Sorry this is so long, I have alot to say about this!
My Husband and I, of almost two months, went car shopping on Saturday July 5. I had a great car already but I am 19 and hes 21 and I wanted a sportier car than what I already had. So we, naturally, went to Fort Wayne, Indiana (we live 1 hour away so its not a FUN drive).
We visited about 7 auto dealers, and being it was July 5th holiday weekend not many places were open; maybe 3 that we stopped at. So feeling frustrated that we really couldn't find a car we liked, in good condition, in our price range, and no one being open, on top of that, we just wanted it to end.
Then we saw that Bob Rohrman was open. So we looked at a Jeep Wrangler for me. We test drove it. I hated it. We were getting ready to leave and then our car dealer, Harry Potts, just couldn't let us leave without a car. He knew we wanted a car no more than $13,000. Then jokingly I said, so whats your cheapest Toyota Celica. So we took us over to a 2001 one w / 25000 miles, warranty, and front tires tread worn out. I know much they run so I said yah this is in our price range, right (sarcastically). He said oh we can work with it. So I drove it... Of course I loved it being a teenager.
He took us inside (I had a trade, 1997 Pontiac Bonneville) and he said we'll give you 4200 for that. (I still had a loan on it of 4000). I said no way was I trading my car for that, and he said ok 6000). We kept asking him how much it was and he again said we'll work with it. So he wrote out numbers and more numbers and in the end we came up with the car was "on sale" for 16,999, my trade in for 6000 minus the 4000 payoff, so I got 2000 for my car.
Let me tell you, its a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville with 60,000 (!!!) miles, in PERFECT condition and I just paid 350 to get a part replaced; it was worth WELL over that! So in the end somehow he came up with a loan amount of 17,500, BUT in the long run we will have paid 20,000 for the loan.
As soon as I saw that I knew I didn't want it. But we were already with a different finance guy (who isnt really in on this) and our Harry Potts was gone so we didnt know who to talk to. We were thinking that it wasnt all going to go until my dad signed his paper so we signed it all to get it over with so we get out of there. So the finance guy said just sign these papers so either way you wont have to do it again. No one ever once said anything was going to be legally bindingwe still had to have my dad sign. Errr!
We have excellent credit so of course we would get approved. BUT the finance guy said that he wouldnt be able to do anything until Monday after 8:00 because the banks don't open up until then. Once again, this is all subject to my dad signing, so in a way its like we are pre-approved. He also said that as far he knows we may have to put down some money, instead of just a trade in.
Anyways, my dad and I have title on that car (b/c I hadn't gotten it changed since Ive been married). So I gave him the information I had on my registration and all that and HARRY POTTS SAID "now this is ALL subject to your dad signing off of your Bonneville so I was thinking ok, I get the take the car over night and THINK about it, not having people breath down my back and all that b/c you know they don't let you think!
So we get all our papers signed and get the one for my dad to sign. Then we switched cars and gave each others keys and went home. So I went to show off my car to my family. I wanted it to be a surprise so I didn't call anyone. We get to my parents house and dad says he won't sign, he wants the Bonneville back. He explains alot of stuff to us, how they added a bunch of crap to the loan and the car not worth it and so on. So I decided I didn't want it no more and we couldnt afford to pay 300 a month for a car and 30 dollars MORE a month on insurance. Also, we were told that in INDIANA you have 3 DAYS TO BACK OUT OF A CAR LOAN (not by the car dealer).
So I get up on Monday and call them, they aren't in until 8:00 and I have to get ready to go to work then. So I call at 7:30, leave a voicemail, and tell them my number and say that my dad won't sign the papers and that we are not going to get the car and that we will be in Monday night to exchange back, because we had to be there then to give them the paper anyways. Giving them PLENTY of time to get it taken care of, and letting the bank know too (that we cant do it). They didn't even try to call me ONCE!!! Even though they had my work number.
So when I get home from work at 5:15 I call them and make sure they got my message and everything. He said yes and wanted to know if we are still coming in, I said yes. He didnt ask nothing!
So 7:00 pm rolls around and we walk in and the first thing that the car dealer Harry Potts says is so you want to keep the Celica and not trade in the Bonneville. I said no, we don't want it at all b/c we can't afford 400 payments (it was 300 w / trade in).
