We were looking to buy a new car. There was a Ford Partner Program thru work that would offer us a discount on a new car. We used the internet to search one of the dealer's listed in that offer which was David Stanley. We registered on the internet on April 20th (and were notified that if we asked for Rhayme or Jordan in internet sales we would receive $500 off). Never happened.
We went in Saturday, April 21 Asked for Jordan -I asked him about Ford Partner Program and he said he didn't know anything about it and so didn't think they participated. So much for new car so he moved on.
We wanted 3 row seats - van or SUV. Told him we did not want previous fleet or rental owned vehicle. If I wanted fleet -I could buy one from our used cars from the fleet at work (but they are only in white). He showed us an Explorer - he said was about 18,000 tricked out Eddie Bauer 2003 — we didn't like it. Then he showed us an Expedition with a big warranty sticker AS IS (the AC wasn't working - just needed to be charged he said) we hated it.
Looked at a 2004 Ford Expedition that was OK and the hard sales pitch happened. First he couldn't find the keys then hem haws around on the price and says he thinks it's around 20,000. I asked if it was a fleet or rental and he says no, he thought it was one owner. It turns out to be a fleet/rental vehicle. We still owed $2400 on our van - the reseller mgr comes in and tells me that my transmission was going out (I had it looked at by a mechanic prior to see what it would cost to have it in like new condition - my throttle stuck, nothing wrong with tranny) and he couldn't get us but what was owed on it.
I said $3500 was minimum for trade in - then he said no and we said goodbye. He tells us he's going to have to cheat his reseller by dumping my transmission problem van on him and hope he doesn't notice.
Then they send me to Colton the finance manager. We had arrived at 10:00 A.M.By this time it was noon— he goes round and round about financing (and true we aren't the best credit worthy people). I didn't know it but during this time they did over 12 credit inquiries on my credit bureau history - I dropped 30 credit points in one day.
They told my husband his highest rating was 650 and that they would be able to get us on 15.99% interest. He pulls out a piece of white paper with markers and writes down disability and claims that we have to have disability (I ask if that's credit life and asked him if it was required) he ignored me.
He then tells us about gap insurance and of course the extended warranty. The great thing is, it's included in our price. He first quoted a payment of like $615 or around there, he marks thru it and says thru Wells Fargo he can get it to $605.
Those are the only numbers written on there and he has us initial it. He mentioned about a guy disputing what he quoted on the payment before and that he's pulled that paper out and showed the guy. Should have tipped us off huh. We initialed it and although I asked for a copy - none was given. I understand now that I am protesting the terms - he has filled in amounts next to disability, gap and warranty as if he disclosed originally, and of course the paper has our signature. He told my husband and I it was already included in the vehicle price which lead us to believe it was included in the 20,000 something price.
Oh no. He keeps stalling and leaving the room talking about how hard it is to find a lender and by now it's 2:00 P.M. And I have to go leave and go get my daughter who spent the night with a friend. I bring her back to the dealership. All 3 of us are hungry by then, 5 hours is a little long to be cramped up in a little office with Colton running in and out.
He finally starts printing out the paperwork and starts handing to my husband saying initial here here and sign then you sign mary, as soon as I sign he takes it back and pulls out more papers and does the same thing. Then he starts tearing paperwork off stapling together telling me I have to give him an undated check for $1000 cause we're required to put more money down but he'll give us 30 days to come up with it but I have to write the check and leave the date blank so that Wells Fargo will finance it.
We did that. He folds up our paperwork puts it in an envelope staples his business card takes my van hands us the keys to the Expedition and says thanks for the business.
We left - went and ate, etc. I really didn't start looking at the paperwork until Sunday - there were charges I knew nothing about there was a $199 charge for VIN number ETCH - never happened never authorized by me. The gap insurance was $700, the disability (or as they call it on the retail installment agreement accident and health was $2633. The extended warranty was $3000.
We had just purchased what we thought was a 20,000 Expedition for $27481.10 (minus the post dated check and remaining $1050 trade in) with finance charge (based on 15.99% of $15,473.19 for a period of 70 payments for a grand total of $45,004.29.
So basically we started really looking at the papers. The Purchase Agreement had $22790 cash price on it with a $199.00 Protection Plus on it? There's also an ACC Purchased of $199.00 and Processing Fee of $199.00 and less the trade in and everything else it shows a purchase price of $21,138.00. The Retail Installment Sales Contract shows a CASH Price (including accessories of $22989, and then adds all those extra charges in to come up with a financed amount of $27481.10.
The disability insurance is Credit Life - and I know we aren't required to take it. I started calling on Tuesday the number on Colton's card. No one calls me back - I go directly to voicemail. I'm not overly concerned at this time. Then on Thursday (April 25 I get a voicemail from Citifinancial stating they are going to finance the deal but need add'l info - I call get voicemail and leave a message). Friday April 26, I get a voicemail from Colton and from Emma at Citifinancial regarding additional info needed.
I call and leave messages for both. I call on Saturday and leave messages for Colton. Monday morning (April 30) Emma from Citifinancial reaches me stating they purchased the financing and need add'l employer info on Shannon.
So it's been 9 days, my van has been sent off somewhere for resale, I've already got insurance on this expedition showing Wells Fargo as the lienholder, I have the company that financed the van calling me about the next payment and they know nothing about David Stanley paying off the lien. I tell Emma that we don't want the credit life whether it's called disability or not - and we disagree with some other financed items. She tells me to call the dealership immediately and tell them. As soon as I hang up Colton calls stating he needs my hubbies work number to complete the financing.
He tells me Wells Fargo backed out and the only person that could finance it for 15.99 is Citifinancial. I ask him about all the other stuff and told him I'd left messages for a week - he tells me he had 47 messages and hadn't had time to answer them all. I had a letter and BBB and AG and FTC complaint prepared to send to the General Manager Todd Ritz. Colton says no fax to me. I do — no word from him Monday or Tuesday - although I continue to leave messages.
Weds. I fax all my information the discrepancies, etc to Todd Ritz - only person calling me is Brian with Fleet Dept. (it comes to his fax machine) he promises to take it to general manager and to have him call me. I call and leave 2 messages after I get home for GM - no call back.
There is an arbitration clause in the agreement so I start arbitration proceedings and fax over. Brian calls me and says that Todd has handed the paperwork to general counsel Tobey Flowers and gives me his contact information. I call Tobey, he is at one of the other dealerships and knows nothing about my problems - I explain the issues. He says he'll pull my sales jacket and look at it and talk to the reps. He calls me back this afternoon and tells me that all the paperwork was in order, the blank paper we initialed did include a breakdown in prices and the GM says nothing they can do about it.
In the meantime I have contacted CapitalOne Autoloan - and filled out an ap. They will finance me for 12.95% (even though David Stanley sent my app to them because they showed up as reviewing my credit on the 21st in the 12 lenders that inquired. Another lie from Colton. So I'm sitting here with a 40,000 Expedition, my van is still not paid off as of today, I have been called a liar by the GM stating I never asked about the parner program nor did I say anything about not wanting vehicle or fleet owned car. I'm a liar all the paperwork (after all my discrepancy complaints is supposedly correct and of course Colton states everything was above board and explained throughly, after all we did sign and initial - after 5 hours.
So BUYER BEWARE. I'm not giving up and will keep fighting this but if you buy from David Stanley - be sure you get everything in writing and mark out that darned arbitration clause - oh in addition - my $40,000 expedition - the 12 volt outlets (2 in the front and one in back) one is broken and two down't work. Buyer beware.
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