How many days after a car is bought can a dealership change its mind about the payment agreement?

Question

Two weeks ago today in Honolulu, HI I bought a car and signed a contract stating my monthly payment. Today a dealership rep calls and asks me to come over to sign more paperwork. I thought I had forgotten to sign something so I went. The guy tells me I'm supposed to sign another contract with my new monthly payment, which is $118.00 more. I tell him I won't sign it and want the general manager to call me, since she's the one who told me that my monthly payment would be what I signed for. I can't find any legal answers on the 'net because the government websites are sooo confusing. Help!!!

Answer 1

get it in writing before you sign on the dotted line

Answer 2

you have a contract and you should not have to commit fraud to be able to keep the car. Tell the finance company that you will call the police to see if it is legal for them to ask you to do this. If the finance company insists you need a phone # then go buy a VIRGIN MOBILE pay as you go phone at target for $20 and get a phone #. Do you have anything else to show your address on a bill like the electricity, rent receipt or gas bill? The car dealership can ask for the car back if they can't finance you but you should get all your money back if they do. If they put phone service in your name and you cancel the contract you will probably be liable for a disconnect fee of $150 or more. Do not let them do this.

Answer 3

Once you've signed a contract it is legally binding. Even if the dealership misquoted the amount to you... if it's in writing... and you have a copy of the contract that you and they signed... they cannot do a damn thing. You on the other hand have 3 days to return the vehicle, even after signing a contract, without penalty.

The dealership, or financial institution, cannot under any circumstances raise the payment. They can however lower it without your consent.

Answer 4

Time is not the issue. After you sign the contract that is it. Tell them you are not going to sign the new contract and if they cancel the origial contract you will talk with a lawyer to sue them for breach. If they go up on your payment without you signing, get a lawyer and sue for breach.

They will claim mistake as a defense, but probably will not work here. If they have don't have "unclean hands" they may try to have a court reform or recind (cancel without fault) the contract if they can show it was a math error

Answer 5

I wouldn't think so. If you already took possession of the car it would seem the paperwork was already final and approved. Why did the payment go up? Did the interest go up? Did the amount of years financed go down? Did they adjust the purchase price? Or...was is due to a mistake where they calculated the payment incorrectly based on the years financed? They have a right to correct an obvious mistake, but otherwise shouldn't be able to change the terms of the agreement.

Answer 6

I most recently bought a suv in the Minneaplois the payment was worked out and signed...The sales manager tried to come back and rework the payment because he said he was unaware of our loan balance on our trade in..He was aware of the balance...My husband called bull and said you have a signed contract on the payment...He said this will end up coming out of my paycheck..We said tough luck for you, you should be more through... We walked away with the car, payment unchanged. I think that this is just another scam...I used to work in the legal area.. And a signed contract is binding..Call their bluff and do what we did.

Answer 7

After you sign the initial contract, it is a legal, binding document, and cannot be changed without mutual consent of the parties. They CANNOT force you to sign another contract. I'd say someone messed up on their end and you got a better deal than they intended, but the contract will hold up in court against them! Don't sign anything else.

Answer 8

Keep your original contract. Don't sign the other one...

1. Make a copy of your original contract.

2. Store the original in a safe place.

3. Continue to make your payments according to the original contract.

4. They have to agree to the contract you've signed unless you sign another one. Signed contracts are binding.

If they continue to harass you, consult a law professional - only take the copy of your contract keep the original in a safe place.

Don't let them bully you and always remember to keep calm and don't lose your cool.

Good Luck.

Good Luck.

Answer 9

That is why they wanted you to sign the new paperwork. Don't sign anything! Talk to you local bank, credit union, whoever and see if you can get financed through them. Once you have it all lined up,(this shouldn't take much time at all) you then talk to the dealership and let them know that they either honor their original agreement or you flip to the new arrangement that is in your favor. It just pisses me off when they pull this crap on people.

Answer 10

You have a contract and its good that you make them stick to it. They probably discovered that they screwed up on the original agreement and want to change it. But you have the option of saying yes or no to the new offer. But the original contract is still valid....unless there's something more to the story that you haven't mentioned that would alter that perception.

Answer 11

It's a scam. That's why it's a contract. A contract is legally binding agreement. Tell them you are going to report them to the BBB, then do it. Tell them you are going to report them to their regional manager (you can find the number in your owner's manual), then do it. Tell them if they contact you again, you will have your lawyer deal with them and proceed with your legal remedies through the Courts, then do it...