Avoid this garage if buying a car!
I booked a viewing for a vehicle and was told that, by paying a fully refundable £100 holding deposit, the car would be reserved exclusively for me and removed from sale.
The viewing itself went well, although the price had been increased by £200 compared to the Autotrader advert. The salesman, Charles, agreed to honour the lower advertised price if I decided to purchase the vehicle.
However, when he brought the car out, a dashboard warning light appeared indicating that the passenger door was open when it clearly wasn't. Charles said he wasn't happy selling the car with a potential electrical fault and wanted another garage to inspect it. As it was a Bank Holiday weekend, he told me the car could not be sold until the issue was checked on Tuesday, 1 September. He assured me the car would remain reserved exclusively for me and promised to call with an update first thing Tuesday morning.
By lunchtime on Tuesday, having heard nothing, I called the garage. Another salesperson, Jamie, informed me that the car was no longer for sale and had apparently been sent to auction to be written off, although he couldn't explain what had happened.
Earlier that day I had noticed that a V5C had been issued, the vehicle had been taxed for 12 months, and Autotrader showed the status as "This car is now sold."
Despite several conversations with Jamie, who repeatedly said he would investigate, I never received a satisfactory explanation. Charles never called me back as promised.
My £100 deposit was eventually refunded, but I was still left without any answers. It certainly gives the impression that someone else may have purchased the car at the higher forecourt price while I was being told it was reserved for me.
The whole experience was unprofessional and poorly handled, with contradictory explanations and a complete lack of communication.
What's particularly frustrating is that the company's website states:
"After booking your appointment, you'll have the option to place a fully refundable £100 holding deposit to reserve this vehicle exclusively for you – it will be removed from sale and held until your appointment."
Based on my experience, I would strongly advise others to look elsewhere.







