Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania
I bought a car, gave a $1200 cash deposit, but the dealer states they did not receive it. The contract states a $1200 deposit, but I was not given a 'cash receipt.'
I do not believe I should be held responsible, yet they are asking for a cash receipt. How can this be resolved in my favor?
1 Answer from Attorneys
You ask a question which it is not possible to answer. You don't have a receipt. So what evidence do you have to prove that you actually paid $1200 to the dealer? Was it cash or a check? If by check or money order, was it cashed? When? Do you have or can you get a copy of the cancelled check or money order?
Answers to these questions will depend on what you do next. If you have evidence that the dealer received the money, you can show it to them that the payment was made and that they got the money. What the dealer did with it is not your problem but you should be credited with the payment.
If you have no evidence and paid cash - why did you not get a receipt? This was ... dumb. Because its now going to be your word against the dealer's and if you gave cash to the sales person what is to stop the sales rep from pocketing the money and not telling the dealer? The dealer in such a case would think you have not paid and you have no evidence to prove otherwise. Unless you have some concrete evidence of payment then I don't know of anything that will help resolve this in your favor unless the dishonest salesman decides to 'fess up. If there was no dishonest salesman then maybe the dealer is dishonest. However, people lie in court every day with a straight face. So unless you have proof I just don't see a path to victory here.