Legal Question in Consumer Law in California

Dealing with Auto dealership

I bought a new car from a new car dealership 2 months ago using a special promotion provided by their corporate. The people at this dealership did approve the promotion, the deal was signed, we walked out with the new car.

We got the vehicle registration, license plates, the bill from the financing company a few weeks ago.

Today, a fleet manager from that same dealership called to tell me that something was not all OK with the promotion we used and we need to come in to revised the paper work or we have to turn the car in to them.

Legally, is there anything they can do if we decide to ignore their request because it is a pain to go to an auto dealer and once the deal is done, that's it. There must be some kind of law protecting consumers from this kind of screwed-up, because once I walked out of that dealership with the car, no way I can give it back even if I wanted to.

Please advise what is the best way to handle this type of situation. I do not believe we're obligated to fix their problems at all.

Thanks


Asked on 7/20/05, 2:19 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

Re: Dealing with Auto dealership

Here at LawGuru we get lots of questions from people who have the same scam pulled on them. The "financing was disapproved" or the buyer is given some other BS reason why the dealership can rewrite the contract or demand the return of the car. I personally have won thousands of dollars from auto dealerships who not only demanded the return of the car but who then repo'ed the vehicle after the deal was done. If I were you, I would tell them to go pound sand. Or, more precisely, I would get a lawyer to write them a letter on attorney letterhead telling them to go pound sand and threatening to sue.

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Answered on 7/20/05, 2:30 pm
Carl Starrett Law Offices of Carl H. Starrett II

Re: Dealing with Auto dealership

It is impossible to provide a definitive answer without reviewing the contract. However, my initial impression is that a "deal is a deal" and that the dealership has no grounds to demand that you modify the terms or return the vehicle. There MAY be terms in the contract that you signed that address this issue, so I would demand that they put their concerns in writing and then consult an attoorney once you have more details of why "something was not OK" with the deal.

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Answered on 7/20/05, 2:43 pm


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