Having a car repossessed is one of the worst things that can happen to a vehicle owner. However, it’s even worse when dealerships and auto loan companies do this when they’re not supposed to. This happened to one Michigan driver and her used Dodge Durango a few years ago. The dealership now has to pay up for the mixup. 

This lady had her car repossessed after paying a down payment

According to Jalopnik, Tina McPherson visited Suburban Chevrolet Cadillac in July of 2020 and decided to buy a used Dodge Durango, specifically a 2017 model. Tina made a $2,000 down payment and got approval from two lending companies. She drove away that day thinking everything was fine. She had no idea the car would soon be repossessed by the dealership. 

A week went by, and Tina loved her used Dodge Durango. However, she learned that one of the lending companies denied her credit application. Things get interesting when the dealership submits her application to a third lending company without her consent. They approved the loan, but Tina refused to sign. Unfortunately, this is when the shady dealership repossessed her car. 

After the car was repossessed, the Michigan dealership told Tina they would keep $900 of her $2,000 downpayment. Naturally, she took the matter to court and was awarded $350,000 in punitive damages. The dealership tried to have the amount reduced, but this was upheld recently, which means the shady dealer is on the hook for wrongfully repossessing her used Dodge Durango. 

Having her newly bought car repossessed caused a great deal of undue stress for Tina and her family. This was their only vehicle, meaning they had to rent cars, use Uber, and spend money on other ways to commute to work. 

For more reading, check out our article on ways to avoid having your vehicle repossessed.