Landers Ford Lincoln Mercury
Unethical Sales Tactics

RE: 2004 Suzuki Verona
VIN# KL5VM52L84B115282
STOCK# 4B115282

On 11-15-08 I inquired about a 2004 Suzuki Verona via internet & was contacted by salesman Derrick Lynn Mitchell (Salesman #2715), who told me that he could get me in the car for no money down and sales tax paid.

I went to the dealership on 11-17-08 and completed the basic paperwork and then printed out a bank statement from Mr. Mitchell's computer and printer & gave it to him. He then asked me for my debit card & when I inquired why he needed it, he said "I just want to see if it will "hold" $500. I asked what that meant and he said that he just wanted to see if it would hold $500 & no money would come from my acct.

I warned him that he had a bank statement that clearly showed only $230 in the accout & he said no problem. Another gentlemen then asked for my card & when I asked him why, he also stated that it was to see if it would "hold" $500. I was then taken to a back office and the gentleman swiped the card, I entered my pin# & he printed out 2 receipts & gave me one. I again asked Derrick Mitchell what was going on & he stated that everthing was okay and no money had come out of my accout.

I then went into the Finance Officer's office & completed more paperwork & afterwards he asked me for $500. I told him that I didn't have $500 because Derrick Mitchell said I didn't need a down payment. He then left the room & returned a few minutes later & said the down pmt was "taken care of". When I came out of the Finance Officer's office, I aksed Derrick Mitchell what the $500 on the invoice was for & he replied that it was just something to put on there so it would look like a down payment was made. I was also concerned whey I didn't get the car at the internet price of $9799, & was told by Derrick Mitchell that he couldn't get for me at that price.

I then drove the car home. When I attempted to make a purchase the following day, my debit card was declined & I immediately went to my computer at work to check my balance & it showed that my acct was indeed debited for $500, even though I was told no money was coming out of my acct.

I contacted Mr. Mitchell, who said he didn't know that it would debit my account & would have the manager reverse the debit. He then offered to "loan" me $200 which I refused. I was then contacted by manager Dave Cerutti, who, to my dismay, said that I was clearly told that the money was coming out of my acct. I replied that I would never have made a $500 debit with only $230 in my acct. He later refunded $200 and redid the paperwork but would not reverse the debit.

This unethical sales tactic cost me my whole paycheck, which was consumed in overdraft & insufficient fund fees & still left me $166.00 in unpaid fees. I have not been able to afford my medication, the sales tax for the vehicle, & my utilities were almost shut off. To my knowledge, no action has been taken against Derrick Lynn Mitchell, even after I spoke to the Owner, Mike McKee, who seemed to be a little amused about the situation.

This sales tactic was set up to make it look like I willingly debited my acct for $500 knowing full well that I had only $230 but I was actually lied to and tricked into making this debit. As a matter of fact, the only thing I did was put in my Pin# and they put in the amount of $500. I don't know what lie Derrick Mitchell is telling but my stand is that no car is worth the cost of knowingly entering a $500 debit with only $230 in my bank accout. I really believe that this was an unethical sales tactic and everybody at the dealership is sticking to the lie that Derrick Mitchell has thought up.

Company: Landers Ford Lincoln Mercury
Country: USA
State: Arkansas
City: Benton
Address: 19501 I-30
Phone: 5013154700

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