You’re about to discover some eye-opening truths about the RV industry that could save you from financial disaster. The RV Wingman recently exposed a dirty new scam that’s targeting buyers with shaky credit, and it’s completely illegal.
But here’s the good news: not all dealers are trying to rip you off. Some actually go above and beyond to earn your trust. In this article, you’ll learn about the sneaky tactics to watch out for, plus hear an incredible story about a customer who drove 17 hours just to do business with a dealer she trusts.
By the end, you’ll know exactly how to protect yourself and find the good guys in the RV world.
1. The Illegal Credit Approval Scam That’s Spreading Like Wildfire
Here’s how this dirty trick works: You walk into a dealership with less-than-perfect credit, and the salesperson gets you all excited about your dream RV. They tell you they need to run your credit to see if you qualify. A few days later, they call with “great news” – you’re approved!
But here’s where it gets sleazy. When you come in to finalize the deal, they hit you with a bunch of expensive add-ons and say, “Oh, your loan was approved based on these extras being included.” When you try to remove them, they claim they’ll have to run your credit again and you might not get approved.
This is completely illegal. Banks cannot force you to buy optional products, and neither can dealers. According to the Federal Trade Commission, these bait-and-switch tactics violate consumer protection laws.
| Red Flag | What They Say | The Truth |
|---|---|---|
| Credit approval | “You’re approved based on these extras” | Banks don’t require optional add-ons |
| Re-running credit | “We’d have to check again if you remove items” | They’re lying to pressure you |
| No choice | “Take it or lose your approval” | You always have the right to refuse |
You might think dealers wouldn’t dare try something so obviously illegal, but desperate times make some people do desperate things. When RV sales are down (they dropped 6.9% in 2024 according to industry reports), some dealers resort to these underhanded tactics.