So my new 4runner should be in on thursday. I go up today to get a copy of the sales contract before heading to my C.U. and picking up the check. Before I leave the dealer passes me a credit application. I say I already have credit, am happy with my credit union and even show them my preapproval letter. They continue to tell me that they can not sell me a car without me filling at least the top 2 lines out ... name adress and s.s #. I told them that i would have to research it and get back to them. They continued to tell me some b.s. about it being to protect me. I explained that if i was pretending to be some-one else, i would use that false information on this application too. Not to mention what a nice id thief i must be since the truck i am trading has been paid on time for over 3 years.

Is there any reason for me to fill out this paperwork? I have a check for the truck right now, why would I fill out a credit application.

They did the same thing to us too when we bought my runner. I know one reason they wanted this information was to see if they could get you a better interest rate than our bank gave us. Which they BLEW away with another bank in our area (one that we also have an account with). Other reasons? I don't know. But what I stated is what they told us.

I can tell you that I didn't have to fill that out when I bought mine...so sounds pretty bogus to me...unless it is some sort of local or state regulation...but I doubt it.

I bought a new 4Runner one month ago. I wrote the dealer a personal check and they didn't even ask for my drivers license. I didn't fill out anything, and I sure didn't give them my social security number.

If they want to sell you a truck, tell 'em they are going to do it without you filling out any credit forms. Period.

I'm not completely sure why the stealer needs to run a credit check on the buyer eventhough he/she is financing the vehicle elsewhere, but after I paid for my 4R w/a blank check from Capital One, TOY motor corp ran my credit twice the day after I made my purchase and had taken delivery of the vehicle. Either way, I don't think that several credit inquiries will ding your credit score if as long as they're done w/in a certain short time frame.

I would not fill it out!! You handing them a Credit Union check is all they need. More credit checks you get the more your credit score goes down!!

I appreciate the replies. I am leaning towards telling them NO WAY NO HOW. This is the exact vehicle I want, but i will walk away.

cobey

p.s. this is in Atlanta if that helps

Ask them to show you in writing that/where you HAVE to do it.

Koz

You should not have to give them your social security if you're not requesting credit. Your driver

Why do they need your social if you are financing through another lender? Just another form to be sitting in a filing cabinet for a disgruntled employee to have access to your personal info.

Give them a bogus number and see what comes back from it.

It should not be required. I have never seen it required with any vehicle purchased by me, family, or friends.

It is a way for the financing dept. to make some $$. They have incentives from the lenders to get applications in. Lots of applications also make the financing dept look better. More applications = more loans.

Financing is a big part of any dealership, just like sales, dealer installed options, and service.


On the flip side, they could find you a better rate if interested.

If you have a friend with really horrendous credit, see if they will let you use their SSN and watch the salesman's eyes bug out.

Or maybe just ask that your salesman and the GM/floor manager provide you with their SSN just for "their protection" and see what they think about that.

Thats great...You should deffinitely do that! Tell them you want to run a backround check on them.

Or run the dealerships D&B # and let them know you will be deducting another $500 from the sale price because of 'issues' reported by past customers.

Its funny that this came up because I was asked to provide the same information even though I payed the full amount for my Runner. I told them no and they said that it was dealer policy, I told them I would walk way and they reluctantly gave in.