any legal redress?

I viewed a car advertised online by a sole trader. We agreed on the advertised price, I paid a 10 per cent deposit and then agreed to collect the car today. This morning I recieved a text saying the price was wrong on the advert, the sale was cancelled and was offered a refund of deposit. The same car reappeared on the same site last night at a substantially higher price. Is there any legal redress available to me for compensation, to include losses in cancellation of insurance and tax, any increased cost to me to find an equivalent vehicle, mileage to view the vehicle and generally being messed about?

Asked on 12 December 2017 by Pete Young

Answered by Honest John

You could try holding the dealer to contract using the Small Claims track of the County Court. See: www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

What you would have to sue for is both the return of your deposit and the difference between the price you agreed and the price at which the car is now advertised. Tell the dealer this is what you propose to do and he might let you have the car for the original advertised price.

Tags: legal advice buying a used car compensation legal issues small claims court

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