I went to buy a car at Prestige Le Car Boutique located in Hollywood, Florida which is a used car dealership (very small) and sells cars very cheap. I bought a 1990 Toyota Celica that looked ok except for some minor body work on the side (had been in an accident). My boyfriend test drove it and said the engine sounded ok. I got a good deal on it or so I thought.
The owner was not there but his teenage son did all the selling and paperwork. He refused to accept a check and demanded only cash to pay for the car. So we went to the bank with $1900 in cash to pay for the car. I had already paid $100 as a deposit to "hold the car" the previous day which he deducted off the price of the car which was $2000.00. So, the teenage son wrote on the contract "Paid in full: cash" and put his initials.
As we were driving home, we observed on the contract he had written in the sales tax but did not add it into the amount to be paid. He made a mathematical mistake! So we figured what's done is done because a contract is final once it's signed.
Anyway, the kid told us to return in a month when the "temporary tag" expires so I could pick up the real tag and the car title. When we showed up on 7/10/03 to pick it up I went with my boyfriend because the owner had already been hostile and verbally abusive to me over the phone explaining to me I was not charged the sales tax and that he was going to now.
The owner said the same thing to us in person and refused to give us the car registration and car title unless we paid the sales tax in addition to the $140.00 for tag/title! We said they made a mistake and that was not our fault. He said it wasn't their fault either and refused to admit his son made a mistake even though on the written contract I have it shows clearly the amount of sales tax written on the line for "tax" but it was not added into the total price because he forgot!!!
So, I am hoping you, anyone can help me because I am a single mom on a low income and cannot afford to pay more than the $140.00.
In addition to this, my car has been sitting at a mechanic's shop because it is not driveable! It kept turning off when I was driving it and wouldn't start back up. The mechanic cannot determine what's wrong with it? Not only that it needs a new rack&pignon ($500) that we did not know about until it started leaking power steering fluid, a rear rod repair $200, and an antifreeze leak! This is going to end up costing me close to $1000 they said for all the repairs and it's $ I don't have. I am borrowing my boyfriend's car so I can get to work everyday. I sure hope you can help me. I have always hated to see people getting ripped off and now it's happened to me!:- (
Marisa
Pembroke Pines, Florida
U.S.A.
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