Need Help! Picked up my Maverick today but dealer wants me to pay for dealer installed options after bringing home

[realshelby]

Never been given a "CO" with all the vehicles I have bought. I have always walked out with a title application. With that in hand the vehicle is mine and the lender shown on the title app. If anything is owed to me or the dealer they give me a "We owe or I owe". That covers things the dealer has agreed to provide, such as a trailer hitch or me bringing the second key.

You won't get the CO or MSO. That is taken straight to the DMV and submitted with paperwork for title. Manufacturers do not want CO's in the hands of customers. With that, the car is still new and can be sold as new/untitled. Decades ago you could pay cash and dealers would hand the CO to you. If you finance you do not see either the CO or title until it is paid off.
Title application can be downloaded off the internet, not a legal proof of ownership....

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[jcartwright99]

Would love to know what dealer this is. Most Illinois Ford dealers are shady AF!

 

[NJBob]

It does sound like the same sort of issue (rebate, private offer). From what I understand, EcoBoost engines got a $1,700 deal and hybrids got a $2,700 deal. Am I correct to assume that you have the EcoBoost?

I must say, since posting, I have had three different people come forward and say that it's possible that a check will in fact come. You were to mention a first-hand account. I Don't want to get too overly excited, but I am definitely happy to hear that this wasn't a one-off isolated incident and that more importantly, people have received a check 4 to 6 weeks after making a purchase from Ford. This is essentially what my dealer said would happen, despite my obvious reluctance to believe him..

Thank you for letting me know, if anyone else has any ideas or stories, please post them cuz I'm sure I'm not the only one still waiting

I do have an Ecoboost. Mine was a bit different. I ordered on Dec 26 2021 to beat the price increase on the packages I wanted that were to be instituted on the 27th. The price protection was the difference in cost. Looking back on it that same truck would have cost alot more now. The only reason I wanted those packages was to get the adaptive cruise control which was part of the Lariat Luxury package. Now you have to get the Luxury package and add the adaptive cruise control.

 

[KenT]

OK. I do criminal defense. That's why it's arguably malpractice for me to opine on civil law matters. Folks, the attitude matters. On the other hand, I've known a lot of cops in my practice - I used to be a prosecutor - and they really don't want to turn civil disputes into criminal cases. I suspect this case was a one-off.
Short story: a colleague of mine was a charging deputy. The case involved the purchase of a Chevy pickup. All the paper were signed, the guy gets in the truck, and the dealer decides he owes more money. He says, "Screw you," and starts to drive away. They close the garage door so he can't get out. The dealer calls the cops, and the guy is cited. My friend, looking at the facts, realizes the dealer was guilty of false imprisonment (closing the garage door) and files a complaint against the dealership. Turns out the dealership gave money to the moronic District Attorney (and I'm being generous). He fired her.
What goes around comes around. He got unelected and now commits malpractice as a private attorney.

It’s more than a one-off. The point of the report is that this practice is so pervasive that the U.S Consumer Product Protection Bureau is initiating regulations to outlaw this practice by dealerships.

 

[KenT]

It’s more than a one-off. The point of the report is that this practice is so pervasive that the U.S Consumer Product Protection Bureau is initiating regulations to outlaw this practice by dealerships.

That should be Consumer FINANCE Protection Bureau.

 

[Oscarcat]

You neglect to indicate how much $$$ we are talking about here. Or the specific items that were added. APPROACH THIS AS A MISUNDERSTANDING. DON'T GET COMBATIVE OR AGGRESSIVE. Use your words and choose them carefully. Were the dealer installed options part of and enumerated on your original order? There are a few genuine Ford items, for example the console vault that are dealer installed that you may have on your original order. Or did your original order include a factory constraint spary-on bedliner as part of a package that the dealer deleted then had applied locally by LineX or similar? Some like door edge guards, invisible paint protection are not. If an item is not on your original order or part of a package on the original order, then offer the dealer the opportunity to remove them and resell to another customer who wants it. Pay for what you originally ordered and was on your order. Ask the dealer to point to anything in your original order or agreement that specifically says the buyer [you] are obligated to purchase add-ons? If not, calmly and courteously tell them that you regret they did not inform you of their intent in advance because you would have refused the add-ons. Be aware there is a remote engine disable add-on that some dealers install to aid in the repossesion of vehicles. An auto electrical specialist can remove it. If they did that be careful in your approach until it is removed. Follow up discussions in writing, email is fine. Report this unfortunate misunderstanding to:
Ford Motor Company
Customer Relationship Center (CRC)
P.O. Box 6248
Dearborn, MI 48126
1 (800) 392-3673 - Be prepared to hold

