March 17
I drove into HK Auto Finance located at 5705 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32807 (ph. 407-381-2220) on March 17 in the early afternoon. I came in to test drive cars. My intention was to trade in the 2003 Chrysler Sebring Convertible I was currently driving. I spoke with Christian % and the manager, (Hisham Benani (sp?). Hisham advised me that the convertible was upside down and I could not trade it in for what I owe on it. The bank would not give me the loan.
He said all he could do was sell me the 2005 Audi A4 and I would have to sell the Sebring individually to try and get what I owe on it, which I told him that day was around $9,000. I told him Thank you, but we can't do business, because I cannot afford two car payments (even for the time that it would take to sell the convertible individually). The monthly payment on the Sebring is $315. The monthly payment on the Audi is $376, totaling $691 / month in car payments. My salary cannot afford that. I made that perfectly clear to Hisham that day.
He then made me an offer. The offer was that he would clean up and sell the Sebring on his lot before my first Audi payment was due (45 days from March 17; May 1), with the complete understanding that I needed around $9,000 to pay off the car. He said it was no problem and that he sells so many (I don't recall the exact number he used) cars every month and that I have nothing to worry about. He was doing it as a favor to me. The offer sounded like a great idea at the time.
He made me believe (promised and gave me his word) that he would have it sold and not to worry about it. I still continued to question him for a good hour about the offer: Are you sure you can get what I owe on it ($9,000)? I cannot afford two car payments. Are you sure you can sell it before the first payment is due?
He not only promised me that he would do what he offered, but he made me feel like I should not be questioning him. That I'm offending him by assuming he was lying or not capable of keeping his word. He got me to believe him after a good hour's worth of discourse. There were several witnesses. Christian % being one of them.
I gave him $2,000 as a down payment for the Audi and he took the Sebring from me.
March 18
I called Hisham to give him the pay off amount of the Sebring ($9,243.45). He acted as if he was being burdened by my call and reassured me that I had nothing to worry about. He would sell the car and to stop worrying.
March 24 - April 25
I called four times and left a message with Hishams secretary (female) to have him call me back with the status of the Sebring. None of my calls were returned. On a separate occasion, I called when Hisham happened to be there, so I was able to get him on the phone. When he realized that it was me on the other line, he immediately put me on hold. He returned about 2-3 minutes later. I asked for a status on the Sebring. He said he only had one person come in interested and they only offered $6,000, so he never called me about it. I told him that the first payment was due soon and he was making me very nervous not having sold it already. He asked if the bank was giving me problems. I told him not yet, but they will be soon. He then said he could call the bank and that I should give them my car and foreclose on it. I asked him if that would mess up my credit. He answered only for one year. I told him I did not want to give my car to the bank and mess up my credit. He said he would move the Sebring to his other lot and see if it will sell there.
I soon realized after that call, that he was lying and that something was going on that he didn't want me to know about.
April 27
I called HK and asked for Christian. When I got him on the phone, I said I was coming to pick up the car to sell it myself since Hisham hadn't sold the car like he said he was going to. I already had to make the first payment towards the Audi and the April payment for the Sebring. I could not wait any longer for the car to be sold.
When I arrived, I saw the Sebring conveniently parked out front with the top down. I went in to the dealership, spoke with Christian, and he gave me the keys to the Sebring. Rob Ali, a good friend, was present with me at this time. He was with me to help drive the Sebring back to the house. When I got into the Sebring, I noticed the car stereo had been ripped out of the dashboard and the air conditioning did not turn on.
Also, the car was never cleaned up as promised. It looked even dirtier than it did when I left it with Hisham 6 weeks earlier. I realized he had no intention of selling the Sebring. He just wanted to sell me the Audi, and would say anything to get it sold.
I immediately went back into the dealership to complain. Hisham walked to my car to see for himself that the stereo was missing, then asked me if there was a stereo in the Sebring when I dropped it off to him. I told him of course there was a stereo! Hisham offered to send me a check for $150 for the price of the stereo. He told me to write down my name and address and he would mail the check to me. I was appalled and very upset at this point. Nobody wanted to accept blame, nor help me. Rob Ali came into the dealership and spoke with Hisham. Also present were other employees, including Christian %.
We spoke about him not selling the car like he promised he would and me now having to deal with a car that has been damaged on his lot. I also asked him why he had been avoiding me and not returning my calls. He claimed that he never received the messages from his secretary.
After talking for about 15 minutes. Christian stated you made a mistake (by buying the car from us). Which meant we screwed you, now you have to deal with it. Hisham asked what he could do to satisfy us, we responded that he should have to either pay for the price of the car, or pay the monthly payments of the car until it is sold. Hisham then stated that he would call the police on us and charge us with trespassing on his property. Mr. Ali told them what they were doing was very wrong and they would hear from an attorney.
After getting the Sebring home, I also noticed (when the top was put up) there was a gash in the canvas top that went all the way through. I could see the sky from the inside of the car. There is no way I can sell a car with no stereo, no air conditioning and a hole in the roof. Hisham knew this. He had no intentions of selling my car. Especially, when it was destroyed on his lot.
I wish to expose this business and the manager for what they are - frauds.
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