Source
r/askcarsales•
OpenDraw7

Dealer forgot to collect my down payment - what would you do?

I just bought a car a few days ago - put $2k down. We did all the paperwork, signed a million things, walked out with the keys and drove away. All the paperwork I have shows that I paid the $2k down payment, but ....the dealer forgot to collect it from me.

I will do the right thing and go back to the dealer and pay it, but just curious what others would do/what you think? There's not much stopping me from saying that I gave the $2k in cash, he had it before I left, I have all the paperwork, receipts, contract, etc that shows I paid $2k. What would you do?

​

EDIT: Thanks all for the replies. Of course I am going to go back and pay the money I owe! I'm not that much of a jerk - I just posted as the situation to me seemed so odd and I thought it would be a good topic of conversation, and was interested to see if anyone else had this happen. I should have been more clear I suppose in the original post - I have no moral dilemma, I am going to pay....Anyhow, I enjoyed reading (most) of the replies.

Posted Aug 16, 2020, 4:30 PM UTC · edited

4068
3031983Former Ford ISM•

Yet car sales people are seen as crooked...

53
Certified_GSDFormer VW Sales•

"I hate going to the nasty stealership!!!"

"They forgot to take my money, am I in the clear???"

38
hipaces•

Yup, pointed this out the other day. Half the posts here are customers trying to get one over on a dealership.

17
enderjacaChevy Sales•

And the other half are from dealership employees complaining about customers.

14
hipaces•

Naw, that’s only 50% of them 😜

5
OpenDraw7OP•

perhaps, but this post is not me trying to get one over. I clearly stated I am going to go pay it, posted to start a discussion.

2
hipaces•

Why?

It's pretty clear to anyone with an ounce of morals. You owe someone money, you pay it. It's not even a discussion mature people have.

0
tpence1982•

Hahahaha

1
OpenDraw7OP•

Not sure if you are implying that I am crooked? Of course I'm going to pay it, I made the post for discussion. I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't.

2
3031983Former Ford ISM•

Of course I am, the fact that you were considering not paying says mountains about your views about it.

-1
OpenDraw7OP•

Oh ok. Except, I was never considering not paying, and my post doesnt say I was ever considering not paying.

The entire scenario was so strange to me, and interesting I thought it would be fun to post it here. I was wrong.

Have a nice day.

1
MissKludde•

As my managers say “All the paperwork the customer signs is to protect US (the dealership) from THEM. We aren’t trying to pull a fast one on them.”

-3†
Hotsaucex11•

I'd assume they are gonna catch the error eventually and go ahead reach out immediately to let them know. That way if you need their help in the future they'll see you as an honest person rather than one who hoped you could get away with something. I'm not a dealer, but in my experience the good dealers (which a lot of them are these days) will truly work to help you if you are reciprocating.

45
TotesMcGotes13•

I'm assuming they'll call to collect it soon. When I signed my last lease, the finance guy (incorrectly) stated they covered the first month of payment. That was never part of the deal and wasn't on the paperwork, but I wasn't going to argue with him. He ended up calling me a week later to get the first payment. I told him to kick rocks...jk I paid it bc that's what I signed up for.

31
Senior-Instance-8100Nissan Sales•

They would have (or not have in this case) everything in the deal. When the accountants go to bill the deal, they will notice the 2k missing and return the deal. Basically your deal will not be complete/funded until the 2k is paid and they can come repo the car. Don’t get scared, the F&I guy will call you at some point, or your salesperson will

30
enderjacaChevy Sales•

Why wait? Call them, or just stop in and make your down payment like an honest person. As someone who worked in the back office, we notice when cash receipts don't match against deposits, and it doesn't take a whole month, it takes a week or less.

19
MAN1FSTDESTINY•

Hell, if you make the first contact, they may throw in a free oil change or something just for being a stand up customer and saving them the hassle later.

8
enderjacaChevy Sales•

Exactly. THAT is how you get VIP status as a repeat customer. You'll be THAT customer, the GOOD one who always gets treated well the next time you come back to buy another car or get service or just basic stuff.

7
andysaurus_rexFord Sales•

You would probably have gotten a call early next month when they realized there was money due on your deal. This happened on one of my deals last month. We just forgot to collect the DP.

Everything is accounted for. They would know if you had given that cash.

19
DadOf3-1978•

you'd be a moron if you left w out getting a receipt on cash..so they'd say show us your cash received receipt. also for a check you'd have a cancelled check or something, credit card you'd have a charge so if you claimed you paid it..they'd say show us something that shows us you did.

13
ThE__GrEAt__OnE•

He could say the contract shows a $2,000 down payment so he didn't need a receipt because his money is reflected in the contract.

That being said, he should do the right thing and give them the money. Karma is a B.

4
DadOf3-1978•

Dealer would say the cashier always gives cash received remittance receipts and they have cameras by the cash drawer etc.

