Hi SgtLip. Sorry, was away for the day. No, if your Dealer is honest, and dealing with you honestly, you are not screwed. Like anything else in life, it all depends on how honest all parties are. So a contract is not "necessary" if both sides are honest. However, unless the Dealership/Salesperson is family or a close personal friend, why take the chance? Contracts protect all sides/parties in a purchase.
It is when one side may have questionable motives that a contract can protect the honest person/party. So at this point, let's just hope your Dealer is honest. Let's assume they are, since most are.
However, in this case, to fully protect yourself, you should obtain a copy of the original Dealer Invoice listing the X-Plan pricing box (not handwritten figures) along with a written/signed X-Plan agreement listing all X-Plan pricing, and a signed Purchase order. Just as with any purchase.
The Dealership is actually required to provide the Invoice listing the X-Pl;an price box, X-Plan Pricing Agreement etc. But as with anything, honest ones will provide those papers, dishonest ones may "accidentally forget" to.
Yes, it may not be needed if your Dealership is honest, but why take the chance of getting any last minute surprises? The small percentage of dishonest Dealers like to spring last minute surprises, when the buyer is looking at their new vehicle sitting there, all shiny and new, and the paperwork is in front of them. That is when, after being forced to sit there for an hour, two or three, that many buyers will throw up their hands (figuratively), not read the paperwork carefully, accept added fees, and just sign the final contracts to get their new vehicle and get out of there.
However, in the future, the X-Plan rules site that I and others have linked to in the past, explains in detail how a proper X-Plan purcahse deal should be conducted. It includes a signed X-Plan Agreement listing all pricing, a signed Purchase Order etc. It also details what additional fees are allowable (for example Documentation Fees are capped at $100), what is not, etc.
It simply comes down to all of us reading the X-Plan rules site and performing the proper due diligence to protect ourselves. As noted in several other threads, Lincoln/Ford only have the ability to monitor/audit small percentage of AXZD-Plan sales. So it is up to us to know the rules, and hold our Dealership to them. And as I stated, most are honest, but as in life, it is the dishonest ones we need to keep an eye on.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have and good luck.
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