Can I get my deposit back from a private sale?

[Bailey Sands]

I recently placed a deposit on a private sale car as I was finalising paperwork for the approval of my personal loan. I then lost my job and realised it wasn't the right idea to purchase a car so I contacted the seller and informed them. I gave them $1500 for the deposit and said that I am more than happy to reimburse them for their time and money potentially lost and give them $1000 and return the $500. Unfortunately they were extremely abrupt and said I have no right and the money is now theirs and they will not return it. They won't answer my calls or text messages and as I lost my job I guess the $500 would help and I know that ethically I wasted their time so I thought $1000 was good compensation for the 4 days in which this all happened. The car's value was $8500. Do I have a chance at getting this $500 back or is it all a waste of time?

[Vipassana]

Unless you have anything in writing that says the deposit is refundable...they have no requirement to give your money back.

I have never taken a deposit that I would refund. If I'm going to go through the trouble of considering the car sold, and waiting on a buyer who ends up costing me the sale...and having to go through the trouble of relisting it....yep, I'm keeping their money.

[inboxfull]

You must be joking.

[inboxfull]

You must be joking.

[Whocares]

You lose your entire security deposit if you back out of the deal. That's what you signed up for.