Is it legal for dealer to keep car deposit in Illinois?
I placed a $500 deposit with my credit card for a factory ordered car. This was based on a specific OTD price and trade in value for the car I was going to leave at the dealership. Upon vehicle pickup, the dealer added accessories to the car for which I did not ask and tried to lower the trade in value by $1000, so he changed the terms of our agreement. I ended up walking out of the dealership. Dealer is refusing to return my money. Can he legally keep it in Illinois, or is there a law against that?
Ps. I have already contacted my credit card company to get the money back.
Just to clarify, I am still ready to buy the car at the price that was determined, but the dealer is not. So it is the dealer that is changing the deal, not me. The only thing I signed was a regular credit card receipt, nothing else.
ALL deposits are fully refundable. Whether it's on an apartment to hold it, on a ordered car, or anything else, all deposits are 100% fully refundable in every state.
A dealer cannot legally hold your deposit ransom, which this one is doing. Write a letter to the owner demanding your deposit back in full within 48 hours of receipt of the letter, or you will file a complaint against them in Small Claims Court. Be sure to send the letter with a "Delivery Confirmation" attached so you can track it. That will be proof that it was received by them.
If you don't get a full refund within 48 hours, file a lawsuit against them.
Be sure to file in the county that the dealership is in, otherwise the suit will be thrown out. Add on the filing charges too. Most times they aren't awarded. But it doesn't hurt to try. You may get a sympathetic judge. Good luck.
