Purchase and sale of goods under a hire purchase system is different from cash sale and credit sale. In case of cash sale, the buyer pays the lump sum to the seller and immediately ownership is passed along with the goods. While in credit sale the payment is made in future. In these both cases the ownership and possession of goods pass on the buyer. However, hire purchase system is a special system of purchase and sale.
In hire purchase system, the buyer acquires the property by promising to pay necessary installment payment of monthly, quarterly, half yearly or any other period. The period of payment has to be fixed while, signing the hire sell agreement. Though, the buyer acquires the asset under hire purchase system after signing the agreement, the title of ownership remains with vendor until the buyer squares up his/her entire liability. When the buyer pays the final installment and any other obligation according to hire purchase agreement, only then the title of ownership of the goods would be transferred to hirer. If the hirer makes default in the payment of any installment, the hire vendor has the right to re-possess the goods. When the vendor re-possesses the goods due to the default of payment of installment, in this case the amount already paid so far by the hirer will be forfeited.
The hire purchase price of goods is normally higher than the cash down price of article because it includes interest as well as cash price. Under hire purchase system, the vendor is responsible to repair the goods which are in the possession of buyer provided that the buyer takes the utmost proper care of the goods acquired. The risk is also borne by the vendor until the payment of last installment. The buyer has the right to return the goods to the vendor, if they are not according to the terms and condition of hire purchase agreement.
