If a car dealership promised to buy our leased carbut then once they received the title they refused to pay, can we sue them?
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If a car dealership promised to buy our leased carbut then once they received the title they refused to pay, can we sue them?
We sold a dealership our leased car with an oral agreement that once they received the title they would pay us $1,000. They kept the car in the meantime. Due to a filing error on behalf of the leaseholder, the title arrived at the dealership almost 3 months later. Now the dealership is refusing to pay us any money, saying that the car has depreciated in value. They have our car and the title and are saying that unless we want to buy the car back from them there is nothing we can do. Is there any way for us to sue them for the money promised?
Asked on December 22, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, New York
Answers:
Michael Duffy / Duffy Law, LLC
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Based on the facts your presented they are likely bound by the terms of the oral agreement and would not be able to keep the car. Even in the absence of an agreement, they are generally not legally allowed to simply take the title from you without any value in return. Request the title be returned or paid for. If they are not responsive, suing in small claims court may be an option for you.
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