Contacted dealer, inquired about a vehicle, was told it was available.
Negotiated a deal with said dealer.
All communications were in writing via email. (I have every piece of mail sent and received)
In nearly every communication I asked them to confirm the vehicle specifications, deal and terms. They Did.
They took a $500.00 Deposit and had to do a search for the vehicle. (Beginning of December)
After requesting an update on the vehicle search status, I was told they located the vehicle and to come in to do final paperwork, also they needed give me a trade value on our current car…
*Note the deal negotiated was absolutely NOT predicated on the trade, which was to be an entirely separate transaction. I have an email absolutely establishing/confirming this.
We went in today. Before commencing paperwork, they basically insisted my wife take a car for a test drive. (This is where I started to get uneasy, as a good sales person will NEVER continue selling AFTER a deal is essentially closed and the customer is ready to sign.)
After the test drive they kept us waiting for a LONG time. Then came back and informed us that the best they can do is a monthly payment more than 50% higher than what was previously negotiated. To add insult to injury that 50% higher payment now also included out trade value.
They offered no other option except take the "new" price/terms or they would refund the deposit.
When I signed the refund request, under reason I wrote out "Dealer refused to honor previously negotiated terms". When they handed me a copy, the manager had crossed that out and simple wrote "price". At that point we were essentially escorted out of the dealership. Also the dealer failed to return the title and note of lien satisfaction on our current vehicle, we were so frustrated that we didn't notice till we returned home.
To sum up negotiated a deal in writing via email. Dealer requested and accepted a deposit. At time of signing dealer completely changed pricing, payments and terms.
Where does the law fall on this situation? Did requesting and accepting a deposit in any way obligate the dealer to honor the terms that were established for that deposit in the first place? What are my options?
Negotiated a deal with said dealer.
All communications were in writing via email. (I have every piece of mail sent and received)
In nearly every communication I asked them to confirm the vehicle specifications, deal and terms. They Did.
They took a $500.00 Deposit and had to do a search for the vehicle. (Beginning of December)
After requesting an update on the vehicle search status, I was told they located the vehicle and to come in to do final paperwork, also they needed give me a trade value on our current car…
*Note the deal negotiated was absolutely NOT predicated on the trade, which was to be an entirely separate transaction. I have an email absolutely establishing/confirming this.
We went in today. Before commencing paperwork, they basically insisted my wife take a car for a test drive. (This is where I started to get uneasy, as a good sales person will NEVER continue selling AFTER a deal is essentially closed and the customer is ready to sign.)
After the test drive they kept us waiting for a LONG time. Then came back and informed us that the best they can do is a monthly payment more than 50% higher than what was previously negotiated. To add insult to injury that 50% higher payment now also included out trade value.
They offered no other option except take the "new" price/terms or they would refund the deposit.
When I signed the refund request, under reason I wrote out "Dealer refused to honor previously negotiated terms". When they handed me a copy, the manager had crossed that out and simple wrote "price". At that point we were essentially escorted out of the dealership. Also the dealer failed to return the title and note of lien satisfaction on our current vehicle, we were so frustrated that we didn't notice till we returned home.
To sum up negotiated a deal in writing via email. Dealer requested and accepted a deposit. At time of signing dealer completely changed pricing, payments and terms.
Where does the law fall on this situation? Did requesting and accepting a deposit in any way obligate the dealer to honor the terms that were established for that deposit in the first place? What are my options?