4
OpenDraw7OP•

Yeah- I have a receipt that I paid $2k Cash...hence the post. I'm not sure the dealer would ever be able to know if I gave the guy in that back office $2k in cash and he just put it in his pocket---everything I have, signed contracts receipts, etc shows I paid the $2k already in cash.

Of course I'm going to pay it, but I bet a lot of people wouldn't.

3
agjiosnon-sales, solid advice•

You owe the money. As soon as they realize that you didn't pay the money, then you haven't held up your end of the legally binding contract that you signed. Therefore, you aren't driving around your car yet.

10
GearheadGarrett•

I’d personally pay it. A deal is a deal, you agreed on a price, they forgot to collect the cash. The agreement still stands, this just delayed the down payment.

8
WhattheefffToyota Finance Manager•

I’m not sure what goes through your mind that would make you consider this a moral dilemma.

You are the reason we are mean.

3
spacecake12•

Yeah the fact that he's even "curious" what others would do is a red flag... Curious of what? Trying to steal from somemone/business?

1
WhattheefffToyota Finance Manager•

I had a lot more to say. After reading a fair amount of comments most of it had been covered. As a contractor there are three outcomes. One - you call the customer and collect the money. Two - You pay the 2000 out of pocket. Three - you lose your job mid pandemic and likely with a bad reputation, the auto industry is a small world.

2
OpenDraw7OP•

LOL. this dude gave me a receipt showing I paid $2k in cash, and he forgot to collect it from me. I literally had the receipt in my pocket next to the cash I had. I knew what the deal was, I still know what the deal was, the guy just forgot. I dont any moral dilemma - I clearly stated I am going to go pay, not gonna ruin some dudes life because he forgot to actually have me pay for what he was selling me. I just posted to start a discussion, as I think there would be people that would just say "sorry, I have the reciept. not my fault you lost the cash I gave you".

​

If noting else, I bet this guy never gives a receipt again until he has the money.

0
WhattheefffToyota Finance Manager•

Im calling bullshit on you bub. If anyone chimed in and told your dumbass that the deal was done and you don’t have to pay, you wouldn’t have.

Please don’t try and fool people who have made a living off reading people.

If you planned to pay him you would have done it when you had the receipt in your pocket with the money. You came here to find out if you HAD to pay him. You also found out that you are a shit bag. You are welcome for the above and beyond service. Please resume fucking yourself.

0
OpenDraw7OP•

LOL. okay buddy. Enjoy your day.

0
Jway726•

If you say that they will think the salesperson or Finance manager pocketed the cash and you would most likely cost them their job

2†
enderjacaChevy Sales•

Doubtful. There's video cameras inside most dealerships for a reason.

0
jaiframsey•

Without receipt of payment you are going to get taken to court. Do the right thing. Plus, is that down payment possibly worth someone's job at the dealership?

2
Twisted9Demented•

Be honest and pay them. This is the only right thing to do. I'm sure they will remember this and may help you in future

2
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1
Jway726•

I do finance for a dealership and have been inside many finance offices at other dealerships and never have I seen a camera in the finance office. I still think this person should simply do the right thing and pay the money down.

1
TheFreshSeaBassBuick / GMC Sales•

We have cameras in ours

1
12vElectronics•

The right thing to do is pay it.

1
drewb247Kia Sales•

Like someone else said the deal won't get funded and eventually would be repossessed

1
CknarfIndependent Used Sales•

I’d go back and make it right myself. I couldn’t have that weighing on me.

Now... if McDonald’s slips me an extra order of nuggets, I ain’t sayin’ shit.

1
OpenDraw7OP•

ha. for sure...and I will go pay it I'm not an asshole.

I wonder how many nuggets though before we say - hey man, I didn't order 1000 nuggets.....what is the nugget cut off point ?

1
jdmusick85•

While I agree he should pay the money I'm not sure what recourse the dealer would have. I mean assuming the customer has a contract saying he put $2,000 down. It would be signed by an employee of the dealership stating that.

I guess it could technically be bank fraud since the customer would have lied to get a loan but that would be difficult to prove if the customer says he paid it.

1
sting2018•

Your going get a call and you will owe it.

Go give then the down payment hell maybe they will appreciate your honesty and give you some sort of bonus

1
MAN1FSTDESTINY•

I mean, you say you’re going to give it back, but you are here asking what would we do. It sounds like you’re looking for the herd to give you an answer you hope for. It’s like the peaceful protesters seeing the looters walking out with iPhones and then join in because “everyone else is doing it”.

If the room said “hookers and blow!”, “free money!”, or “prove it!”, I wonder how fast you’d be calling the dealer to let them know you still have the down payment...

-1
OpenDraw7OP•

Sheesh. all over the map with this. Sometimes, things are just what they are and don't need this level of examination. LOL. thanks for the reply. I'd also need more than $2k for a good night of hookers and blow.

0