Airmen get more than they bargained for in "yo-yo" car sales Published Jan. 28, 2009 4th Fighter Wing Legal Office SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Airmen should be aware of car dealerships that are quick to approve vehicle purchases. The buyer may get much more than they bargained for. Consumers expect dealerships to uphold hold up their end of an agreement if timely payments are made, but what happens when they don't? A "yo-yo" sale is when a consumer purchases a vehicle and several weeks later, the dealership calls them back and says they have to raise their car note payment, get a new co-signer, return the car or possibly face repossession. The consumer industry calls it "spot delivery", meaning the dealership sells the vehicle to the consumer on the spot for the sale, only to "yo-yo" the buyer back at a later date for more money under a new loan agreement. This practice breaks several laws, including breaking a binding contract. The documents the consumer and the dealership sign, which include payment agreements, deposits, interest rates and car trade-in value, count as a legally binding contract. If the consumer has been approved for financing and it is not just pending, the consumer owns the vehicle and is only subject to keeping up payments. The car dealership cannot change the agreement once the consumer has taken possession of the vehicle. They should not go back to the dealership and sign additional documents without understanding what they mean. Buyers should keep all copies of paper work and anything that is associated with the sale including offers and advertisements. Also, keep a timeline of all events leading up to whatever action is taken, such as names of personnel, statements made and time and dates, this will be helpful in any legal matter. The local N.C. Department of Motor Vehicle enforcement officer or the Department of Justice can help in these matters. A complaint against the dealership can be filled by calling the better business bureau. Contact the base legal office at 722-5322 with any questions.