I took my car that I was financing to Cottman Transmission on South Blvd in Charlotte, NC on September 12 after it made some noises and bumped a little. The repair shop man, Joseph Poplin, offered a free transmission check, so I had them do one on my minivan. After that, the repair show guy said his mechanic told him that my transmission was grinding and producing a black metallic powder, causing the problem; however, my transmission would have to be totally taken apart and put back together to fully diagnose my problem and it would cost $395. I allowed that.
I asked the repair shop man how much he would estimate it to be and he said he doesn't think it's a "big job" and that it would probably run me close to $800. He added that transmission jobs run on the high end up to $2300. I don't know how he would know it would cost $800 when he hadn't taken my transmission apart yet. Anyway, after a few days of him not calling me to tell my car was ready, I called the shop and he said it was ready and my total cost was $2800 because my transmission and engine (now) had to be rebuilt. His company would be financing half of that amount ($1400) and I would have to come up with the other half. I had told him I was on a limited income, as most of us are, and couldn't afford that, so I was grateful for the financing, which his wife, Lynn, handles.
I asked him what would happen if I had trouble coming up with the money, he said the van would be put in storage at a cost of $15/day for 30 days and AFTER that it would be put up for auction. I told him I would rather the storage than the auction because I was paying on that van and it was going to be my last car in life, barring unforeseen circumstances. I spoke to his wife who handles the financing and she was asking me when I was going to come in with the money. This was all in a matter of 1 1/2 weeks, maybe less. I told her I had half of the half ($700) and would be getting the rest before my time ran out. She asked for the name of my finance company under the guise that she was going to ask them to pay for the repairs and put the money on the end of my contract with them. I informed her that I had already called my finance company and they said they did not do that for customers. She called anyway.
When I went to the repair shop with my half ($1400) to pick up my van, Mr. Poplin told me the van was repossessed. I was beyond shocked! I asked him if he was going to call and tell me that and he said he and his wife were closing on a house and he was out of the office for 2-3 days, so he didn't know. Yeah right!!! He told me where to go get my belongings after I asked for copies of everything, including the check that was written out for the repairs and said nothing else. He looked surprised that I had indeed showed up with the money, as I said I would. I called my finance company and they said they repossessed my van because the shop man called them with my VIN number and said "customer unable to pay for repairs", which was a boldfaced lie! I N-E-V-E-R told that man I was unable to pay for that van, only that I was going to need time to come up with the money but I WAS going to get my car!!! I told them my mom borrowed from her insurance company and my church was helping me come up with the money, so I was sure that I would get the money and that it would be BEFORE the 30-day time frame he gave me!!! I could not believe that a repair shop has the right to call a customer's finance company without their approval and/or knowledge to have their car repossessed on a lie they tell!!!
I just cannot believe my van is gone, and all because Mr. Poplin flat out LIED about me not being able to pay when I showed up before 30 days to pay my downpayment on the repairs as we had previously discussed. His fear of a black (yes, I said black), single, working mother of 3 supposedly not being able to come up with $1400 in that time frame and him possibly not getting paid his money is the reason, in my opinion, that he called my finance company and LIED!!! What happened to me is NOT fair and I intend to pursue this matter with the higher ups, including the media. I am sick and tired of companies taking advantage of consumers without reason or just cause, and practicing unfair and possibly illegal business practices. Someone has to put an end to this. The economy is struggling and so are we and we all deserve to be treated fairly and respectfully with regards to entrusting our property to a business expecting to get a job done without something being done behind our backs and we just sit back, put our tails between our legs and take it. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT BUSINESSES LIKE COTTMAN TRANSMISSION AND OTHERS LIKE IT!!!
I am in the process of getting a lawyer and have already contacted my local news station to air Cottman's Transmission's dirty laundry!!! What a way to conduct business, huh?
CUSTOMER BEWARE!!!: Cottman Transmission lies to get what they want and is practicing unjust, false and, most likely, illegal business practices!!! We must not take this sitting down and i hope by exposing businesses like this, something will be done and the proper repercussions will be forthcoming!!! It's not right! Simple as that...
Unjustly swindled
Charlotte, North Carolina
U.S.A.
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