BeeferMan
Gold Member
Agreed, if that was one of the first questions they asked me I would have left too...
Ford dealer's all the same ??
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CurlyDave
Elite Member
...some ask to copy it due to people taking vehicles for test drives and not coming back.
Whenever I am asked to let them copy my license I tell them they have to make two copies and I have to be there. They make the first one, and I write on it "No credit check is authorized at this time", sign my name, with time & date, get the salesman to sign his name and then say "now make me a copy of this one please".
The salesman always protests that they weren't going to run a credit check anyway, and I always tell him that it is good thing, but now I know they won't. Then I tell him about the dealership that I got into a lot of trouble last year for running an unauthorized credit check.
Amazing how that little trick gets you a lot more respect.
Whenever I am asked to let them copy my license I tell them they have to make two copies and I have to be there. They make the first one, and I write on it "No credit check is authorized at this time", sign my name, with time & date, get the salesman to sign his name and then say "now make me a copy of this one please".
The salesman always protests that they weren't going to run a credit check anyway, and I always tell him that it is good thing, but now I know they won't. Then I tell him about the dealership that I got into a lot of trouble last year for running an unauthorized credit check.
Amazing how that little trick gets you a lot more respect.
BeeferMan
Gold Member
Dave -
Just curious - what's the problem with letting them run a credit check? I've always maintained a good credit rating so I assumed that if them knowing I could indeed buy anything on the lot was a something that worked in my favor. (I haven't actually financed a vehicle through a dealer in decades though!) What's the problem with the credit check? Am I missing something?
Bird
Rest in Peace
Like you, I don't worry about it, but credit ratings are funny things. Too many inquiries into your credit, even without any debt at all, can cause your rating to go down a bit.
If your license has your Social Security number on it that could turn into a real problem. Asking for a Social Security number to allow you to look at trucks is just crazy.
I learned something and I thought I would pass it along. After paying 315.00 for three six inch rubber houses and six hose clamps (hoses located above rear axle and real easy to get at and see) a friend suggested I get the truck inspected by someone I trust before returning to the dealer who did not fix the Engine Light problem. I went expecting nothing to be found. Surprise the inspector (mechanic) put a smoke machine on it and smoke came out near the hoses that were replaced. Turns out the charcoal canisters are back there and the device (round between the two canisters} was leaking. The question now is, did the dealer fix anything for 315.00? The second question is, if the responses to this are a reasonable sample of the general population it seems to me an honest dealer could make tons of money in this business doesn't it?
I learned something and I thought I would pass it along. After paying 315.00 for three six inch rubber houses and six hose clamps (hoses located above rear axle and real easy to get at and see) a friend suggested I get the truck inspected by someone I trust before returning to the dealer who did not fix the Engine Light problem. I went expecting nothing to be found. Surprise the inspector (mechanic) put a smoke machine on it and smoke came out near the hoses that were replaced. Turns out the charcoal canisters are back there and the device (round between the two canisters} was leaking. The question now is, did the dealer fix anything for 315.00? The second question is, if the responses to this are a reasonable sample of the general population it seems to me an honest dealer could make tons of money in this business doesn't it?
CurlyDave
Elite Member
Just curious - what's the problem with letting them run a credit check?
Every time someone checks your credit, you credit rating goes down slightly. The credit bureaus operate on the theory that if someone is checking your credit it is because you are trying to get a loan to buy something.
After many complaints, the credit bureaus have agreed not to penalize you "too much" for a large number of credit checks over a short period of time, something like two weeks, because that could indicate shopping for a large item, not the intent to buy many large items.
It still works out against the average guy, or at least me, since I take my time looking for large items and may spend months looking for a car, as opposed to the two weeks allowed. Many credit checks can result in a major downward movement in your score.
Another reason is that I am opposed to people running credit checks on me in principle. Until I get ready to actually sign on the dotted line, there is no reason at all for a dealer to check my credit. Especially if I am going to pay cash for an item.
When I finally decide to buy something I have no objection to one dealer doing one credit check just to decide whether he will take my check and let me drive off, or whether he needs to wait until the check clears.
* * * * *
There is a very negative aspect about letting a car dealer check your credit. They know how much you can afford, and will try to sell you all sorts of things you don't really want.
I keep my credit rating high, and one of the ways I do that is by not buying fancy things I don't need. If you go into a dealership and negotiate price before you negotiate financing you almost always come out ahead. And, if they don't know that you can afford the luxury model instead of the plain jane one that fits your needs just fine, they won't be constantly trying sell you the fancy one.
Every time someone checks your credit, you credit rating goes down slightly. The credit bureaus operate on the theory that if someone is checking your credit it is because you are trying to get a loan to buy something.
After many complaints, the credit bureaus have agreed not to penalize you "too much" for a large number of credit checks over a short period of time, something like two weeks, because that could indicate shopping for a large item, not the intent to buy many large items.
It still works out against the average guy, or at least me, since I take my time looking for large items and may spend months looking for a car, as opposed to the two weeks allowed. Many credit checks can result in a major downward movement in your score.
Another reason is that I am opposed to people running credit checks on me in principle. Until I get ready to actually sign on the dotted line, there is no reason at all for a dealer to check my credit. Especially if I am going to pay cash for an item.
When I finally decide to buy something I have no objection to one dealer doing one credit check just to decide whether he will take my check and let me drive off, or whether he needs to wait until the check clears.
* * * * *
There is a very negative aspect about letting a car dealer check your credit. They know how much you can afford, and will try to sell you all sorts of things you don't really want.
I keep my credit rating high, and one of the ways I do that is by not buying fancy things I don't need. If you go into a dealership and negotiate price before you negotiate financing you almost always come out ahead. And, if they don't know that you can afford the luxury model instead of the plain jane one that fits your needs just fine, they won't be constantly trying sell you the fancy one.
BeeferMan
Gold Member
Ok, that's good info, thanks...
Guess I'll still keep doing what I do though - let the sales people know that based on my credit I can afford anything they got to sell - keeps them interested and let's them know I'm not a tire kicker. If my credit scores dip a couple points because of that, so be it - I almost never use credit to buy a vehicle anyway. If I do, it's just for a couple months to take advantage of other programs linked to financing, then it all gets paid off...
Guess I'll still keep doing what I do though - let the sales people know that based on my credit I can afford anything they got to sell - keeps them interested and let's them know I'm not a tire kicker. If my credit scores dip a couple points because of that, so be it - I almost never use credit to buy a vehicle anyway. If I do, it's just for a couple months to take advantage of other programs linked to financing, then it all gets paid off...
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