I put a down payment of $3,000 on a 1994 Ford Explorer on Thursday, December 2, 1999. On Friday, I was told to come down to fill out new paperwork on my loan application because the deal fell through. When I arrived on Friday, I was told that my application was denied. They asked me for a co-signer, and I told them that if my application didn't qualify with only my information, then I wasn't interested in keeping the car.
The sales manager told me that he would resubmit my application, and then he would call me. On Friday, I called back twice, and was given the run around. On Saturday, since I still had not heard from them, I went down to their office.
I asked the manager, Edward, if I could have my deposit back because I had not signed any papers agreeing to the higher rate on the new credit application. I was verbally abused, and physically threatened. They would not call the police to solve the dispute. All I wanted was my money back, and I offered them back the car.
I was told to come back Monday, so they could open the safe to access my original paperwork and my check for $3,000. After the incident got heated, and the manager stuck his hands in my face to threaten me, he yelled, "Don't ever come here again. Take the car, I don't care. You'll never see your money again. Get out."
And then what happened?
There's a moral to this story: don't take delivery of a car until the financing has been approved. "Spot deliveries" often violate consumer laws and it might be possible to take action against the dealer. But it's a lot better to avoid hassles like this in the first place. Who needs it?
