Letter to Attorney General:
Dear Attorney General:
I am writing in regards to a car that I purchased on May 4, from Sexton Ford in Moline, Illinois. I test drove the car on May 3rd with Chuck Henry, salesperson from Sexton Ford, and a friend of mine, Diane Chester. The car is a 2002 Ford Taurus, vin number 1FAHP56S82G112095.
The car was a previously owned vehicle and had only 826 miles on it. My friend, Diane Chester, asked Chuck Henry about the reason that the car had so low mileage and had been returned. He replied to her that the previous owner was not happy with the color and since it had been titled it had to be sold as a used vehicle. I, Mark Henderson, did not hear him say the reason for the return of the car.
We negotiated a price for my Millennia and were in the process of negotiating the purchase of the 2002 Taurus. They could not meet my specific requirements and I left with my friend, Diane.
The next morning, I received a call from Chuck Henry stating that they had negotiated a better deal for my Millennia and the 2002 Taurus. I went to the dealership with another friend, Wayne Wilmes and my son, Bryce Henderson. My friend, Wayne, was speaking to the dealer, Chuck, while I was in negotiating the price of my car and the 2002 Taurus. My friend asked him why the car had been returned with so low of mileage and again, Chuck Henry stated that the previous owner did not like the color. Both of my friends had told me what Chuck had said to them. I then purchased the 2002 Taurus.
Nine hours and 72 miles later, the car stalled and the engine died. I had to have the car towed back to Sexton Ford. I spoke with a service writer on Mon. May 6th. He said that they would look at the car and they would call me back. I did not receive a call back so I called them on Tues., May 7th at noon. I then spoke to the service writer again and was told that they would have to replace the engine and that they would have to order a new engine. I was given a loaner car.
Three weeks later on May 24th, I picked up my 2002 Taurus; it had 969 miles registered on the odometer.
Matt Hayes, a representative from the State Farm Insurance Company, contacted me on June 7 at 4:15pm at my place of employment. He informed me that State Farm needed to do an inspection of my Taurus as it had been in an accident and a claim had been placed with State Farm. Sexton Ford had completed the collision repair. Matt stated that the damage was over $8000 and that the inspection was needed to insure that the repair work was completed correctly.
I then informed Matt that I did not know that the car had been in an accident and that no one at Sexton Ford had informed of any previous damage to the car. I then spoke with my attorney, Mark Tarnow, on Mon., June 10th before the inspection of the Taurus by State Farm. He advised me that I should contact the Attorney General's office and advise them that I might have a case of consumer fraud.
The inspection took place on the 10th of June, where the inspector discovered some welds that had been shoddily fixed. He told me that Matt Hayes would be contacting me with any other information. That same day, I called the Attorney General's office and spoke with a representative from that office. She informed me that in the state of Illinois, a dealership must inform the buyer if the damage to the car is over 16% of the value of the car. The 2002 Taurus was valued at $21,995. That is over 36% of the selling price of the car. She asked me if I wanted to pursue this matter and that she would send me the proper paper work to complete.
That evening of June 10th, I called Chuck Henry and informed him that the driver's door was not closing properly and would need to be adjusted. I also stated to him that I knew that the reason for the door not closing properly might have been due to the fact that the car had been in an accident and received over $8000
worth of damage. He said that I would need to contact the body shop manager to have the door looked at. I told him that I was extremely unhappy with Sexton Ford for not informing me of the damage the car had received. I also told him that I would be contacting the body shop manager.
The next morning, the body shop manager contacted me and stated that I would be contacted from State Farm for an inspection of my vehicle. He also stated that the car had been in an accident with the previous owner and the previous owner was in a lawsuit with State Farm. I informed him that State Farm had contacted me the previous week and the inspection was already completed. Sexton Ford then contacted me on June 14th to have the vehicle brought in for State Farm to do a further inspection.
On Monday, June 17th, I contacted Matt Hayes from State Farm to ask him about the further inspection. He told me that they needed no further inspection and if I chose to have it inspected further I was able to do that through Sexton Ford.
I apologize for the lengthy letter but I wanted you to have the facts and the timeline. I am angry that a dealership in the state of Illinois could be so dishonest and not inform the consumer that the vehicle had been damaged to such an extent. It seems to me that fraud was committed and I am asking you for your help.
The second part of your consumer complaint form asks for what form of relief I am seeking. I wish to be treated fairly and wish to have a car that was not damaged. I feel that Sexton Ford should be held accountable for this and make this right with me.
Mark
Davenport, Iowa
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