Robert
Irvine,#2Consumer Comment
Wed, April 06, 2011
First I am figuring that you meant December 2010 not 2009.
It sounds like they did a "Spot Delivery". That is they let you take the car in the hopes of getting you financed. This is a valid tool used by dealers at times when banks are not open(such as weekends or evenings). If they are a reputable dealer(and there are some) this is really no problem and usually transparent to the buyer.
However less reputable dealers use this to their advantage. They tell you that you are approved at a very good rate/monthly payment/down payment, even though they know there is no way they can get you those terms. You take the car home and a few days(or weeks) later they call you and tell you that you have to come back and sign more papers. When you go back they tell you the "bad news" in that you either need to accept less favorable terms such as higher rate, downpayment, co-signer, diffferent(worse) car. Or you need to give the car back. The hope being since you already have the car you will agree to this.
Unfortunatly(for you) in the loan agreement you signed you give them the right to canel the deal if they can't get you financed. Most likely there was also a provision that states that if you are not approved they can charge you a "rental fee" for the time you had the vehicle. This almost guarantees that any downpayment you gave them is going to be used for that. Meaning at the end of the day you have just paid a lot of money to "rent" a car for a few weeks.
Now the one thing that may be an issue is that they sold your Explorer BEFORE they got you financed. At the very least it seems like it made you feel that you were forced to accept their change. This may be an issue and depending on the exact laws in your state that may have "completed" the deal you originally signed.
coast
USA#3Consumer Comment
Wed, April 06, 2011
You bought the car in November 2010 but the financing was declined in December 2009. That is not possible. 13 months later in January 2011 you signed papers for the car. That seems rather odd.