Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: otis24
Never have I heard of a rebate being tied to credit score. I was in car sales for seven years. In many cases, we want a customer with bad credit to qualify for as many rebates as possible. It sounds like the dealer "scooped" the rebate (i.e., kept it for themselves as part of the deal).
I would call Toyota customer service. There should be a number in the owner's manual. An inquiry could trigger an audit of the dealer by Toyota, which the dealer does not want.
When/if you get a customer survey, report the problem there as well.
TFS doesn't want people with poor credit ratings. They will consistently reject and push them to outside financing. But once you are approved you get all kinds of benefits. You are probably comparing a "Big 3" auto dealer mentality to Toyota. Which doesn't compute.
Toyota dealerships are on average no better and no worse than those offering any other make of car.
The most pleasant dealership experience we've ever had was at a Ford store when we bought our '97 Aerostar.
The last car we bought new was the '12 Accord, and that was also a quick, easy and pleasant experience.
I've shopped Toyota in the past and the dealership experience made me not want to buy a Toyota.
The OP's son may have been tooled and the dealer may have just packed the college grad rebate into the selling price and kept it.
OTOH, in any negotiated transaction, who's to say what was really agreed upon?
The signed paperwork is the only legally enforceable record of the transaction.