JGS v JGT

In the Small Claims Tribunals, the claimant sought a refund of a $5,000 deposit paid to a car dealership toward a used Maserati Ghibli, relying on a handwritten clause in the Purchase/Sales Agreement dated 28 February 2026 providing a full refund if the pre-purchase inspection found "engine, gearbox or major accident (chassis)" issues; the claimant pointed to engine oil leakage, transmission/gearbox oil leakage and a gear-shifting issue found on inspection, while the respondent maintained these were only minor wear-and-tear matters on an old used car and that the deposit was properly forfeited. The Tribunal Magistrate, delivering an ex tempore judgment, analysed the dispute against the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) (Motor Vehicle Dealer Deposits) Regulations 2009.