Business ProfileforEmpire Auto Sales

On September 9 I engaged the owner of Empire Auto Sales, ******” regarding the purchase of a vehicle. I selected one, and we began the deal, which included financing as I hadn’t secured a loan before shopping. I submitted a financing application that afternoon and paid **** $3,000 as a down payment. The following Monday, September 11, I learned I was initially declined for financing. Another gentleman from the dealership called me and said they could explore other financing options for me. I declined and said I’d accept the declination and didn’t want to pursue financing further. I was told I’d have to talk to **** about that, but he was out of town. That afternoon, I received a call from an agent at a financing outfit in Minneapolis who told me he’d talked to **** and was looking for other financing options for me, but I’d have to select another vehicle. I told him there wasn’t anything else on the lot I liked, and I wasn’t interested in exploring those options further. I was on vacation and out of town for work, and realized when I got back that my $3,000 down payment check had been cashed. When I realized this on October 26, I called **** and requested that amount be returned to me. He told me I could come pick up the vehicle or the down payment was his to keep. I countered that I was declined for financing and didn’t want to consider further options, and unfortunately we didn’t have a deal. He needed to speak to the gentleman at the financing office in Minneapolis and told me to call back. I called that office myself and talked to Judd, who confirmed that the financing application had expired, we didn’t have a deal, and my money should be returned. I called **** to relay this information and left a voicemail to please return my call at 12:14 pm on October 26. He did not. I called again at 11:15 am on November 1, to be told that **** was out of town and would return my call. He has not. I do not have a vehicle. He has $3,000.