Andrea decides to sell her car and puts a notice on the back windscreen of the car. The notice reads, ‘This car is for sale, excellent condition, low mileage, bargain at £2,000. Please phone Brighton 678123 or call in at 8 Hove Street.’
On Monday morning Bob telephones Andrea and offers to buy the car for £1500. Andrea refuses to accept his offer. Later that day Bob changes his mind about the car and telephones Andrea. She is out so he leaves a message on her answerphone saying, ‘I agree to give you the full asking price of £2000 for your car and will be round to collect it tomorrow’.
On Tuesday morning, Carl sees Andrea’s car and writes a letter of acceptance to Andrea enclosing a cheque for £2,000. He immediately puts the letter in the post box. On Tuesday afternoon Debs calls at 8 Hove Street but Andrea is out, so she puts a note through the letterbox stating, ‘I have had a good look at your car—it is just what I want—I enclose a cheque for the full asking price of £2,000’.
Explain to Bob, Carl, and Debs if they have a valid contract to purchase Andrea’s car, giving full reasons with case illustrations.