On July 5th my girlfriend and myself went to inspect some vehicles we had seen at Towbin Dodge's website - www.choppercars.com.
Upon arriving at the dealership we were greeted in a very friendly manner by a salesman by the name of Thomas Testa. We should have known we would have trouble from the moment. Auto salesmen being nice that is. We informed Mr. Testa that we had browsed his companies website and were interested in certain vehicles. Mr. Testa proceeded to walk around the dealership lot with us so we could glance at these vehicles.
After looking at the vehicles and finding ones that would probably have been acceptable we informed Mr. Testa that we needed to make arrangements to sell one of our vehicles to be able to pay for the vehicle we wanted. Mr. Testa asked us to hold on and went to get a gentleman by the name of German.
When German approached us he asked what was needed to close the deal today. We informed German that the vehicle we were going to sell for the purchase of a vehicle from Towbin Dodge was not completed. German asked if we had an offer for the vehicle. We informed German that we had been offered $8600.00 for the vehicle we owned outright. German stated that he would give us $9,000.00 if we sold the vehicle to him. We in formed German that would be acceptable to us and we would return on the next business day, which was July 7 to complete the deal.
On July 7 we returned to Towbin Dodge to complete the sale. My girlfriend and I decided to purchase a 1995 Ford Ranger 4X4 XLT from the dealership. The dealership had the vehicle listed on their website for a purchase price of $5,990.00. This would have left and amount in the total of $3010.00 in our pockets less any taxes and fees associated with the purchase.
After completing a bunch of paperwork German returned to us stating that he would not be able to honor his offer that was made on our previous visit. I should have known that I would have not gotten what was promised to me when I returned.
German stated that all he would be able to do is trade vehicle for vehicle and thus we would get no moneys in our pocket. After a long discussion with my girlfriend we decided to take the offer. And yes that was our fault.
After completing all the necessary paperwork to take legal possession of the vehicle we were informed that we would need to come back so they could fill up the gas tank and to have the vehicle cleaned and prepped properly as was promised during our discussions.
We returned to the dealership to have the items prepped properly approximately five days later. Upon arriving again at the dealership we were "attacked" by the salesmen on the lot. After informing them that we needed to only speak with Mr. Tomas Testa the salesman seemed to be peeved at us for not wanting to deal with him.
Upon speaking with Mr. Testa he asked me to drive the vehicle to the wash and prep area. After approximately one hour the vehicle was returned to us with only one half of a tank of gas.
We then demanded to speak to German, since he was the person that agreed to fill the tank at the completion of the sale. German then tried to inform us that on used vehicle purchases the company's policy was to give one-half tank of gas. We then informed German that was not the agreement made when possession of the vehicle was taken. German reluctantly agreed that he had made that agreement and proceeded to give us $10.00 in cash for the remainder of the gas owed.
Then on or about July 25 we received a telephone message stating that our "green slip" was ready to be picked up. We telephoned the dealership and left a voice mail for an unknown person to have them mail the "green slip" to us. We never received a return phone call. We then proceeded to go to the dealership, wasting our own gas, to get the "green slip".
Upon arriving at the dealership we were again "attacked by salesmen.informing them that we were only here to pick up paperwork for our purchase seemed to irritate them that they had again wasted their time in speaking with us briefly.
We went top the receptionist and were directed were to go to obtain the paperwork. After receiving the paperwork we were asked by this unknown lady if we had our "brown slip", used for smog of vehicle. We then went thru the paperwork that we had received and had nothing showing the vehicle was smog checked. This lady asked us to go check in the glove box and that is where it would be. We informed her that we did not bring the purchased vehicle on this trip. She stated that when we got home to check the glove box and if the smog slip wasn't in there to return again to the dealership and they would smog check the vehicle since we had paid for it in our purchase.
