Ethics question.

[hpdrifter]

The car stories thread got me thinking about what happened with my current vehicle that I bought a few years ago. The dealer forgot to add in charge for the CM skirted flatbed which is 8-10k option. I thought I made a really good deal on the truck which ended up being what a cab and chassis cost. Anyways they called a few weeks after I bought the truck and was fishing to see if I’d pony up any money which I didn’t. I still feel a little guilty about it curious to see what anyone else would have done in my shoes?

They'll find a way to beat you out of it with warranty service.

[DUKFVR]

I wouldn't feel bad if I was you. Like was said, they wouldn't call you. I bought a ford truck years ago & got a great deal even the dealership I normally buy my trucks from said get it, I can't beat it no way. I bought it & I found out later through my FIL that did some part time portering for them that the salesman was fired. I asked why & he said apparently someone messed up & sold it too cheap. A few days after I took delivery they told the salesman to call me and ask for more money or bring it back. He told them no way am I going to call him & tell hum to pay more or bring it back. They fired him for that. I would have told the salesman to tell his boss to pound sand.

[Roscoe]

I had a local business(which I’d just spent $1500 with) call me to say I’d need to come by and give them an extra $15 they forgot to charge me. I went and paid it. They thanked me for my quick response and coming to pay them. I thanked them for having the balls to call and tell me I owed them $15 more dollars. Lol

In your case, no way I’d feel bad.

Other than the significant dollar amount, what is the difference in your situation and the OP’s?


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[tps7742]

If you bought the vehicle in good faith, meaning that you did not know of the mistake at the time of purchase, you are good to go. The auto retail business is so loaded with incentives, ridiculous list prices, etc. that the average person has no idea what a good deal looks like. I bought a brand new truck a few years back for fifteen thousand under sticker price. I think that it was a good deal. I also think that the dealer made a profit or they would not have proposed the price to me.

I had a somewhat similar situation back when we built our home. Probably a year after we had finished building and converted from a construction loan to a permanent mortgage, I met a man that is in the flooring business. I forget why I was in the store but when he heard my name, he got sort of a funny look on his face. I asked if something was wrong. He asked a couple of details about our home then proceeded to inform me that they had never been paid for the carpet or tile that they supplied to our contractor. I felt really bad for him. I told
him that I was sorry but I had paid in full and wasn't in a position to make it right. A couple of months later a detective from the Department of Public Safety paid me a visit. That was a new one to me. Anyway, the subject was unpaid vendors that supplied materials for our home build. We talked a bit and eventually he asked about my agreement with the contractor. I said that I had paid in full and had records to prove it. I told him that I would grab the file and turn everything over to him the next day, but that I needed it all back as I did not intend to make copies of everything. He took the file and copied everything for evidence and that was the last that I heard from them.

I felt really bad about the whole situation but never once questioned whether or not I should pay my contractor's bad debt. I had no control over his dealings or the vendor's dealings, so what went on between them has nothing to do with me.

You did the right thing. I heard you say a DPS Representative contacted you on this issue. Isn’t that odd, I would have thought it would have been a detective or sherif depending on your area.

[ACbob]

You can rest assured that on car dealership forums there are no questions about ethics.

[Fishndude]

Other than the significant dollar amount, what is the difference in your situation and the OP’s?


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The part I left out! Oops!

They hadn’t delivered what I bought yet. So, don’t pay the $15, don’t get my $1500 worth of Windsor Stone.

[kae006]

Someone else eluded to it above, but I believe the question as to whether or not you knew about the discrepancy at the time of purchase or not until later would determine my response.

[GA Bowhunter]

No way I’d pay it. As a business owner I’d never call a client and say hey I forgot to charge you for the blah blah blah after they’ve already paid me.

This.

I have actually done something similar in my business.

A friend asked me to build a small house(1,500 sq ft) for his daughter.

I did it for a HUGELY reduced rate(I only build spec houses, I don't like dealing with customers. I won't accept a contract until the house is finished) as a favor.

Anyway, I missed the interior trim package, about 5k worth of material, when we settled up.

I caught my mistake a few weeks later and I ate it.

[boh347]

Someone else eluded to it above, but I believe the question as to whether or not you knew about the discrepancy at the time of purchase or not until later would determine my response.

It was a few weeks after when the saleslady called.

[GA Bowhunter]

! I also called the company that installed the blinds and told them their beef was with the builder because I paid my bill.

Actually, the lien goes with the property.

I know a couple scam builders that sold and closed houses around the 2008 collapse. They screwed subs and suppliers and the new owner's property was liened.


The builders signs a statement at closing stating all materials and labor have been paid for. The two builders I know about declared BK and nothing ever happened to them.

I don't know the outcome of the liens, but a sub or supplier would have to go to court to get a judgment and then try to collect on that judgment.

In GA you have 1 year, IIRC, to file suit to enforce a lien. If no suit is filed the lien goes away.

Most subs and suppliers that I know never file suit.

I advise anyone who is having a house built on property they already own to pay for all materials themselves. Pay the sub labor too if you can. Get lien releases. Have written contracts for everything.

[boh347]

“I still feel a little guilty”.... I think you answered your own question.

The only reason I feel bad about it was because the saleswoman was super nice and she was still a little green. Far as any empathy goes for the dealership I have none.

[boh347]

Actually, the lien goes with the property.

I know a couple scam builders that sold and closed houses around the 2008 collapse. They screwed subs and suppliers and the new owner's property was liened.


The builders signs a statement at closing stating all materials and labor have been paid for. The two builders I know about declared BK and nothing ever happened to them.

I don't know the outcome of the liens, but a sub or supplier would have to go to court to get a judgment and then try to collect on that judgment.

In GA you have 1 year, IIRC, to file suit to enforce a lien. If no suit is filed the lien goes away.

Most subs and suppliers that I know never file suit.

I advise anyone who is having a house built on property they already own to pay for all materials themselves. Pay the sub labor too if you can. Get lien releases. Have written contracts for everything.

The builder on my house stiffed the garage door company and the garage door company put a lien on my house.

[mikemorvan]

I once bought 100 plants for 1/10 of what the price should've been. I knew it, never said a word. Went home and planted the plants. Every single one of hem died. That's my luck in these situations.

[toomuchsun]

There are some honest dealers but many would take the last dollar from an old woman in need and even if, obviously not in total control of her decisions. I know one such evil Ford dealership which is my brand of trucks. I also know another, GM dealer, who I believe is a true neighbor (good). The bad guys I hope they make lots of errors. The good guys probably would not ask you to pay!

[Cookiemonster1]

You were lucky that lien was removed. They need to rewriye those laws and make a page in the contracts state who is responsible for paying the bills and that party should be responsible. I have seen builders that continued to leave bills unpaid on houses and the pour new owners have to pay again.