urgent reply requested - what are my rights if dealer 'forgot' VAT?

[keebo_sioux]

I was verbally quoted a price to fix my car and I confirmed with him twice that the price included VAT, now the dealer says that he 'forgot to add' VAT.

What are my rights? Can I just pay the price I was quoted?

 

[Martin M]

If you'd got it in writing then i guess you could argue it to the end. As it was only verbal it's his word against yours. Has the work been carried out?

 

[keebo_sioux]

yes, he asked me to "meet him half way" but I can't afford to. He says he will try to get the figure down to what he quoted me...when I go in to get the car later today.

 

[si-mate]

As a goodwill gesture and if he's a decent person he should do it for the price he quoted.

I know if I forgot to add the VAT or got my calcuations wrong I would accept the mistake and stomach the loss.

 

[skahigh]

Unfortunately however, I dont think you really have any rights, it would be impossible to prove.

 

[Mike Green]

Yep - impossible to prove, but he is willing to meet you half way, i would probably be happy with that.

 

[keebo_sioux]

I simply can't afford to pay more than he quoted me. In order to meet this bill I have had to move money around between accounts and reduce my mortgage payment this month - I am between jobs and had a grand saved for a rainy day but we are talking about another £250 on top of a hefty bill.

 

[Feel]

I'd ring the citezen's advice bureau if I were you.

AFAIK, a verbal contract is as binding as a written one...

 

[si-mate]

I think they'd have difficulty in persuing you for the difference legally so if I were you I would just stand your ground stating that you are only willing to pay the price you were quoted. If they made a mistake then thats their tough titty.

 

[Fl@pper]

isn't there some rule about an invitation to sell or negotiate when it comes to misquoted but i think thats stands more when someone like dixons misprints an advert price etc.

i deal with +vat terms all day and for the life of me can't understand why the motor trade insists on using it in a retail enviroment - trade like me to garages direct etc then fair enough but retail should always include vat on any stated price imho

same happens here on the odd occasion but when it's a £20 set of brake pads it's painless to suck in and live with it after explaining to a customer we always quote +vat but with a large bill it would be awkward to get round

 

[andycupra]

simply say that they got your custom based on the quote. Additional work has not been that was not forseen when the quote was made; so it should cost the quote.
If you had been quoted higher you would have gone elsewhere.

Explain that you appreciate the offer off 'meeting you half way' but that as it was their error and you accepted the quote in good faith (as well as clarified what it did/didnt include) you should not be expected to be out of pocket. (politely)

 

[andycupra]

isn't there some rule about an invitation to sell or negotiate when it comes to misquoted but i think thats stands more when someone like dixons misprints an advert price etc.

'Invitation to treat' refers to priced items. When something is in a shop or shop window (or is advertised) its an invitation to treat, and NOT an offer.

When you purchase something the contract is made when you are at the till.
"thats £100 sir (offer) you then give them your card or money (accepting their offer).

Therefore despite many people thinking otherwise, if something is priced up incorrectly, they do not have to sell it at that price. (or we would all be walking around with 1pence price tags..)

If its an advert then i believe different laws regarding advertising/missselling would come into play.
As far as quotes go, im not sure, but in this case the work seems to have been the same as quoted with no additional unforseen work being required so there is argument for the original quote to stand.

 

[keebo_sioux]

I still can't believe that he tried to pull that trick on top of a £1500 bill! I hope it wasn't because I'm female?!

When I went in, no mention was made of the "forgotten" VAT and we settled for me being completely fleeced anyway for a flywheel, clutch, and front bush 'brackets'. I'd already told him I used this forum and I have a seatcupra sticker on the car so maybe he was looking to see what was said.

You lot can all put two and two together about where I went, I thought maybe they'd changed because there were some positive reviews since I last had to use them (where they put in a headlamp bulb upside down). I am happy to give feedback to anyone about all my experiences of them by Private Message.

I hope that I never have to use them again in my lifetime.

Oh and my goodwill claim for the flywheel was refused even though its only 36000 miles. I asked for a copy of the claim but they said they were not allowed to divulge that info! I feel as the car is my property I should be able to see the claim made on my behalf. They said it wasn't like freedom of information because that's about people not about things. All diagnostics on my car are apparently property of Seat not me. Is that reasonable?