Hi, my state is NJ.
I recently decided to visit a car dealer after receiving a letter from them offering to purchase my car at a 20% more of its market value. Of course, that did not happen but having negotiated a reasonable trade-in value for my old car and the new car purchase value I closed the deal.
The new car was to be delivered the following day. On day 1, I signed all paperwork and, very important note, they asked me a $500 deposit to be refunded the following day. On day 2, I showed up at the dealer to pick up my new car. I asked for my deposit refund and they told it had been processed.
Less than a week later, I received a phone call from the dealer asking me to go back because they had made a mistake and I needed to sign the paperwork all over again. They assured over the phone that nothing was going to change for me. When I got there, 2 days later, I was informed that they actually delivered me the wrong vehicle, different VIN from what indicated in the paperwork. Also, the vehicle they gave me was more expensive because it carried an accessory that was not part of my original negotiation. On the new car, the correct one, however during the walk through I noticed that an other accessory, this one negotiated on day 1, was missing. They played stupid on that but I strongly stated that I was not going to get that car without the accessory I wanted. Moreover, I offered to get the car they originally gave me and pay off the difference. But the quote they presented was much higher than expected and without any counter offer from my side i rejected it and asked to take back my old car. With a lot of surprise, they agreed. Still I was a bit concerned about all the paperwork I signed earlier but they assured me that nothing had left the dealer yet so it was like that deal never happened. Also, upon my request, they agreed to give back to me part of the dealer copies of the signed paperwork.
Long story short: a week has passed by and my deposit has not been refunded yet. Because I paid it with my CC, I was able to dispute it with my bank and so far I got a conditional credit. Moreover, I received the first statement from the bank showing the balance I had to pay if I purchased the new car.
Another thing that happened, this time to my favor, is that when I returned the vehicle I did not return the second key (I didn't know that they had to take that car back) and because they apparently sold that car again now they are pressuring me to give that key back to them. This has provided me with some leverage to push for my deposit refund. I told them that key will be returned once my case has been cleared, which is refund of deposit and financing canceled. In fact, after calling the bank, i was informed that it has to be the dealer to cancel the deal/financing. Nothing can be done from my side.
The advice I would like to ask is:
1) if withholding the key until my case is cleared is within my rights and
2) what other "unexpected" scenarios can develop from this case that I should worry about.
Thanks,
Gf
I recently decided to visit a car dealer after receiving a letter from them offering to purchase my car at a 20% more of its market value. Of course, that did not happen but having negotiated a reasonable trade-in value for my old car and the new car purchase value I closed the deal.
The new car was to be delivered the following day. On day 1, I signed all paperwork and, very important note, they asked me a $500 deposit to be refunded the following day. On day 2, I showed up at the dealer to pick up my new car. I asked for my deposit refund and they told it had been processed.
Less than a week later, I received a phone call from the dealer asking me to go back because they had made a mistake and I needed to sign the paperwork all over again. They assured over the phone that nothing was going to change for me. When I got there, 2 days later, I was informed that they actually delivered me the wrong vehicle, different VIN from what indicated in the paperwork. Also, the vehicle they gave me was more expensive because it carried an accessory that was not part of my original negotiation. On the new car, the correct one, however during the walk through I noticed that an other accessory, this one negotiated on day 1, was missing. They played stupid on that but I strongly stated that I was not going to get that car without the accessory I wanted. Moreover, I offered to get the car they originally gave me and pay off the difference. But the quote they presented was much higher than expected and without any counter offer from my side i rejected it and asked to take back my old car. With a lot of surprise, they agreed. Still I was a bit concerned about all the paperwork I signed earlier but they assured me that nothing had left the dealer yet so it was like that deal never happened. Also, upon my request, they agreed to give back to me part of the dealer copies of the signed paperwork.
Long story short: a week has passed by and my deposit has not been refunded yet. Because I paid it with my CC, I was able to dispute it with my bank and so far I got a conditional credit. Moreover, I received the first statement from the bank showing the balance I had to pay if I purchased the new car.
Another thing that happened, this time to my favor, is that when I returned the vehicle I did not return the second key (I didn't know that they had to take that car back) and because they apparently sold that car again now they are pressuring me to give that key back to them. This has provided me with some leverage to push for my deposit refund. I told them that key will be returned once my case has been cleared, which is refund of deposit and financing canceled. In fact, after calling the bank, i was informed that it has to be the dealer to cancel the deal/financing. Nothing can be done from my side.
The advice I would like to ask is:
1) if withholding the key until my case is cleared is within my rights and
2) what other "unexpected" scenarios can develop from this case that I should worry about.
Thanks,
Gf