January 198 my husband and I walked into KIA Central in Lewisville, Texaswe were just looking aroundin about an hour we were signing a contractI had a new car! The optima. It was so cool, and we were so excitedand wow! How easy was that?!!
As we were leaving, in this new car, with no insurance, I asked about a copy of the contract. That would be mailed to us in a few days, and we could come pick up the plates for the car in a few days also. We thought that was odd that we did not get a copy, but who cares about that? We have a new carand off we went.
We had put a 91 Ford van up as our down payment. And that was all. No out of pocket cash. Our payments would be $517.00 a month though.
We took the van to KIA the next day, as we promised we would.
A few days later, we picked up the other key to the Optima.
A few days later, we had the windows tinted on the car. Still, though. No plates, and no copy of the contract.
28 days later. The finance guy callsPlease come down and re-sign some papers no big deal. I did not make it down there that day. Or the next. But they were not pushy about it. Did not seem to be a big deal. I finally made it to KIA Friday afternoon. February 15I asked to see Nick, the finance guy. But was told he was off work today. I had just talked to him that day, telling him that I would be there today. The receptionist said let me see. He is really here but does not normally see anyone on his day off. I waited and waited for Nick to come out. He never did. But a man I had never seen before came out. I was now in a rush to get back home in time to pick my kids up from school. When he told me that car is not going anywhere! Where is Nick?! It was not my car after allWhere is Nick?! The VIN number on the contract does not match the one on the carI had the wrong carWhere the hell is Nick??!! I stood there with my mouth hanging open. Looking at the car. And trying to figure out how could I have drove home in a different car than the one I had picked out. How dumb do I look? THAT is the car I picked out. Where is my salesman?! THAT is the car I boughtWhere is the salesman??!! In tears now, I called my husband, and told him that they wont give me my car, they took it away from me. He came to the dealership. And the VIN number on the paper plates, with my name on them. And the VIN number on the sticker on the windshield were the same. But this guy towering over me was telling me that the VIN number on the CONTRACT was different. So let me see the contract we signed, oh. Where is that contract, by the way..?
"WE CANT FIND IT!" If he cant find the contract, how does he know the VIN number is wrong? But okthen, where is the car i actually bought? Oh. "we cant find that either!" so what now? Who cares?"You are not driving that car anywhere!" We cleaned our things out of our new car, that we had been driving for 28 daysand went home. Leaving the Optima there. We were promised that our van and a check reimbursing us for the tint would be there the next day, Saturday, February 16. We did not go to KIA the next day though. Today is Sunday, February 17. I want my car back. We signed a contract. I have insurance!
I should mention that our salesman did manage to find me. We sat in his office for about 30 minutes, while he tried to get us financed for the Optima. AGAINsilly us. We thought we already had been financed because we signed a contract! I keep wondering. What if he had? He did get the ok to finance us for a cheaper car though. If we had liked this cheap (and I do mean cheap) looking car, what would we do? Sign anothere meaningless contract? What good is that? I thought a contract was legal bindingthat once signed, you are obligated from that point on. And if you break a contract, (breach of contract), you are going to hell. But not with KIAits just a dumb piece of paper.
We spotted Nick. He continued to ignore us. Pretending we were not there. He would not even glance our way
KIA should not be in business. I don't understand how a business can continue to break the law, and stay in business.
That's my story
April
Lake Dallas, Texas
U.S.A.
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