Hillside Honda
Credit scam, bait and switch car sales

We went in to lease a new 2009 Honda Pilot. After initial test drive, we negotiated a monthly rate for 36 months with 2000USD down and signed a lease order after paying a deposit.

We were given the impression that our credit has already been checked and the negotiations were based on the credit scores. We also offered to hand out our current paystubs as proof of employment and income. The answer was that they did not need it and we should go ahead and insure the vehicle with the VIN number on the lease order that we have signed and the manager has accepted.

The next day we have received a call notifying us that we were not approved with the terms and conditions agreed upon in writing on the approved lease order. However, we were offered a base model of the same vehicle, which we did not accept as the features were very different and the price was almost 5000USD less than the car that we agreed upon.

The next offer by the finance manager Noah Ali was to put "a couple of thousands more" down as downpayment. When we asked the sales executive that was acting as "Mr. Ali's messenger"- since Mr. Ali did not have even a minute to speak with us over the phone, however, miraculously invited us to go to the dealership to speak with him face to face - what the terms were and despite our efforts to find out what are the "new" proposed terms, we have been told that they could not discuss these matters over the phone but they could work out something if we go the dealership, which is an obvious part of a bait and switch sales tactic.By saying "there is something wrong with your credit" they tried to make us think that it was our fault, but knowing that my personal credit score is in the mid 700's that was certainly not the case.

I insisted to know what it meant that I have not been approved but yet I would be approved in case i chose to go to the dealership!!! I was told that I would be approved for a lower base model or for the same car with a higher downpayment and monthly rates. I still insisted to know what those terms would be, in order to decide whether or not to accept them and in case I accept them to be able to go to the dealership prepared (with the required amount of money) as they preferred cash. I did not want to waste 3-4 hours of my precious time and carry an undisclosed amount of money with me at their whim, especially not knowing why I was denied for one car and approved for another with a slight difference in the cars value.

I have not received any answer as Mr. Noah Ali refused to spare a couple of minutes of his time to explain the situation. When I asked what the terms would be if I agreed to put 5000USD down, miraculously Mr. Ali send a message through his messenger that he would call me.

An hour later we received a call from Mr. Ali, who happens to be one of the most unprofessional, rude, and belligerent persons I have ever dealt with!!! He told me that I was not approved, but then he told me that I would get approved if I come to the dealership. I again asked about the terms of the proposed deal.in return, I received the answer: "Do you know what is on your credit report?!" And I said, yes I do, and according to the Fair Isaac Law, I should be informed why I was turned down and i should be notified in writing by mail. His answer to that was, "well you have been denied but you have been approved for something else!" I asked how can I be approved for something else when I did not apply for anything else. He was not listening until that moment, and he got very confrontational and wanted to know if I am going to go there with 5000USD or more in cash or not! I told him that I did not want to go there without knowing the terms, upon which he got furious and said "Then don't come!" and hung up on me!

After all this aggravation, I thoroughly examined all the documents that Hillside Honda gave me. The computer print out that they gave me with the VIN number as a part of the lease order was for the top of the line fully loaded with leather, etc.instead of admitting that they made a mistake on the agreement they signed and accepted, they chose to lie and said that there was a problem with my credit score. Since they have checked my credit for this incomplete transaction, my credit score is negatively affected with no benefits on my side. Hillside Honda Liars liars liars!!!

Don't fall for their tricks now your credit score before going in and don't fall for the bait and switch.

Company: Hillside Honda
Country: USA
State: New York
City: JAMAICA
Address: 139-07 Hillside Ave
Phone: 7186577810

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