My advice to anyone considering Drive Time. NEVER, EVER be late... Not even one day!!!
I had an unfortunate circumstance where I had to go out of state for a funeral-my aunt passed away. Honestly, my finances are tight. My payment was due right before I left. I called and told them I would be a day late, and got a lecture. The day that I was supposed to go in and pay, I found out that my aunt passed away. I stuffed some things into a suitcase, got the neighbor to watch the animals, and off I went on a 14 hour road trip. I used my payment money to get to the funeral.
I got back into town, and the repo guy had been calling the clubhouse manager of the condos where I live, wanting to take the truck. I called him back, and he told me he wasn't allowed to accept payment, that they wanted the truck back.
This was the first payment I had been late on-so I called the dealership. They told me to come up and talk to one of the "managers"-and told me they wanted the truck.
I went to talk to this manager-she was in a closed door meeting at the time with another employee. They were in a glass office-the cashier called her and told her I was there to see her-she took almost an hour to get to me. The two ladies in the glass office kept staring at me, one with dirty looks. Then they emerged, and the lady I talked with went to her manager, or that's who he claimed to be.
To make a long story short, they told me that I may not be able to keep my truck, even though I guaranteed the one late payment and the next one that was due. This is the kicker:
they are demanding documentation that my aunt died... Like I'm some wayward infant. They completely humiliated me. I kept explaining my situation, and they are still telling me that they can't guarantee I can keep the truck. I think they believe that just because my credit is subprime, I deserve to be humiliated and treated like a 2-year old. I felt like a scolded child who was completely helpless while the two "managers" sat there and browbeated me for 30 minutes. It was all I could do not to bust out crying.
They didn't seem at all satisfied until I told them that if I ever had to make that choice again, I would not go to a funeral of a close one.instead, I would make that payment-the hell with my family.
They are telling me it is up to corporate to determine if I can keep the vehicle. When I talked to corporate yesterday, they told me that it is up to the dealership.
I am being given 24 hours to produce whatever documentation they deem necessary to prove my aunt died. I wonder if they can exhume my aunt's body and get the DNA??? Wonder if that's what they'll ask for next...
I've been lucky-the vehicle I bought is actually in good condition and very nice. From what I've heard, not everyone has been lucky. Most of us go to this type of dealership for the same reason-our credit is messed up. They need to learn to treat people with dignity. I really can't believe that they are making me go through all of this. I'm ready to just tell them to come get the truck, rather than having to endure another verbal spanking from anyone at that dealership who thinks it is necessary.
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