Then he tells us we have to talk to this Luke Luther, hes the head finance guy. So we all walk over to him and he asks what the problem is, he already knew. (Oh yah, when we came in we were really nice and not mean or loud or anything! We were being respectful and understanding.) So two sentences into explaining it he interrupts and says well tough, pretty much. We calmly explain that we called in the early morning and that the deal was not going to go through. Also, reminded them that they told us that w/o my dads signature that it wouldnt be able to go anyways.
So Luke says that since its so late that no one is in and that he will call his lawyer in the morning and see what he can do. And he started to get cocky and back mouth my dad; you dont do that to my dad! He went right back at him saying he needs to pull his head out his ass and bunch of stuff. So watching them fight and Luke nor Harry cooperating I start to cry and start shaking like crazy. I tell them that I dont want to lose our house, we have worked so hard and we dont want to lose it all. We came right out and said that we cant afford it and would have to file bankruptcy! Youd think theyd want their money and customer satisfaction. We also cant afford insurance on it, 30 more a month! Thats a lot when you are starting out. We werent thinking rationally on Saturday and we just want it to end. So we leave, without my Bonneville, and without the Celica (to let them know we DIDNT want it.
So Tuesday Morning comes. We go to my bank where my Bonneville loan is. We talk to the loan officer and he says that there is nothing he can do legally and that if the car dealer wanted to he could forge my dads name on to the sheet. But he said that if we contact a lawyer and the lawyer says we have grounds to keep the bonneville and they are being unlawful that he would put our payoff/title on hold. The loan officer of the bank also said that either car salesman could have voided it right then and there. They just wanted to be a pain.
Then we go to our lawyer, Paul Stoelting of Syracuse, Indiana, WONDERFUL man. We quickly explain it to him (he was due in court in a matter of minutes) and he said that it sounds like the contract is void without the trade in of the Bonneville, because those WERE the terms!!!
Then I call up Rohrmans and talked to Luke. I told him my name (and I know he remembers me!) and explain it to him and he says who are you, I dont know you. Then I said the trade between the Celica and the Bonneville, again he says who are you, what are you talking about? The I assertively said, My name is Stacy My father and Husband and Mother and I were in there yesterday and my dad wouldnt sign the paper for title, letting him know I meant business.
THEN he says oh well; you are binded to that contract and so on. I said but my dad is not going to sign and we talked to our lawyer and he said you have no grounds b/c the trade will not be in it. Then I said it voids the contract and then we wont be able to afford it. He said well then well just sue for that amount of the trade in, but ddint say that we do get our Bonneville back. Then I handed the phone to my dadI wasnt listening to his crap, he didnt even tell me he talked to his lawyer like he said he would. He explained it all to my dad. Then he had the nerve to tell him that the best thing to do was to come back in and sign the title paper and take the Celica. He said there was NO WAY he was letting them get away with doing this. So Luke of Rohrmans hung up.
Then we went back up to my bank. Told the loan officer there that the lawyer said he has no grounds to take my Bonneville. He put the payoff/title on hold for us.
Then I came into my work, Future Funding Corporation in Syracuse, Indiana (WONDERFUL place and people!). Its a mortgage loan corporation so I knew that they would be able to help and know something. I explained what was going on and they (Tom & Holly, loan officers and my boss) were very upset! Then Holly called Rohrmans and asked them if they think what they are doing is right and they said yes. She asked them how they would like the Fort Wayne News to come up there and give a one on one of whats going on, so everyone in Fort Wayne could know.
They calmed down then and said that they cant talk to her about it because of customer privacy or something. Then they said to her that we can schedule an appointment to come in and talk about it. So Monday Night meant nothing to them or our ordeal? No they would rather us go bankrupt and have no house and no money and no where to goyah thats justice aright! Then Holly & Tom called around to see what we could do, her cousin owns a car company. They told us the same thing the loan officer at the bank said; they could have voided it right then. So Rohrmans are basically giving us the run around.
So now here I am. I have NO car to drive, Rohrmans have them both. We are fighting a battle they dont want to talk about. I am ready for the news channel to intervene. I want everyone to know what these crooked car dealers are doing. My husband and I are very honest and have worked hard for everything in our life. Why should a couple of lousy car dealers be able to take our life from us for one car that they would be able to sell to someone else who could afford it and appreciate it? Whenever I will look at it I will think of everything it cost mea life, a house, a family, and self respect. Just one day is all it took, just one day!
Its not really about the car anymore, its more about this not happening to anyone else. Why should good hearted, hard working people have to go through this? Now its just about doing the right thing and standing up for whats right, not only for me, but for everyone!
Stacy usacomplaints. ComER
Milford, Indiana
U.S.A.
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