 

[RLader]

You won't get the CO or MSO. That is taken straight to the DMV and submitted with paperwork for title. Manufacturers do not want CO's in the hands of customers. With that, the car is still new and can be sold as new/untitled. Decades ago you could pay cash and dealers would hand the CO to you. If you finance you do not see either the CO or title until it is paid off.
Title application can be downloaded off the internet, not a legal proof of ownership....

Not here, you get a title app signed by the dealer and yourself. That gets you a tag and is your registration. If you borrowed money to finance the vehicle, that is on the title app. Also to get the tag you have to prove you have insurance. A Certificate of Origin sounds more like a federal requirement not a state. Never saw one or heard of one while I worked with the Revenue Office and they are the DMV in my state.

 

[RLader]

Your options will depend on Alabama law. Generally, you and the seller are bound by the contract. But lawyers make their livings off the exceptions to the rule. Were you in my jurisdiction, I would suggest that because you agreed to a price - if I understand this right - you are bound. A contract is an offer and an acceptance. They offer to sell you your unicorn with a certain sum for your trade-in, and you say, Sure. You sign. Bingo. Offer and acceptance, that is, an enforceable contract. But there are always ways to contest a contract. Because I despise lawyers and the crap they do, I wouldn't suggest you go very far with it unless it's a hell of a lot of money or the dealership needs to be slapped for being sleazy. But there are likely lawyers who might look at the issue for you without demanding your first born for payment. But I've met more sleazy lawyers than sleazy car dealers, though that might be because I haven't bought a lot of cars. (I once bought a Subaru from a guy who asked me what is black and tan and looks good on a lawyer; the answer, a Doberman Pinscher.)
Once, when I was a prosecutor, the defense attorney told me he had to plead the case out. Why? I asked. He's a used car salesman, he said, the jury's going to hate him.
Fighting about the little stuff is never worth it; choose your battles carefully.

Just a question, not being combative, just curious. Back in the past, vendors would send you merchandise without you ordering it. They would then send you a bill for it. The Federal Government took action and said if you received something you did not order you were free to keep it without paying and vendor had no recourse. No more unordered merchandise. Would this be comparable?

 

[realshelby]

Not here, you get a title app signed by the dealer and yourself. That gets you a tag and is your registration. If you borrowed money to finance the vehicle, that is on the title app. Also to get the tag you have to prove you have insurance. A Certificate of Origin sounds more like a federal requirement not a state. Never saw one or heard of one while I worked with the Revenue Office and they are the DMV in my state.

Everything you said it true about getting your vehicle registered. You just don't seem to want to realize there is a form of legal ownership that Ford gives to the dealer. Like I said before, you as a customer won't likely ever see that. I ASSURE you the Maverick customers buy from a Ford dealer have a CO/MSO document. The "title application" is just a form ( you mention government forms, this is it ) the dealer puts the registration information on. Can literally be downloaded off the internet. When done with the paperwork ( yes, both the dealer and customer would likely sign that ) all the paperwork YOU SEEN WHILE IN THE OFFICE is made ready to take to the DMV office. What you do not see is the CO is added to that paperwork. The DMV takes that and converts it to a State Title. If you have no lien on that title, it is mailed to you. If you have a lien, then the new title is mailed ( with a lien on it) to the lien holder. Again, most customers never see a CO/MSO. Ours were kept in a large safe in the business office.

