On Saturday Dec 27th I visited Keith Hawthorne Mazda In Gastonia to see about a pre-owned Vehicle. I spoke with Devron (the sales manager) and told him I was interested in an SUV however I felt my credit might be an issue. He put me with salesperson Fred Dee. Fred allowed me to test drive a preowned vehicle while my credit was being checked. When we returned from the test drive, I was asked to fill out some paperwork. The Finance Manager came and spoke with me with my credit report in hand. He told me that there was a couple of blips on the report but believed they could work with it.
I continued to fill out the paperwork and was then approached by Fred Dee again. Fred told me he could put me in a newer vehicle with lower payments. I then test drove a 2008 Mazda Tribute. Fred told me the vehicle was a 6 cylinder and had a 6 disk changer inside which I later found out were both lies. The vehicle was a 4 cylinder and had a single cd player. I found this out after I took the vehicle home. Neither issue was a big deal to me because I did like the vehicle.
After the test drive, I went back into the dealership and we agreed on a payment. Fred Dee then asked for my insurance information. I gave him the info and he proceeded to contact my insurance company. The Mazda Tribute was placed as a 2nd vehicle on my policy right then and there. I also wrote out a check for 1300.00 as a down payment. I then went and seen Mike (not sure of the last name). Mike had my contract drawn up as well as all remaining documentation needed for purchasing a vehicle.
Terms and everything was set and I went home with my vehicle and paperwork in hand. On Friday Jan 2nd I was contacted by Floyd Perry (another sales person) and was told they needed a co-signer on my loan. I told him that I was not getting a co-signer and asked why I was sent home with a signed contract and the vehicle without proper financing. All I received as an answer was "I'm sorry" He told me he would contact me later.
On Monday Jan 4th I called Devron and asked him if he knew what was going on. He said no but would call me back later that day. I never heard another word until I received a call from Floyd Perry on Wednesday Jan 7th. He told me there was nothing they could do and would need the vehicle back. I told him that was not good business practices to mislead people and to send me home with a vehicle and a signed contract without financing which they led me to believe I had.
I called my insurance company and was told I had to pay insurance of 16.37 on the 11 days I had the Mazda Tribute. I told Floyd he had wasted enough of my time and if he wanted the vehicle he would have to come pick it up. He arrived at my apartment Wednesday evening around 7:30 pm. I asked if I would be re-imbursed for the insurance money and he said no. I do not appreciate being misled by the employees/management of Keith Hawthorne Mazda In Gastonia NC.
If I had been told that they needed to get financing approved before having the terms drawn up in a contract and sending me home with the vehicle then I would have been ok with that.instead they wasted my time and money and misled me in the process. I even filled the vehicle with gas which I will not get back. I am just glad I did not use my current vehicle as a trade in. Buyer Beware is all I can say at this point. I also left a message for Keith Hawthorne which was never returned.
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