The following day we called the dealership and informed them that there was no paperwork in the vehicle showing that the smog check had been completed. My girlfriend asked if we could bring the vehicle in on that day to get the smog check completed. She was informed that the smog technician was not there in the dealership that day due to it being a holiday. There is no holiday at that time that my girlfriend or myself are aware of.
After feeling that we were getting the run around form the dealership now we asked to speak to Joshua chopper Towbin regarding our disgust with how things have been handled. We were informed that Chopper was in a meeting and could not be disturbed.
We allowed about an hour to pass and when we had not received a telephone call back from Chopper we asked to speak to whoever was the next in the chain of command of the dealership. We were informed that is was a gentleman by the name of Will Torres.
When Mr. Torres got on the phone we informed of our disgust with the dealership and the way our purchase was being handled. We asked him to make arrangements with a closer Towbin Dealership, since there are multiple brands under the Towbin name for the smog check to be completed. He informed us that the only way that could be done since his records showed the vehicle had had the smog check completed was for us to go get the vehicle smog checked and he would refund any money paid by us for the smog check. We informed him that would not be acceptable since we had had so many other problems with the purchase of this vehicle.
We asked Mr. Torres to mail us a copy of the smog check so that we could proceed with the registration process of our purchase. Mr. Torres stated that was not possible since only a licensed smog technician could print that. Mr. Torres informed her to see German when we brought the vehicle back and that he would have German fill up the gas tank again for the troubles. Mr. Torres then proceeded to inform my girlfriend that we were just whining and complaining for the sake of doing so now. And then Mr. Torres hung up on my girlfriend. Needless to say she was pissed.
On or about July 28 I again returned to the dealership to have the vehicle smog checked. I asked to speak with Mr. Testa and was informed that he was not in the dealership yet. I asked the receptionist what I needed to do to get the vehicle smog checked. The receptionist informed me to just take the vehicle to the service department and that the smog check would be completed. After driving to the service department I was approached by a service writer asking me what he could do to help me. I informed him that I just needed to get the printout out of the smog certificate for when the truck was smog checked.
The service writer proceeded to take the truck to the service bay and have certificate printed. As I waited in the service lounge I observed the technician proceed to do a complete smog check on the vehicle. Thus leading me to believe that again I was lied to about this vehicle.
Approximately two hours later Mr. Testa noticed I was on the dealership lot and asked me what was going on. I informed him that I was told to bring the vehicle I purchased in for a smog check that had supposedly already been completed. Mr. Testa then went to the service department and asked as to the status of the vehicle smog check. He came back to me and stated that the vehicle was ready to go. I noticed that the gas tank had not been filled again as was promised. I asked Mr. Testa to check with German and get me the gas as was promised to me. Mr. Testa informed me that German was in a meeting with Chopper and couldn't be disturbed. I informed Mr. Testa that didn't surprise me with all the trouble that had occurred since purchasing the vehicle and I proceeded to leave the dealership.
Then on August 8, Mr. Will Torres telephoned our residence and informed us that we needed to return the vehicle purchased due to there being an outstanding lien on it. Mr. Torres stated that when we brought the vehicle back we could choose any other vehicle of our choice and it would be given to us for all the trouble we had regarding this purchase.
Later that day after reviewing the company website we returned to the dealership and informed Mr. Torres that we had picked a few different vehicles to look at. Mr. Torres then proceeded to inform us that he would not be able to make any other deal for us until we registered the vehicle we traded, in the State of Nevada. We informed Mr. Torres that was not our responsibility since his employer had taken possession of the vehicle with no problem earlier.
Mr. Torres stated he had lots of offers on the vehicle I had traded in and wanted to be able to sell it but was unable to because it would be jumping title.
After further discussion with Mr. Torres he proceeded to go talk to others in his dealership to see what could be done. We informed in that we would be waiting outside and discussing our position in the matter. Then a gentleman later identified as a Towbin Dodge employee ran by us and blocked the vehicle that we had arrived in, our truck, from being able to be removed from the lot.
