I put two thousand dollars down on an "as is" 1997 Cadillac Deville on November 21. That day I noticed on the dashboard the "service engine soon" light was on. I test drove the car and to my knowledge (no problems with breaks, steering, acceleration) it seemed fine. I mentioned it to the salesman "Miguel" and he informed me that the light was an indication that the computer needed to be reset. They took the car to be inspected and it couldn't and wouldn't pass inspection due to this light.
I believed the excuse as to why the light was on, and proceeded with the paper work to finance the car with my two thousand dollars down payment. Miguel informed me that "low-jack" needed to be installed on the car and that I could come pick the car up the following Tuesday. I had my sister take me to Working Man's Tuesday afternoon, and they weren't finished installing the low jack and asked if I could come back later that afternoon. I told him that I would come back Wednesday.
On my way to Working Man's Wednesday, my other vehicle broke down on the way. While I was there Miguel took the Cadillac to get inspected and when he came back 2-3 hours later, he stated "the car wouldn't pass inspection due to the service engine soon light, and would need to be reset." (The computer) It was around three in the afternoon when Amy Morris (manager) requested to speak to me in her cubicle.
Amy asked if I could go to their other location to get the car's computer reset. She stated "they didn't have anything at the current location to reset it, but that the other location on Pond Springs in North Austin had." Amy gave me the directions to the North Austin location and I left. On my way the cars coolant temperature increased significantly and the car immediately overheated causing me to pull over with the car smoking and sputtering. I pulled into a gas station and called Working Man's and informed them on what had transpired.
I was told that someone would come and assist me. After several hours someone did show. It was the owner Lee Morris and another gentleman Roger Parsons. Mr. Morris put antifreeze and water in the car while Mr. Parsons cranked the car up to see if it still had overheating problems. Both inspected the hood looking for what they said were leaks. The temperature on the car was down to 160 or so. Mr. Morris asked me "what would you like to do Mike?" I asked him for a loaner vehicle until my car was repaired. He informed me that he couldn't do that due to "insurance reasons".
After that he asked if I would follow him to the North Austin location so I would know my way Friday morning since they were closed for the day. I agreed and followed Mr. Morris to the North Austin location. While we were there he asked if I would be driving the car much until Friday. I told him that I would be going up to Temple for Thanksgiving and that I had to work Thursday night in Taylor. He said "that's fine, just baby it a lil bit". I left the location and went home.
Thursday I went up to Temple and on the way back the coolant temperature in the car went up again. I pulled over and put water and more coolant in the car. I went to work that night from 11pm to 7am, and when I got off I immediately drove to the North Austin location where I sat for 4 hours waiting on my car to be repaired. The receptionist informed me that she was going to lunch and she had to "lock up the office". I went out to where my car was being worked on by the mechanic. I asked him if he had repaired my car and he said he "replaced the thermostat on the car, and couldn't find any leaks, and didn't know why it overheated". I sat in the car and he asked me to start the car up. I did and I noticed the coolant temperature was still somewhat high. I informed him of this, and he turned the heater on and said "oh its okay, it just needs to be reset, can you come back Monday morning to have it reset?"
Meanwhile the "service engine soon" light was still on. I agreed to come back Monday morning in hopes of finally getting my car repaired. I left the North Austin location around 1pm and headed home. On my way home the coolant temperature shot up, and the car sputtered, smoked, and stalled as I pulled it into an HEB parking lot in Pflugerville.
I called Working Man's and spoke with Miguel who asked me to "leave the keys in the car and we'll have someone to come and get it". I told Miguel that I didn't want to do that, (for fear that the car could easily be stolen) and I would either like my money back or would like a different vehicle. He told me he would call Mr. Morris and would call me back. I told him I was on a pay phone and the phone didn't take incoming calls. Miguel again asked me to leave the keys in the car. I told him "no, and that I would like to speak to Mr. Morris". Miguel told me that Mr. Morris was away on vacation. I told Miguel I would call him back in 30 minutes to find out what they were going to do about the car.
I called back exactly 30 minutes later and the receptionist informed me that Miguel was with a customer and "could he call me back?" I told her about the car breaking down and the pay phone and she told me to call Miguel back in 30 minutes. Frustrated, upset, disgusted, I hung up the phone. 30 minutes later I called Miguel back and angrily told him I wanted my money back, and I didn't want to deal with them. He asked where the car was and I told him. He again asked if I would leave the keys in the car and someone would come and get it.
I hung up the phone frustrated. I went to the car to check the coolant temperature and it was down to 170 degrees. I started the car and headed home which was about 5 miles north of my current location.By the time I got to my exit the coolant temperature had gotten up to 260 degrees and a "stop engine now" light appeared on the dashboard. I pulled into the apartment complex where I reside and parked the car. I called Working Man's and there was no answer. I had to get a ride to work Sunday night. I was off Monday, and Monday night Roger Parsons showed up with a flatbed tow, I took some things out of the car (personals) and he towed the car off.
I hadn't seen or driven the car since. During the past 40 days for the most part, I've called Working Man's daily asking about my car. When it would be repaired? Could I speak to Mr. Morris? Can I get another car? Could I get my money back? All were no's. Once I went to the location on Congress with a friend from work because Amy Morris informed me she would try to get me into another vehicle.
I showed up, she wasn't there, and told the receptionist via phone that Mr. Morris informed her that the car was being repaired and she (Amy) wouldn't be able to get me into another car. I left there upset that day and have grown extremely tired and angry with the whole situation. I haven't received a phone call from them; I haven't received any information regarding my car and have had to depend on a co-worker since, to get me back and forth to work. I've contacted the Better Business Bureau, the Attorney Generals office, and have yet to see any results. Working Man's is in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and I will mail them a letter informing them so Monday. They have taken advantage of me as a consumer due to my knowledge or lack thereof of vehicles.
I have missed out on several overtime opportunities due to me not having transportation to and from work. I have stressed and agonized over the whole ordeal. My blood pressure is up, I have frequent headaches which I haven't experienced before, and I have not been able to register for school this semester where I planned to major in Business Administration because I don't have a car. I only have so much time to enroll in school being that my Vocational Rehab Educational Assistance is only for so long after you get out of the military.
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