Purchase of caravan

[jaksensmummy]

I bid on a caravan and won. I rung the seller immediately to organise that I would be there to pick up item in a fortnight. There were no terms of the sale on eBay. The seller demanded a deposit to secure my purchase and I paid $500. In the description the caravan is REGISTERED UNTIL MARCH. I took my husband and father to view the caravan as we live just over an hour away. My husband and father took a look under the van and there is significant structural damage that is not mentioned in the description. The chassis is completely bent. In fact, from an engineer's point of view the whole structure would need to be rebuilt.

If I were to drive the van out of the driveway the police would put it off the road simply because it is unroadworthy. Therefore the caravan is not technically registered.

I had to ring the seller and tell him that I cannot purchase the van simply because of the unlisted damaged and the costs associated with restoring the van which was far more significant than described. The seller was incredibly rude and refuses to refund my deposit simply saying that he wrote "bidding is buying" on the bottom of his description. It's strange that he didn't respect that notion when I rang him to organise the logistics of picking up the van. Bidding obviously wasnt buying because he required money (and a substantial deposit I would say) to secure my purchase.

Now I am forced to take civil action in order to get my "deposit back" because he requested bank deposit. 😞

As a mother with a young family and a hearing impaired daughter on the Autism spectrum, we didn't have a lot of money to spend and the description was deceitful. I feel very flat!

[*crikey*mate*]

Hello, I am really sorry that this has happened to you. I can understand how devastated you must feel. I really do hope that something nice happens soon to help make you feel a little bit better.

[belindabargainhunter]

As a mother of a child with a disability I understand how you have tryed to do something for your family on a budget.
The problem is I had a look at the caravan listing and he does clearly say it needs work, he also says he had an accident with it and the pictures show it's pretty ruff.
I don't think u can get your deposit back you could pay for this and try and recoup some money buy re selling or you could just talk a big gulp, and except that you have lost your deposit and learn the lesson of checking before you bid.
We have all been there ebay is a win some loose some.
I hope you figure out a solution have you asked for a refund and cancel maybe if you agreed to pay the sellers fees and cancel the sale.
Let us know what happens

[belindabargainhunter]

Sorry u did ask for a refund anyway let us know what u do

[*crikey*mate*]

I really did want to refrain from saying anything other than what I did previosly, as I figured you didn't really ask us a question, it was more like you needed to vent, however as another poster has commented and raised a few realities of your situation, I did want to add that depending on how much a civil action costs, considering you are in such a tight income, it might not be worth your while pursuing this, as you will certainly have your work cut out for you in the pursuit of a successful result.

It may end up that you will not only still have to pay for the caravan, but the legal fees as well.

Best of luck with it all.

On a brighter note, as belinda said, you may be able to recoup your money as there were 12 bidders on this item.

[i-once-was-bump]

As a mother with a young family and a hearing impaired daughter on the Autism spectrum, we didn't have a lot of money to spend and the description was deceitful. I feel very flat!

We all have our own tales of woe so please just stick to the purchase of the caravan, when you start trying to use your situation to garner sympathy a lot of people here who would normally help just sigh and move onto another thread.

[i-once-was-bump]

Needs some work.Left hand side wheel came loose and caused some damage.Wheel arch (inside van) and left hand side wall has a tear in it. (can see about an inch of daylight)Been told is fixable

Inspection Welcome and recommended.

Both of these statements in the listing would indicate that there was a problem with the caravan.

To call the seller deceitful is a bit tough considering the fact that he said he had an accident in the caravan.

You paid a deposit to keep the caravan but did you ask if it was refundable if you did not go ahead with the purchase upon inspection?

2 weeks is a long time to ask a seller to keep a pick up only item and you should have asked about the 2 weeks before bidding.

Even if you go to the small claims court you could end up paying the expenses of the seller should you not successfully get the deposit refunded.

You have made a few mistakes and there really isn't anything you can do to get your money back.

[*crikey*mate*]

To be fair Bump, the OP doesn't actually ask for help.

Just letting everyone know what happened I guess, kinda like a vent.

[iamanark]

The listing clearly states:

.

Inspection Welcome and recommended

.

Quote: “Now I am forced to take civil action in order to get my "deposit back"”

.

I would suggest that would not be a good idea

.

I think they would find for the seller and you will end up paying the full purchase price

.

Which in my opinion you are committed to pay

.

Just because you were stupid and did not do an inspection, then that is your bad luck !

[i-once-was-bump]

crikey if someone is chatting on CS and saying they are having trouble paying for an item because of huge medical bills then I would be sympathetic because that is where those types of situations are discussed, they have nothing to do with the purchase of the caravan.

Horses for courses.

.