A car buyer says a dealership is stonewalling their attempt to cancel a costly add-on after Capital One confirmed the extra contract was never required to secure financing.
The dispute, detailed in a Reddit post that’s gaining traction, highlights a common and controversial practice in auto sales: pressuring buyers to purchase optional products by tying them to loan approval or interest rates.
According to the post, the buyer purchased a new vehicle on November 21, 2025. During negotiations, the dealership’s finance manager allegedly claimed the buyer could only qualify for a lower interest rate if they agreed to buy a mechanical service contract. The buyer accepted, believing they had a safety net: “I agreed knowing that I would have 30 days to cancel said contract.”
Weeks later, on December 13, Capital One confirmed it had perfected the loan and that the service contract was “not a requirement to obtain nor maintain financing.” Armed with that confirmation, the buyer emailed the dealership’s finance manager requesting cancellation.
The finance manager ghosted the customer
After receiving no response, the buyer visited the dealership in person on December 19. The finance manager allegedly acknowledged the request and said he would cancel the contract, but quickly asked the buyer to leave so he could assist another customer. The buyer followed up immediately via email, confirming the interaction and requesting a read receipt. Still nothing.
The next step was a phone call—straight to voicemail. Frustrated, the buyer replied again to the original email, this time highlighting the section of the contract stating the add-on was not required for financing, and copied the finance manager’s supervisor.
With the 30-day cancellation window set to expire on December 21, the buyer asked Reddit for advice, noting the contract allowed a refund minus 15% per month. “I would expect a full refund given the date I initiated contact,” the buyer wrote.
“Make them take it off”
Commenters were blunt about the stakes. One warned, “You have to go down there and make them take it off. They don’t want to. They will delay as long as they can to make it go past the 30 days.” Another added, “If you don’t show up in person as soon as possible it won’t happen. Put down your phone and go now.”
Several commenters raised the issue of tied selling, asking, “Isn’t that tied selling? And illegal?” Tied selling occurs when a seller conditions one product, like loan approval or a better rate, on the purchase of another product that isn’t required. In many jurisdictions and lending contexts, this practice is restricted or prohibited, particularly when it involves misrepresentations about financing requirements.
Others accused the dealership of intentionally running out the clock. One comment didn’t mince words: “This finance manager and dealership are skeezy a—holes trying to steal from you by ignoring your request to get at least 15% after a month passes.”
The commenter urged aggressive documentation: “Go down there and demand they cancel the contract with written proof and make a scene if they refuse to help you. Start recording the interaction if it helps in providing record that you are trying to cancel the contract according to the rules and they are stonewalling you.” (Recording laws vary by state.)
The same commenter encouraged reputational pressure if the issue isn’t resolved: “Then blast them on all forms of social media so people avoid them at all costs.”
For buyers, the takeaway is clear: optional add-ons like service contracts are often not required for financing, something Capital One explicitly confirmed here. If a dealership goes silent, acting quickly, documenting everything, and escalating in person may be the difference between a full refund and an expensive lesson.
Published: Jan 6, 2026 06:38 am