I think a lot of dealers are getting wise to the number of cancellations from Motability customers and this is why they are asking for extras to be paid up front.
It could well be Or it could just be that they know that they cannot get the car to you in the time frame setout and will extended the date and by taking a deposit they have some hold over you cancelling, allbeit imo a weak one in that situation.. Alot of people it seems who paid a deposit, that i’ve heard of that has been the case.
3 months turns into 9 months and still no car..
The only issue i see a dealer having is if you cancel after they registered the car and then you cancel.
I am not saying some don’t cancel after ordering but that is your consumer right to do so and they know that, it’s also written in law.
Many car sales fall threw alot due to finance or other reasons and i have never been asked. Even prior to being on the scheme for a deposit to secure the car or to order it from the factory.. So why in our case’s is it any different as mb are buying the car outright from the maker at a set price and they the dealer are only the broker.
Extra’s are different though and nothing to do with Mb in anyway apart from them saying yes, you can add them and they reap the reward at the end of the lease if you do not buy the car.
I have never added extra’s. but still that should not affect your consumer rights unless they have incurred loss and imo the only way that can happen is if you cancel too late and they registered the car to mb or to a person if you buying privately. or the dealer go’s bust otherwise if they refuse to refund then one would have to take them to court and in most case they got no loss to claim from you so cannot keep your money.. it will just cost them more money..
So they will refund they may try and mess you about and lie and mislead you but they done that in this case clearly from the start imo.. What gets to me is also, it’s usually people that don’t know and stand firm and refuse and walk away. I bet they call you saying i spoke to the manager and he said we can order it.. just this time..