Consumer complaint received 2025-12-18 00:00:00
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Lease
Issue: Getting a loan or lease — Loan opened without my consent or knowledge
Company: Tesla, Inc.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I ordered a used Tesla on lease through the official Tesla website. The website showed an Estimated Monthly Payment of {$210.00}. Tesla immediately charged me {$2500.00} upfront ( {$500.00} processing fee + {$2000.00} delivery ). Only AFTER they took my money did everything start to fall apart. 
I received an order confirmation and an agreement stating that the {$2500.00} is non-refundable, along with instructions to complete tasks in the Tesla App. Inside the Tesla app, I was asked to upload my drivers license, choose whether I had a trade-in, and whether I needed new plates. Then I opened the lease application, where the numbers kept changing every single time I logged in : {$210.00} {$310.00} {$330.00} {$350.00}. 
The down payment randomly changed from {$1500.00} to {$3500.00}, and at one point even showed " {$720.00} '' upon delivery.I called Tesla and explained the situation. I was told that the amount was only an estimated monthly payment and will change after submitting the application. They said they didnt have any additional information and that a manager was supposed to call me back the next day.The next day, nobody called, so I called them myself again. That day, the app showed a monthly payment of {$330.00} with no down payment. At the showroom, I was told this was based on my credit score.But here is the problem : No Social Security was provided. No credit check was done.No financial data was submitted. Which credit score, if they never checked anything? I did NOT submit the lease application.The next day, my husband went to the Tesla showroom in XXXX. We clearly stated that we do NOT agree with the terms and we are NOT submitting the application. The assistant said she had no additional information and created a ticket for a manager who was supposed to call me. No one called. XXXX she told that I have submit an application after they will have more tools to help me. Which XXXX. 
The next day, we went to the showroom again. The same assistant said she could change the payment to $ XXXX with a {$1300.00} down payment which was absurd, because the total cost was nearly identical to $ XXXX with no down payment. Lesing application was already submited but it asked me to " accept '' it. Which I wasn't going to do and told about it Tesla advicer/assistant.

During this visit, the assistant had my phone in her hands for about 15 minutes, navigating my Tesla app and checking something in the system.

At that moment, no leasing application was accepted by me, and we clearly stated that we did not give consent to proceed and want to speak with manager.

The assistant said she had no additional information and created a ticket for a manager who was supposed to call me.

Shortly after we left the showroom, I opened the Tesla app and saw the application marked as Accepted even though I NEVER did it. This is extremely serious. The next day, again, no manager called. We went to the showroom for the THIRD time and requested a refund of the {$2500.00}. We were told the refund was denied because the car is already in the shipping process.But here is the contradiction : Before that, I had received a message from Tesla saying I had 2 days to finish all tasks in the app, and only after submission would the car be prepared for shipping. So shipping had NOT started yet. Still, no help. No answers. Just more delays and promises that a manager would call. Right after we left the showroom immediately after asking for a refund of the delivery fee I received another message saying : -the application was accepted ( which I did NOT do!!! ).

-the car was already en route. 
After an hour a manager finally called me and say no refund was possible. When I asked how the application was accepted without my permission, he said that could not be true. So let me be very clear : Tesla changed numbers after taking my money. Tesla accepted a lease application without my consent. Tesla shipped a car I did not agree to lease. Tesla refused to return my funds. Customer service was absolutely useless. No help. No responsibility. Only confusion, pressure, and misinformation. A XXXX  used car ended up costing more than a new one. This is NOT a premium experience. This is NOT transparent. This is NOT acceptable. I woud like to ask you to step in to have the deal that was advertised or get full refund.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation