Some Dealers Aren’t Letting
Customers Return Leased Vehicles
Car and Driver,
by
Colin Beresford
Original Article
Posted By: NorthernDog,
4/29/2020 8:53:25 AM
As it turns out, automakers giving customers the option to extend leases by a month during the coronavirus pandemic was more than a gesture of good faith—a lot of dealers don't want the cars back right now. A USA Today report found 10 people who have expired leases who, when they went to return their vehicles to the dealership, learned that the dealer wouldn’t take them or made returning the vehicle difficult. Several of the customers were told that they could return their vehicle if they leased another one. But the resounding message was that the dealer lots were full
Reply 1 - Posted by:
mobyclik 4/29/2020 9:13:11 AM (No. 395191)
Hate to say this, but it would be time to visit a lawyers office.
5 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
mc squared 4/29/2020 9:34:13 AM (No. 395219)
If you've made an effort to return it, why not just stop paying for it. Send a registered letter that it's on your property and they can have it anytime.
13 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
kdog 4/29/2020 9:35:48 AM (No. 395222)
This was the LEAST informative article EVER. Nothing at all about customer rights and ramifications, but a good deal of words about full dealer lots.
3 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
MickTurn 4/29/2020 9:40:07 AM (No. 395233)
Fine, you either take the car or sign it over to me, I'm leaving and I have witnesses.
3 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
Lawsy0 4/29/2020 9:53:40 AM (No. 395251)
Ever wonder why it is called Dealer's Choice? They'd probably rather you buy a new car than lease an old one. Dave Ramsey calls these transactions Fleece Agreements.
4 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Strike3 4/29/2020 10:31:46 AM (No. 395322)
I have always held a special contempt for auto dealers, probably after having been screwed when I was young and stupid. My first new car ever was a shiny new Porsche from a dealer in Fairfax, VA and they unleashed a pro attack dog by the name of M. Townsend Vogel on me and he artfully put me into a car I could not afford and did not even like the color. I still remember that little moustache and that oily voice and I will hate that man forever. They had no back-out policy and no sympathy. I made the payments but the car sat parked for weeks at a time because I had no gas money for it. After that experience I became what they now describe as a "hard-sell." I sit there and read the fine print on everything.
4 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
ussjimmycarter 4/29/2020 11:51:26 AM (No. 395436)
Don’t EVER under any circumstances LEASE a car! I sold cars for 6 years in my late 20’s. I was our Dodge Dealership’s top sales person for new cars every month fo 19 months. I ran the numbers on a lease in 1980. I refused to even discuss them with my customers...to the great consternation of our idiot F&I guy! Worst rip-off in the business! Buy less car or a good used car! Driving around in a BMW is idiotic when you can’t buy one, but can afford the lease payments!
5 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
felixcat 4/29/2020 11:59:20 AM (No. 395448)
Wow - I'm shocked. Another article about private businesses taking advantage of this "crisis."
1 person likes this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
hershey 4/29/2020 12:12:55 PM (No. 395465)
Leasing sucks...I got caught up in one two years ago...partially because I didn't do my 'due diligence', but mostly because the salesman straight out lied to me to make the sale (it was a sale weekend)..they knew I wasn't a happy guy after I signed (my bad) but rather than tearing up the lease, which they could have done. they tried to buy me off with a free bed liner...better to have torn it up because I'll never deal with them again and I tell everyone I know to stay away as well...
2 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
jacksin5 4/29/2020 12:52:57 PM (No. 395508)
Leases were originally designed so businesses could provide new cars for their sales people etc, could look professional without having to purchase a fleet of cars. It is the only instance where leasing makes sense.
3 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Max Bear 4/29/2020 3:07:46 PM (No. 395599)
Lot of misinformed comments about leasing here. Full disclosure, I am an auto broker and lease (and sell) cars to my clients. There are Pros and Cons to leasing as there are to paying cash or financing. A good auto broker (or salesman-in theory) will help you evaluate options and let you decide the best way for you to acquire your new (or used) car. The typical dealership model usually works differently and an F&I guy usually stacks the deck in the house's favor-buyer beware. A lease that is not structured properly is usually at the heart of most lease horror stories,
0 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
DVC 4/29/2020 3:18:34 PM (No. 395612)
Leases are really WONDERFUL....for the person buying the car coming off lease. The original lease holder took a beating, so you can get a good deal on a typically low miles, well maintained car.
I like leases....for the other guy, never for me.
0 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
bmw50 4/29/2020 6:55:40 PM (No. 395755)
I leased a 2017 Malibu for 39 months. When I turned it in recently, the financial arm of the company, charged me $400 because I didn't want to lease or buy another new vehicle (I'm preparing for retirement and didn't want another payment). There was nothing I could do about it, I had to pay it. They justify it by claimed they do it as an incentive for customers to lease another vehicle. To me, it was an incentive alright, an incentive to never... I think you can figure out my opinion of leasing and companies that take advantage of their customers.
2 people like this.
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Comments:
If the contract has expired it seems like they have to take the car back. You may no longer have the money for the monthly payment.