Hi, seeking advice, we put a deposit on a motor home last month, salesman said we would require full payment about 2-3 days before hand over. Ok so we planned to visit the shop to make sure all the extras we ordered were in place before the final payment.
Today I got a letter saying payment would be expected 8 days before they receive the motor home, and no reference to my actual deposit or the extras ordered. To say I am annoyed is putting it lightly, think this is a very poor first communication after the deposit at a show, the salesman had to ask the director on the day if he could sell 1 of the 2 show models that were to arrive in dec, and the director agreed, so this was not a special order, it was on its way to them, admittedly I was getting a 2025 model in dec 2024, but any ideas how to approach this without spoiling everything. Thanks Stephen
What does the signed contract say?
There is a huge amount of tiny print on the back which I have to photograph and zoom in to read and translate, there is one section on payment, I will try and copy and paste
ARTICLE 10 - BILLING
An invoice is drawn up for each delivery and issued at the time of delivery.
ARTICLE 11 - PAYMENT
11.1. Unless special agreement stipulated on the purchase order and accepted by the seller, the price is payable in cash in part at the time of the order in the form of a deposit, the balance at the time of delivery, prior to any registration formality. It is expressly agreed that the amount paid by the Buyer at the time of the order constitutes a deposit.
11.2. As a result, the deposit remains vested in the seller in the event of non-payment of the price to the buyer on the agreed deadlines, at the end of a period of 7 days from the formal notice by registered mail remained unsuccessful.
ARTICLE 12 - LEGAL AND CONTRACTUAL GUARANTEES
ARTICLE 12.1 - LEGAL GUARANTEES
Vehicles and products sold by the Seller shall benefit, in accordance with the provisions
what does it say on the front of the Order… ?
in other words… what have you ordered and what have you agreed to… ?
Unless there’s something else that counters these words then it looks like they’ll need to wait until at least they’ve received it.
Thanks for you help
Sounde so far like the contract will back you up but check it all snd any docs you have, all, in detail, quick.
Your ideal position would be if the words are there that let you say you will pay when delivered . Naturally before handing over payment due at that time as per contract you will be checking the extras etc are there. Once you pay you’ve lost leverage if things are not as ordered.
If they claim worry abour a cheque clearing or other method taking time then either come with a banker’s draft ( removes the time to clear issue) or better yet if you possibly can then use a UK* credit * card to pay even a small part of the amount (say £50) finally due in case Section 75 might apply which makes the credit card co jointly liable to deliver what you’ve paid for. (caveat ; I cant remember the max amount this rule covers, nor if this type of purchase (vehicles) is excluded.)
This demand out of the blue for early payment does not look to be in the contract (but check) snd as such is a warning sign. So don’t let it get any worse and don’t hand over any more money till you’re fully satiafied. Jist make sure you go right through all contract detail now.
PS I am assuming this is a UK purchase / UK law
IANAL
Is this happening in France or the UK? How reputable is the Firm you are dealing with? If they are main dealers for the Brand then you could Google satisfaction ratings, Trustpilot etc.
As it says ‘the balance at the time of delivery’, I would have thought they were deviating from the terms of the contract if they are now asking for the balance to be paid 8 days before delivery. It would seem proper to me that you would be able to inspect the goods and check the extras you have ordered at the time of payment? But I’m no expert in these matters . . . .
As Karen and John have asked and seeing the contract exerts posted it looks like a UK purchase?
@Staggy have you bought a camping-car car previously from a dealer and if so what were the payment details?
Having bought 2 camping cars here in France (not at the same time) and both from dealers they both wanted full payment 8 days before the collection date.
The first time was a straight purchase and after discussion it was agreed that a bankers draft would be acceptable on the day. The contract detailed exactly what we were buying and before completing the transaction we were given a full tour inspection to verify all was as it should be.
The second purchase involved part cash and the part exchange of our first camping car. The cash was required 8 days prior to completion with the balance being the part exchange.
We had to deliver our partx the day before collecting our new one and again at that time we were given a full tour inspection to see we were getting what we had ordered as indeed they did by fully inspecting our partx.
You have to take the view that the customer is king and sit down with the supplier and thrash out an acceptable payment/delivery plan at the outset.
We all feel nervous splashing the cash in advance of obtaining the goods but if the company you are dealing with has a good track record all will be well.
Happy travelling.
@Staggy mentioned that they translated the contract, so probably France.
If that is the case then my experience is more relevant.
Thanks, but france purchase, but I will try it
If the boot was on the other foot then in France they would insist on you sticking to the contract
Even if it’s unfair or doesn’t make sense, if it’s not written down in a rule published by the government (décret) or the contract, it’s not going to happen in France. Much more riigidly than in tbe UK.
Stick to your guns. You can just humbly point to the contract and if it’s true on full checking, that the contract does not help them on this, they have no excuse to demand payment ahead. As bankers drafts etc are available for you to bring in the day it’s delivered and hand over if you’re satisfied with what’s delivered. (or pre arrange immefiate virement on the day with your bank so that when you call or do it online it’s not blocked).
Depending on fees involved and the value of the extras I’d consider splitting into extra bank drafts for part in case I needed to retain part till any delivery issues were rectified. If I wasn’t going to line up my bank to do a ceiling amount that I could reduce on the day, or use a credit card.