How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions?

   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions? #1  

NY_Yankees_Fan

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2002
Messages
2,206
Location
Warren County, NJ (60 miles from NYC)
Tractor
Kubota BX 2200
I put down a $1500 deposit via a check on a $7500 used car at a Honda dealership 2 weeks ago. For various reasons I decided not go through with the deal. I can not get the sales manager to return my calls for when the $1500 will be returned. I have in writing from the dealer that they will return by deposit, BUT it does not say when. Before you say anything I KNOW I should given him $100 on a credit card, I could not stop the check. Should I keep calling, wait longer, call Honda, ???
 
   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions? #2  
That sucks. Talk to the bank or call the owner of the dealership...Or maybe call your state AG?
 
   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions? #3  
I assume you drove to the dealership to see / test drive the car and place the deposit. For that kind of money, I would drive back, go directly to the sales manager's office and refuse to leave until I had a refund.
 
   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions? #4  
I am rather confused by this; they’re maybe a cultural difference here but I would consider a deposit as a commitment to a contract. Hence if you change your mind you forfeit the deposit. A deposit I thought was a way a purchaser guaranteed that what he wanted to buy was not sold out from under his feet. (so to speak). /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions? #5  
Ok...I live here in the States and yes Deadong it's a little different than what you suggest.....My take on this is there is something you're not telling us. What...did you read about the vehicle in an ad, maybe on a website, and send a check for $1500?? WHO in thier right mind would do that without GOING to see the vehicle??? Maybe you did see it and test drove it too. If you didn't sign the sales papers transferring title and such then what's the problem???

Sorry...there is TOO much missing info to give any real suggestions!!!
 
   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions? #6  
Tom, I'd go back and politely ask for my money. If polite didn't work really well I might get a little louder so some customers could hear me, but I would not get nasty. I would also call the county prosecutor's office or state AG office PRIOR to my visit to get a bit of information. Most every state has laws that allow you to back out of a car sale during a certain period of time for any reason at all, and as you are backing out before taking delivery I'd suggest that you are well within the time period to back out since many states allow you to back out after taking possession!

Some dealers play all sorts of games, I buy a lot of vehicles each year for our company, there are dealers that we simply refuse to deal with because of the games they attempt to play. Heck I just got fed up with a Lexus dealer and would not even consider buying one of those cars, not because of the vehicle, because they are excellent vehicles, but simply because of the attitude of the dealership. They wouldn't bring me a car to test drive, they wouldn't configure it the way I wanted (but another dealer would), they wouldn't quote me a price outright, they constantly (EVERY converstaion I had with them) reminded me that buying their vehicle was a complex experience, I finally got fed up and asked the sales manager what was so complex about me paying cash for a car? He said there was more to it. I asked What? He stammered. I said, hey, if you have it and I like it and I pay for it how is that complex? It took 5 or 6 converstations to get to that point and despite the fact that my initials are "BS" I can tell you when a dealer is feeding me a line of BS!!! We have another dealer across the street from my office, I used to buy several cars a year from them for the sales department. They were a 5 Star dealership that sold to a new owner. Now you walk in and they give you a balloon, popcorn and the music is so loud that you can't hear. I turned around to walk out and got in my car, 5 sales people (honestly 5 of them) got around my car and one guy leaned in my open window. I thought I was going to have to run them down to get out of the lot! Needless to say, I don't buy vehicles from them anymore. I called another dealer, they faxed me a window sticker, quoted me a great price, and I bought the car over the phone. They played no games. I've done that a few times with that dealer now and each time has been a pleasure to deal with. I suspect your Honda dealer is one of the games players.

Go back and get your money, they will very likely say that the $1500 can't be refunded but can be applied to any other car on the lot or they may pull some other junk just like that. That is why I would call the AG's office before going into the dealership! You might also want to open a case with your BBB and file a complaint with the Chamber of Commerce too. But do all that before you walk in the door based on the non-emotional facts as they have occurred.
 
