I am supposed to be picking up my new car on Tuesday coming. I ordered the car from a broker (good price) but have elected to collect the car from a dealer thus ensuring it is UK spec etc etc.
When I spoke to the broker (small independant but local) on the phone last week when I placed the order he said I could pay him the deposit and pay the rest to the dealer when I collected the car.
Now, as delivery day approaches (was supposed to be Sat but has been pushed back to tuesday), the broker insists I must pay him and I started to get that concerned feeling.
Although I have obtained the reg no and confirmed with the dealer that the car is being delivered to them on Sat and that they are preparing the docs in my name, I am still reluctant to hand over the dosh before I take delivery of the vehicle. Since the broker will not be present how can I check the car and then pay for it with guranteed funds?
I tried the debit card suggestion but he refused as he claims there is a risk of me claiming the funds back under the indemnity.
He claims that in the past he has had customerts set up a CHAPS transfer with the funds being held until the customer calls the bank with a prearranged password and rthe funds are then instantly transferred. Although I am aware of CHAPS transfers I have never heard of this instant facility and neither has my bank. My understanding is that once a CHAPS payment has been authorised, off it goes.
Does anyone else have any experience of, or suggestion on how this problem can be overcome.
I know this may seem like I am being over cautious but I work in dipsute resolution within the commercial finance industry so I know many of the scama that go on out there.
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You had an agreement about how the car is paid for when you ordered it. Why isn't he willing to stick to that? Or, why did he agree to it then?
I do tend towards paranoia, but the antennae are alive at this. And why is he frightened of the debit card indemnity?
I'd want to see the car first, the more so the more he wants to get the cash first.
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I run a brokerage department in a major dealership and think what your broker is suggestion stinks to high heaven. My (and most dealer/brokers) way of dealing with things is as follows.
Broker gets punter who wishes to go ahead, broker refers punter to dealer, dealer confirms details of order and takes deposit, dealer then orders vehicle and does all standard paperwork. Vehicle comes into stock, gets registered then dealer and customer agree a collection date. On said date customer visits dealer, checks car over and then pays either by bankers draft/CHAPS or debit card.
Once the broker has introduced punter to dealer they don't really get involved apart from invoicing their intro commission.
I would speak to the dealership direct and see how they want payment for the vehicle as they wont usually let the vehicle leave untill they have cleared funds.
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Thanks guys, that's what I thought.
However, when I spoke to the dealership to confimr the car's existence and registration details etc, they confirmed that the balance on this should be paid to the broker and they would get paid by the broker a couple of days later?
I really don't know ehere to go with this now!
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The problem with paying the broker not the dealer is you get into all sorts of third party contracts, which some of the legal eagles on here can explain in greater detail than i can.
what happens if the broker goes bankrupt between you giving him the money and him paying the dealer? or if he does a runner with the money?
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Good news guys & gals.
After talking again to the main dealer who is supplying the car it became apparent that there is a fleet broker between the original broke I was dealing with and the supplying garage.
I discussed with the garage's fleet manager & expressed my concerns and she ageed to speak to the fleet broker. She came back and said they had agreed for me to pay the dealer.
I feel much happier now.
Can't wait till Tuesday!
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