On March 3 my fiance and I went to Phillips Chevrolet in Frankfort IL to look at a vehicle we were interested in purchasing (a 2004 Infiniti G35). We drove to the dealership in one of the vehicles we planned on trading in (a 2000 Mercury Cougar).
We spoke with salesman, Matt Braley, who let us test drive the Infiniti we were interested in as they appraised our Cougar. When we came back we sat down with Matt and discussed making a deal. Matt told us he would give us $3,000 trade in value for the Cougar. I explained to Matt that I had another vehicle I was interested in trading in (a 2000 Pontiac Trans Am) that was in storage. Matt asked for the VIN number of the vehicle. I explained that I would like $15,000 for my trade in on this car. Matt told me that this was not possible as the Black Book value of the car was coming up less. I explained to Matt the reason I wanted more for it was because when I purchased it there were aftermarket things done to the vehicle that I felt made it worth more. I also explained to Matt that I had NO paperwork on this because I was not the one that had this work done to the vehicle, it had to have been a previous owner.
Since they could not give me what I wanted as a trade in on the Trans Am due to there being no paperwork on the aftermarket work done to the car, Matt ran some numbers of what it would cost to purchase the Infiniti with only the Cougar as a trade in. We told Matt we could not afford the offer he was giving us on top of the Trans Am loan payment we already have and that we would have to pass on the Infiniti. Because we were ready to walk out the door Matt told us let me see what my manager can do for you.
Matt came back to us with his Manager Henry Rhodes who introduced himself and offered to make us a better deal. Henry tells us he understands that the Trans Am is what is stopping us from making this purchase so he wants to help us out. Henry tells me he still can not give me the full $15,000 for my trade in on the Trans Am because there wasnt paper work stating the aftermarket work was done to the car, but could give me a trade in value of $10,000, which was enough money to pay the Trans Ams current loan off so we could walk out the door that night with the Infiniti.
Henry continued to ask us, repeatedly, Can we make this deal happen for you tonight? We explain to Henry that the Trans Am was in storage for the winter and that we would not be able to get it to the dealership that night, which he was fine with. Henry told us we can bring it in to the dealership anytime this week and that he is not concerned about it he just wants to get it paid off for us and off our hands so he can make this deal happen for us tonight. My fiance and I decided that since the Trans Am would be paid off, this would work for us and we would go with the deal to purchase the Infiniti on these terms.
We went over all the contracts and signed them along with the sales man and the finance officer and received my copies of the finalized signed paperwork (see attached). Everything is in writing and signed as a done deal. We transferred all our belongings out of the Cougar and into the Infiniti and we took it home with us that night.
On March 4th, I got my Trans Am out of storage. It needs the battery jumped because it had been in storage all winter long and had not been started. I call our original sales man Matt and explain the situation to him. Matt tells me this is fine and to bring it up to the dealer whenever its ready. Matt even told me that if I need a day or two, it would be fine as well. I wanted to get the trade in to them as soon as possible because I know that this is my end of the deal that I need to fulfill.
So I get the car jumped that evening and drive it to the dealership right away. My friend Kevin followed me in another vehicle so I could have a ride home. Kevin is also my witness that I gave the keys to the office appraiser at the dealership and that I explained to him that Matt was aware that the battery is acting up due to the car being in storage all winter.
The following day, on March 5th, the phone calls began from Matt and Henry from the dealership. They wanted to cancel the contract we signed and make a new one, giving me only $7,000 trade in value on my Trans Am or cancel the deal completely. It was never discussed or put in writing on the final contract that the dealership and I signed that they could change the appraisal of the Trans Am when I delivered it to them. All the contracts were set in stone the night I drove away with the Infiniti and now they want to change what they signed and agreed upon because they dont feel the Trans Am is worth what they were going to give me when we signed the paperwork.
