An Ontario woman whose late husband purchased a new vehicle before unexpectedly passing away earlier this year was shocked after she learned she was still responsible for the car payments.
Dolores Dalton's late husband, Wayne Dalton, bought a 2015 Chrysler 200S last fall. He picked up the new car in November 2014 and drove it for approximately a month before suddenly falling ill.
Wayne Dalton passed away in February. That's when Dolores Dalton became responsible for financing the fully-loaded car even though she didn't co-sign the loan for it. Her husband's estate was responsible for the debt: $56,000 over an eight-year period.
"I can't afford this car," Dalton told CTV Toronto. "I work at a daycare centre. This car is costing me a lot of money."
Dalton said while her husband was in hospital, she phoned the Pickering, Ont., dealership where her husband purchased the car to see if they'd take it back. It only had 3,000 kilometres on it.
"They told me they would give me $20,000," she said. "I would still be out $36,000 that I would owe the bank, and I would have a car to drive, and I would still have a loan."
CTV Toronto contacted the Chrysler dealership. After learning about Dalton's situation, they have since agreed to re-purchase the vehicle from her.
"When we heard about the financial impact Mrs. Dalton's deceased husband's new vehicle had placed on her, we wanted to help," said the dealership's general manager Ron Dodds. "We are pleased to say we have purchased the vehicle back and negated any further financial obligation by Mrs. Dalton."
Dalton returned the car over the weekend and has since been driving a more affordable used vehicle.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Pat Foran
