Non-refundable deposits!

Just want to get some info on the policy of non-refundable deposits.

On Saturday evening I paid a deposit on an item, and I enquired about the possibility of a refund.

I was told that the company policy was not to refund any deposits as they are holding the product for me until full payment is received and therefore are prevented from trying to sell it during that period. Fair enough as I had 5 weeks to pay in full and can understand that if I pulled out during that time, they may have lost out to other potential buyers.

Foolishly I paid the deposit of €500 by credit card, but within 45 mins realised I had made a mistake. I rang the salesman straight away and was told, sorry but it is written in the terms and conditions that no refund will be given. This occurred shortly before closing time on saturday evening and I don't believe that I had stopped anyone else from buying as the item was a very, very expensive once off purchase.

My understanding is that the idea of a deposit is to compensate for any inconvenience or losses caused by cancellation, but I cannot see what inconvenience this transaction has caused as I paid 15 mins. before they closed and rang 45mins after the credit card payment was made!

I don't want to mention details, but would like to know is there anything I can do to reclaim my money.

I understand that it is my own fault, but a good salesman (who kept on about being in business for 50 yrs. and how important referrals, repeat business and satisfied customers are) made me feel that I really should not let the chance go, and i believed him without taking the time to think it over.

Please help.

I'm afraid I think once you have paid a deposit you have effectively entered an agreement to buy the item, your only chance to get it back would be if they did so as a goodwill gesture, I don't believe they are obliged to.

did you have any luck? you could tell them that you are contacting the National Consumer Agency in relation to the hard selling used and the intimidation into buying the product and putting down an immediate deposit and that there was no cooling off period given..... It might not work but the threat of the NCA being contacted and any negative publicity esp if the company have a good local reputation may help them to refund the deposit as a goodwill gesture.

fizzelina said:

... you could tell them that you are contacting the National Consumer Agency in relation to the hard selling used and the intimidation into buying the product and putting down an immediate deposit and that there was no cooling off period given.....

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I can't see any evidence for any of this given by OP so why should s/he lie about giving false information to a statutory agency?

It sounds to me as if the salesman was upfront about the deposit and left the decision-making to OP who seems to have understood the precise nature of the contract they entered into freely.

OP, I'd suggest approaching the salesman again about the possibility of a credit-note to be used against other purchases as a goodwill gesture and keeping it simple and honest.