 

[B. Maverick]

Just a question, not being combative, just curious. Back in the past, vendors would send you merchandise without you ordering it. They would then send you a bill for it. The Federal Government took action and said if you received something you did not order you were free to keep it without paying and vendor had no recourse. No more unordered merchandise. Would this be comparable?

Hah. I thought of that. I believe it's covered by the Uniform Commercial Code. If someone sends you something unsolicited, it's yours. I have to note that no one has ever sent me anything in those circumstances. I keep hoping.

 

[RLader]

Hah. I thought of that. I believe it's covered by the Uniform Commercial Code. If someone sends you something unsolicited, it's yours. I have to note that no one has ever sent me anything in those circumstances. I keep hoping.

Think 70's.

 

[gte105u]

Your options will depend on Alabama law. Generally, you and the seller are bound by the contract. But lawyers make their livings off the exceptions to the rule. Were you in my jurisdiction, I would suggest that because you agreed to a price - if I understand this right - you are bound. A contract is an offer and an acceptance. They offer to sell you your unicorn with a certain sum for your trade-in, and you say, Sure. You sign. Bingo. Offer and acceptance, that is, an enforceable contract. But there are always ways to contest a contract. Because I despise lawyers and the crap they do, I wouldn't suggest you go very far with it unless it's a hell of a lot of money or the dealership needs to be slapped for being sleazy. But there are likely lawyers who might look at the issue for you without demanding your first born for payment. But I've met more sleazy lawyers than sleazy car dealers, though that might be because I haven't bought a lot of cars. (I once bought a Subaru from a guy who asked me what is black and tan and looks good on a lawyer; the answer, a Doberman Pinscher.)
Once, when I was a prosecutor, the defense attorney told me he had to plead the case out. Why? I asked. He's a used car salesman, he said, the jury's going to hate him.
Fighting about the little stuff is never worth it; choose your battles carefully.

I appreciate your input. And I am no lawyer, though deal with contracts and contract enforcement daily. To me, there is an interesting aspect to this that the OP advised the options in question were requested, and not listed in the sales agreement.

Now lawyers could argue this both ways. But it seems a strong argument can be made that there was never an agreement by the dealer to sell those options for the price of the vehicle.

OP could certainly say they will bring the vehicle back to remove them (assuming that is possible and not a bed liner or window tint). But seems there is a strong case the contract does not cover the dealer installed items in question. Therefore unjust enrichment because a very real thing to keep in mind. Especially when the recourse by the dealer will likely be to sell to collections, and destroy the OP credit. Plus not help with the incentive on any way.

I'd think hard before telling dealer to pound sand here.

 

[JBillinois]

Thanks again everyone. I had no idea this thing would go past a couple responses. I reached out to the General Manager of the dealership and he has been thus far understanding of the mixup and has stated his commitment to getting the "special private offer" from Ford directly. I'm cautious, but optimistic, but still plenty cautious.

 

[JBillinois]

Thanks again everyone. I had no idea this thing would go past a couple responses. I reached out to the General Manager of the dealership and he has been thus far understanding of the mixup and has stated his commitment to getting the "special private offer" from Ford directly. I'm cautious, but optimistic, but still plenty cautious.

Hey everyone. One final update. The General Manager stayed in contact with me throughout the process, confirmed that the $2750 was issued, notified me that they received it and let me know that they would invoice for the parts, cut me a check for the difference and get it in the mail asap, which they did. I received the check yesterday.

It shouldn't have been that hard but at least it ended satisfactorily.

Thank you all for your assistance throughout this.

 

[Maverick Life]

Hey everyone. One final update. The General Manager stayed in contact with me throughout the process, confirmed that the $2750 was issued, notified me that they received it and let me know that they would invoice for the parts, cut me a check for the difference and get it in the mail asap, which they did. I received the check yesterday.

It shouldn't have been that hard but at least it ended satisfactorily.

Thank you all for your assistance throughout this.

Sorry it was a headache but really glad you got this worked out! Thanks for updating us. Enjoy your truck!

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