I bought a 2004 Dodge Neon from Drivetime, Long Beach on August 21. On September 22 at 11:30 pm, I was on my way home from picking up my daughter from work, we pulled into a 7-11, she went in, bought what she needed, got back in the car and we proceeded to leave and the car DIED. It just stopped - I lifted the hood, it wasn't the battery because everything else was still working, radio, etc. Tried to get it started for over an hour and a half when finally, we gave up. I made arrangements with 7-11 to not have it towed because I would be back in the morning. I called a taxi to pick us up and take us home, it was now about 1230 - 1 in the morning. At 5 am that morning, I called a tow service and they towed the car back to my place for 65.00 dollars, it was now about 615 am. I start my first job at 715 am every morning, unfortunately I was unable to make it in on this morning. At about 11 am I called the salesperson that helped me in purchasing the car, told her what had happened and she gave me the number to the Long Beach repair shop. I called the number, told the woman what had happened and she told me that a) I would have to have my car towed to them b) they would NOT be able to "LOOK" at it until THURSDAY c) if they could not get to it on Thursday, then MAYBE by SATURDAY since they were really busy. I told her that was unacceptable, that I had to take the day off work already and that I could NOT take another day off on Thursday for a MAYBE, that I needed a solution TODAY. She then said "well, you could try the Montrose location" so I said "give me the number" I called Montrose, a very nice guy answered, I told him the situation and he said "lady, I don't know if you realize how much it will cost you in towing alone to get down to were I am, it will be expensive" I said well I need my car and he suggested that I call drivetime's customer service and complain that they need to take better care of their customers. I told him I would. But in the meantime, my boyfriend had AAA tow the car to his mechanic and take a look, it was the fuel pump. This mechanic said that it was odd that a car so new with so little mileage have this problem. We asked the mechanic to keep the car there until I find out what drivetime is going to do. So, I called their customer service dept and I told my story to a woman there and I also told her that I had a mechanic near me who said he could fix the problem and perhaps that they could reimburse me if I had him do the work because I REALLY NEEDED MY CAR. I could not wait another day. I work 2 jobs and could not afford for a car i just bought to break down. She put me on hold and said let me see what I can do. After being on hold for LITTERALLY, 22 minutes, she said that unfortunately Drivetime does not reimburse their customers and that I could bring the car in on Monday but with no guarantee that they could even get to it. I told her again that would not do and she put me on hold AGAIN and then WE GOT DISCONNECTED. She did not even call back. I had no choice, it was now 230pm - so - I told my mechanic to go ahead and fix the car, it was the fuel pump and it cost me 489.00. My mechanic gave me the part (the old fuel pump) and said see if you can file a claim against them, this should not have gone out so soon. This all happened on the day that payment was due for the car. This was a Friday, first thing Monday morning I got a call from the GENERAL Manager at drivetime about my late payment, I told him the whole story and he said he could give me a later date to pay, 10 days but I would still have to pay - and only after I faxed him the receipt from the mechanic as proof. So, I did fax it to him with a letter asking that I be reimbursed, of course I got no response from him but did get a call the NEXT Day from another person asking why I was late. My intention was always to pay off this car but I think there is something so wrong about having to shell out almost 500 dollars for SOMETHING THAT WAS AND IS COVERED IN MY WARRANTY because of their bad customer service; they are great when you are buying the car but not when something goes wrong. Today I am making a payment of 400.00, and I resent it. Of course someone called me this morning to make sure to have it in the office BY TODAY.
I want to know if there is anything i can do about getting my money back. Or if i should just give up the fight.
Juanita
north hollywood, California
U.S.A.
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