After going back into the dealership Mr. Torres informed us to go get the vehicle registered and then bring it back to him so he could sell it. We informed Mr. Torres that was not going to be done and to move the vehicle blocking the one we arrived in so we could take the truck back to our house. Mr. Torres stated that if we left the dealership with the truck he would call the local police and report the vehicle stolen.
I then decided that I needed some fresh air before anything further took place. As we walked out of the dealership I made a statement that if I didn't get some satisfaction now I was going to have to kick some ass.
A short time later three law enforcement vehicles from the Henderson Police department arrived. After they spoke with the employees of the dealership the officer then proceeded to get my side of the story. After giving my side of the whole story and showing the police officers our paperwork stating the vehicle was legally ours I asked what to do.
The officers informed me that if I chose to take the truck and leave the dealership the dealership would be filing an auto theft report. I interrupted the officer and asked since we had paperwork showing the vehicle was legally ours what would happen. The officer stated that if we were pulled over while driving the vehicle we would have been arrested and it would have to be adjudicated in court or through the district attorneys' office.
The officer stated off the record, to avoid having any problems we should just cancel the deal and take our trade vehicle back and go somewhere else to make a purchase. Since he would not recommend Towbin dealerships to any of his worst enemies.
We informed the officers that if that was what he was recommending then that is what we do.
Upon having our original vehicle brought to us we now noticed that the license plates for the vehicle had been removed and could not legally be driven on the roads of this state. We notified the officers of this and they stated that the dealership would have to issue us temporary operating certificate. The officer stated after speaking with the dealership that they were unwilling to issue this certificate so the officer proceeded to issue us his business card with an explanation of what the incident was leading to the destruction of our original license plates.
The police officers then left the dealership feeling satisfied that the matter was handled completely.
After inspecting my original vehicle I brought to the attention of Mr. Torres that there was damage to the vehicle since the dealership had taken possession of it. Mr. Torres stated that the damage was there when we brought the vehicle in for trade. And after approximately one-half hour brought me a piece of paper known as an inspection sheet, and it stated that the damage was there when the vehicle was originally traded. I informed Mr. Torres that was not possible since I had signed the inspection sheet at the time of original inspection. Mr. Torres seem to be dumb founded that I knew that. He then proceeded to say if we had any other complaints regarding the condition of the vehicle we would have to take it up with the business office of the dealership.
Mr. Testa then proceeded to give me the keys to the vehicle. I noticed instantly that the key given was not the one that was given when the vehicle was traded in. Due to the simple fact that there was no remote entry pad attached to it. Also the head of the key was approximately twice the size of the original one.
After informing Mr. Torres of this he stated in writing that he would have the remote replaced. Mr. Testa informed me that since it was so late on a Friday that there was nothing he could do until the following Monday and that he would contact me on the following Monday to get us the remote. Mr. Testa verified a telephone contact number for us and then we proceeded to leave the dealership.
It is now one month later and I have had no return telephone calls from either Mr. Torres or Mr. Testa. Does this surprise me? No not really since after contacting the department of motor vehicles for the state of Nevada and being informed that the Towbin dealerships had had lots of complaints. The employee asked me if I wanted to be referred to the compliance department so that I could file a formal complaint with the state against Towbin Dealerships.
I asked the employee how to go about that and was given the telephone number to the correct department. And now a complaint has been filed against Towbin Dodge.
Now comes the best part of this whole situation. A few days after having my original vehicle back I was injured due to the dealership not removing items they had installed on the floor to protect the carpet while they had the vehicle. These items even state, to be removed by dealership, printed on them.
Since the dealership regarding this I am now beginning to investigate the ability to pursue legal actions against Towbin Dodge, Mr. Will Torres, Mr. Thomas Testa, Mr. Joshua Towbin aka Chopper, Mr. Dan Towbin, Mrs. Towbin and any other persons that counsel may deem necessary for legal action have not contacted me.
Richard
Las Vegas, Nevada
U.S.A.
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