Action 9: Woman almost lost down payment when loan didn't go through

SALISBURY, N.C. — A Salisbury woman's loan didn't go through on a used car and she thought she would lose her $3,000 down payment.

Kanondra Watson had tried to buy a used car from Auto House of Salisbury. But when her loan wasn't approved, she said the company told her it was keeping her $3,000 down payment.

“They was like they can't refund my money back,” she said. “(I said), ‘I done gave y’all $3,000. What you mean you can't give me my money back?’”

Watson said Auto House told her they could put her in a van or credit her $3,000 toward a future purchase.

Watson declined and said she pleaded for her money back to buy a car elsewhere.

“All I wanted was my money back so I can get my son back and forth to day care and so I can get back and forth to work,” Watson said. “That's all I wanted.”

Action 9 called Auto House and talked to the owner.  Sam Ketner said Watson’s cosigner signed papers saying “no refunds.”

But then Ketner invited Action 9 onto his lot, and said they have made exceptions to that policy.

“Depending on the situation -- I mean sometimes the juice isn't worth the squeeze,” he said. “Most of the time, we give it back. We give the refund back to the customer.”

After Action 9 talked to Ketner, he decided to give Watson a check for $3,394 to cover her down payment and repairs she made to the car.

“I'm happy,” she said. “That's all I wanted in the first place. That's really all I wanted.”

She said before she buys from any car lot, she will check their refund policy.

WSOC