I told them I do not wish to cancel my current contract and they called me constantly after that (at home and at my place of work) telling me that if I do not change the contract with them I have to return the Infiniti to them. Henry tried to scare me by stating that if we do not return the Infiniti they will come and repossess our trade in vehicles off their lot due to our payments going unpaid. They never planned on paying off our trade in vehicles that are financed through the Credit Union as stated in the contract. If they do not pay them, our payments will lapse causing our credit to be jeopardized. I was also told that they have not submitted any of my license plate transfer paper work with the state which is illegal.
A dealership can not let you leave the lot with the new vehicle without processing a transfer or new plate for the vehicle. Because of this we had to fight 1 ticket and got pulled over as well. But also fought that. I am honestly unsure if they have submitted any of our other paperwork to their loan company that will be financing us. I also purchased Gap Insurance through the dealership which was never processed as welll.
When I tried to explain to Henry that there is nothing in the contract stating that this deal was contingent upon appraisal of the Trans Am on delivery, Henry claims that I did sign something stating this. I told Henry he never gave me anything like this in the final paperwork they gave me and asked him to fax me a copy. Henry faxes me a copy of one of the papers Matt was scribbling on when he was discussing different figures with us when we were in the dealership discussing the car.
He falsified this document by scratching out all sorts of figures on it and then adding a hand written note that states the trade in value was upon appraisal of the Trans Am when it was delivered. This note was not on this scratch paper when he presented it to me at the dealership. This document isnt even the final deal prices we agreed upon and doesnt match the contract that was finalized and signed with the dealership and myself. Now that they are trying to falsify documents it has gotten to the point I quit calling the dealership back and decided to take action and filed a complaint with the Illinois Attorney Generals' office. And now that I don't return their calls they started to send me"fliers" at my place of work with hand written notes to "See Matt Braley. Also got calls from their head salesmand Mike Maheras claiming he was from collections at my place of work! Which is very fraudulent not to mention disrepectful to do to your customer at their place of work!
I had already cancelled the insurance policies on the Trans Am and Cougar and purchased new insurance for the Infiniti with our personal insurance company on top of the Gap Insurance we purchased from the dealer that we hope they processed. We have notified the state that we no longer own these vehicles due to trade in for emissions and we are in the process of trying to get a city sticker for the new car. I thought a signed contract was a legal done deal
We went to our Uncle who is a car sales man and with lawyers and they both informed us that what this Chevy dealership is doing is wrong and that we do not have to cancel our contract with them. They also informed us that it is illegal for them not to follow through with their end of the deal by not processing the paperwork as stated in our contract. They also informed me that it was illegal for them to get me to sign a blank odometer statement for the Trans Am as well. I did what I was suppose to as per the signed contract. I delivered the trade in vehicles stated on the contract, made my down payment of $500.00 by credit card and signed all the paperwork for financing the remaining amount owed on the bill of sale (which I confirmed with GMAC their loan company that I was approved for!).
Then 21 days into the deal they illegally call in a repo man to come take our car last night at 4am in the morning! They have the repo man tell us that GMAC financing called it in. Which would be impossible to us seeing our first payment isnt due for 45 days and nothing is due! Leaving us with no vehicle to get to work!!! So we missed out on a days work of pay because of them!!! We called the cops and filed a statement and then went to the Frankfort police only to have them tell us they get their cars from there and laugh in our faces.
Its terrible when your the "little guy" consumer and no one wants to help you do whats right cause of who everyone knows! We have been so stressed over this deal and its effecting our home and work life with their continuous harrassing and pressuring phone calls. We decided to contact the dealer and tell them to cancel the sale completely and we went and picked our trade in cars back up. Funny how my Trans Am was not worth anything. But when I get there and put a new battery in it. Starts up and works perfectly! Just the way it was when I drove it and dropped it off!
We were first time Chevrolet customers with this deal! We will NEVER purchase from this dealer or any Chevy dealer because of the way we were treated and the way our deal was handled. If scamming is their way to get customers so they can be #1 sales. Then can get those sales from someone else! Hopefully this being posted will also help other consumers before thinking about purchasing from them as well. A million dollar dealership is willing to hurt their own reputation and the respect from their customer over $3,000 is pretty pathetic!
Nicole B
Park Forest, Illinois
U.S.A.
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