We placed a £99 deposit on a Ford Fiesta after a viewing on the 28th March and were very clear from the outset that the car was intended as a gift for our son’s 17th birthday. Despite this, the process dragged on for nearly four weeks with no proactive communication at all — we had to repeatedly chase for updates.
After weeks of reassurance that the car was in preparation, we were suddenly informed less than 48 hours before our son’s birthday that the vehicle was no longer for sale. We were later told this was due to excessive preparation requirements, which raises serious questions about why a deposit was taken and the sale allowed to progress for so long in the first place.
Senior management acknowledged that communication “could have been better” but refused to offer any goodwill, compensation or even an alternative solution, closed the case, and I then spent the next week chasing the return of my son's £99 deposit, as it wasn't returned when promised.