   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions?
  • Thread Starter
#7  
OK our story....The dealer is one hour away, we drove up and test drove the car and signed a contract. The car is a 1997 Honda Accord with 55K miles. The contract stated it was contingent upon our mechanic OK, a 16 point safety inspection by the dealer and the car would be detailed, i.e. cleaned and polished, in and out. This all occurred on a Monday night. At the signing of the contract, the salesmen told us it would be no problem to keep the car over night so our mechanic can look over the car since we lived so far away. We said great we would pick the car up on Friday afternoon and return it on Saturday.

We then get a call Wednesday night from the salesman to tell us we can not keep the car overnight, we had to return the car the same day, something about keeping the dealer plate. We agree on picking it up on Friday at 2 PM, since my mechanic closes at 4:30 PM and would need at least 30 minutes to look over and test drive the car. I called on Thursday to confirm the car was detailed and the 16 point safety inspection was done and would be ready to go at 2:00 PM on Friday. The salesmen told me it was detailed and it looked great and the safety inspection was done and everything was OK and would be ready at 2 PM, no problem. I reminded him that we had to leave as soon as got to his location in time to get our mechanic to look over the car; again this would not be a problem.

I call him at 1:00 PM and tell him we are on our way, will be at his front door at 2:00 PM, he says great the car is ready to go. We show up at 2 PM and the salesman is not round. We wait for 20 minutes for him to be found. He says he will be back with the car.... 10, 15, 20 minutes go by and he can not find the car. Finally after 30 minutes he pulls up with the car. Still in the same condition it was on Monday night, had not been cleaned was still a mess. I said has the 16 point safety inspection been completed? The salesman says he thinks so but was not sure, and would go ask the shop, 20 minutes goes by and says no it was not done, BUT if we wait they can do it now. It is now close to 3:30 and our mechanic closes at 4:30 and we have an hour ride back.

At this time we had it with the bull and lies and told the dealer as per the contract the car was not cleaned and inspected and we did not want the car. He says fine, I say put it in writing we will get our $$ back, he gets the sales manager to put it in writing, we leave. Now fast forward to today 15 days and still no check and no return phone calls when I can expect the check.

This Honda dealership received a Gold Star award from Honda for customer satisfaction; do not see how that happen based on our experience.

OK so that is the story, any suggestions on what to do next?
 
   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions? #8  
I hate car salesmen, my only suggestion wouldn't be legal, sorry. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions? #9  
unfortunately, you're really going to need to back to the dealership in person...it's kinda hard to blow you off if your standing in the showroom, as they've been doing by avoiding your phone calls...and not leaving until you have the check in hand...start with the sales guy and work up the food chain - and don't be afraid to walk around and knock on doors un-announced...if the salesguy warns them you're coming, they'll have a chance to escape "let me go see if the manager is available".
i'd pick a busy day where there were lots of people in the showroom, where if you got a little loud, they may just give you the check to hush you up!

lesson learned - best of luck!
 
   / How Do I Get Deposit Back Suggestions? #10  
Is the dealer in NY or NJ? I believe that in New York you could file a small claims suit for unfair business practices and if they lose they would owe you three times the damages. I'm sure they know this and wouldn't want to risk the loss. I'd expect a check instantly.

I don't know about NJ but many states have a very similar law.

Good Luck,
Kevin
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2014 Electric Cart (A53424)
2014 Electric Cart...
2024 CATERPILLAR 255 SKID STEER (A52705)
2024 CATERPILLAR...
UNUSED IRANCH 1R EXCAVATOR RIPPER (A54757)
UNUSED IRANCH 1R...
KSI Conveyor (A55301)
KSI Conveyor (A55301)
2010 Ford Edge SE SUV (A51694)
2010 Ford Edge SE...
JOHN DEERE 5075E LOT NUMBER 30 (A53084)
JOHN DEERE 5075E...
 
Top