It was during the week of Christmas in I was looking on the Ken Garff website to see what type of cars that I would be interested in purchasing. I found many that I thought I would qualify for being a first time buyer with little credit. So I e-mailed the special finance manager Mike Sexton and he emailed me back saying I was approved.
I was not really experienced in the auto buying process, with this being my first time. So I went to the dealership with my dad on the 23rd of December at around 10 am. At first Mike was really nice and he asked what model of vehicle I would be interested in, so I told him and so then he turned me over to his assistant sales person and Mike said that he would show me what I would be able to qualify for.
Well I was in for the BIGGEST surprise of my life, they had two rows of vehicles that were early to mid '90's vehicles all lined up that were dirty and most had big dents all over them and some had broken radio knobs and other various problems with them.
So the sales person was talking to me and my dad and we agreed to see what we could get if my dad co-signed with me. So Mike told use he was going to see what we could get approved for and off he went to the finance manager's office to talk to him.
So then me and my dad waited around for a few hours and he finally came back saying that he had a few vehicles that we qualify for, so I was thinking that Mike would show us a few vehicles that I saw previously on their website, boy was I wrong. One of the cars that we "qualified" for was a 2005 Chevy Aveo, and it was okay but there was no cd player or cruise control in it. I then asked the sales person to see what could be done about putting a cd player in it if I were to get it, he said that he would talk to Mike and let me know, then Mike told my dad and me that if we would like the salesman could take us to see the other vehicle we "qualified" for, so we had to get into this Aveo and he drove us around to a few of the other Ken Garff dealerships, I was getting bored and it was getting past 1 pm, so finally after the last dealership we stopped at, the salesman said that he could not find the car, how convenient.
So we went back to the West Valley dealership and we met Mike back there and he said that he will go and get the paperwork started for us, which we didn't want to do, but we felt like we had no saying in the matter. So Mike left and we waited around for about 20 minutes and then my dad said let's leave so we can get something to eat and also leave this deal that was about to get worse. Then when we got up to leave the salesman told us not to leave and that it would only take another 5 or so minutes for Mike to come back, we wanted to leave but he would not let us and then he gave us some bottle soda thinking that would make us feel better or something.
Then at about 4pm Mike came back showed us our monthly payment. It came up to be about $340 but he said that once he gets everything calculated he will give me the actual monthly payment. I then asked about the interest rate and the total amount financed and how long the loan term was. He never told me, he said that the finance manager would give even more details about that. He also said that I would have to come up with $1300 right then and there which I didn't have, so he told me that I could get some kind of check from my Credit Union, so I went there and got a check for $1000 and I then returned to the dealership and gave the salesman the check and $300 cash. He returned shortly after that with a receipt for the cash and he gave us the original check back. He told us to bring it back when we have the cash and then it will be destroyed.
So then Mike took me and my dad to the finance manager's office and he told us where to sign, not letting us in on any of the terms or anything like that. We tried to see it before we signed but he had most of it covered with other papers and so we did not want to sign any of it but then Mike Sexton walked in and told us that it would be okay to sign it and we were more or less forced into signing it.
Then when we finally got to leave, it was about 6pm, after the car was detailed, we then took the car and we went to go eat. We didn't really think anything about looking at the contract and such that we signed we were so hungry from not eating anything all day.
Then when we finally got home, which we live in Wendover Utah about two hours away, we looked at the contract. We then found out that we were forced into 23.99% APR with a term of 5 years and the total price of the loan coming to almost $22,000 for a cheap car that is not worth more than $9,000.
Then the next day, the 24th, we drove all the way back the the dealership and arrived there at about 10 am, found Mike Sexton and told him that we did not want the car because of the monthly price for such a little cheap car and also the ridiculous interest rate. Then Mike told us in an ignorant attitude to wait while he talked to his manager. We got sick of his attitude and we just left the dealership and the Aveo there as well.
A few days later he wrote us a nasty letter stating that we HAVE TO come back and get the car and that also the check we gave the salesman but was given back to us was taken out of my checking account. But Mike Sexton didn't scare me and my dad, we took the check back to my Credit Union and cancelled it and we eventually got a letter from the company that was supposed to finance us stating that we did not get approved so we would've ended up taking the car back anyways.
Then there was this separate company that goes through Ken Garff that handles the down payment agreements, I am not sure what ou would call then, and they called us saying we owe $1,000 to Ken Garff. My dad told that company about what happened that day of the car scam and how we were denied the loan.
So now all we are waiting for is to get the $300 back from Ken Garff, it will be coming to almost two months now and we have not received any calls or letters from either company. Just like most major companies, they want their money now but if it your money then you have to wait a long time to even hear anything let alone get you money back.
The only thing I recommend is just to stay away from all Ken Garff and Mark Miller dealerships as both are owned by the same company. Very bad business and also a company that enjoys taking advantage of someone young and inexperienced.
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