What is the deal with dealers requiring credit checks on cash sales? Anyone run into this when they bought their Prius C? Is this a Toyota thing? Here is the story on Consumerist: The Consumerist » Why Is Dealership Checking My Credit When I’m Paying In Full?
I have no idea why but I got the same credit check while I wrote the a check for $27,4xx.xx to get my C4.
As I read this, $5000 was on credit. I would have wanted to run the check if I was the dealer. The car previous to my Prius I paid via Bank Draft, I was in and out in under 30 minutes. I showed up with cash to buy my Prius, but they had 0% interest so I invested the cash and paid of the car in 34 months, just to be sure I was not miraculously 'late'.
Just refuse to give them your SS#. this is just what I did. They want to put the numbers in the computer otherwise the computer will not continue the transaction, they can override that by putting in all 0's or 9's.
I don't think they ran my credit after I wrote them a check. I don't have any credit for them to check. The dealer never asked for my ss#. They did wait 5 days after I wrote the check before they cashed it. Don't know why. Actually, the salesman was ready to let me drive the car home, even after I told them I did not have my check book and would be back "tomorrow" to pay them. I did not do that of course. Does not seem right that they run a credit check if you pay cash. Oh well, life is good owning a Prius C free and clear. I feel fortunate in my older age. My son is a cpa for Dave Ramsey in Nashville but I knew how to live the life long before I ever heard of Dave Ramsey. All it took was my ex wife leaving me. Dan Born in 1954
They ran my credit for a cash sale. I was told they are required to do so as a requirement for some anti-terrorist law. Sounds more like a good way to flag one's SSN to the IRS for tax cheats.
The anti-terrorist law they're citing is likely The Patriot Act. No idea if that's actually in there, though.
Any cash transaction over $10,000 must be reported to the IRS by the recipient. The payer is required to give their tax ID number (i.e. social security number) to the recipient, who must file a form within 15 days. You are liable to a $50 penalty if you refuse to provide your SS#. This is not a recent requirement, it's been the law since 1970.
Hmmm, wonder why they did ask for mine? Maybe they had it from when I used to buy new vehicles at this dealership, in the 90's. dan
