On March 27 the Internet Auto Rent & Sales in Boise had a sale at the Mall which I attended.
I was interested in looking for a second car with good gas mileage; working seatbelts and airbags; preferably a mid-sized hybrid car (like a Ford Focus); and a price range of $200-250 per month. "James" took my information to the tent. When he came back I was told that because of my credit rating I could only purchase certain vehicles. I was shown a 2008 Dodge Caliber and said that it was this or an older model truck. I was given a test drive however the first vehicle had an unusual clicking noise so we switched to another 2008 Dodge Caliber. When we returned to the mall I wanted to look around some more but I was told the other vehicles were out of my price range, I didn't have the credit; or they were sold/spoken for. Another man then approached me. He stated that the vehicle was worth over $16,000 (I found out this was not true—the MSRP was $10,000). Anyways they said that they would drop it to $12000 however I would have to put $1000 down and pay 17% interest. I couldn't afford it so they dropped it down to just over $10,000 but the same interest. My credit score was 551 and they stongly implied that I was lucky that they were taking a chance on financing me and that no one else would likely do business with me because of my credit score. I was also told that 60 days after purchasing the car my credit score would go up 82 points.
I told them that I couldn't afford $1000 down. They suggested that I pay $500 down; $500 on 4/25/10 and then start the car payments in May. I needed a car and I needed to improve my credit score so I reluctantly agreed. When we got to the office I was told that I would be speaking to a representative of the bank and that when she asked if I was putting $1000 down today I was to say 'Yes". I did what I was told. They then told me that they were going to take out $500 out of my account and that I was to get a bank check, date it for that day but they promised that they wouldn't cash it until 4/25/10. (I did not get a written promisory note stating that was in fact what they were going to do).
Then J.C. Started handing me papers to initial and sign. On one form it stated that my first car payment was to be on May 11th. Once again I told him that I only got paid on the 25th. That would mean that I would have to come up with $500 for the rest of the down payment plus the first car payment from the one check—I couldn't do it. I told J.C. That the man at the mall said that I could pay $500 now; $500 on 4/25 and then start my car payments on 5/25. J.C. Said that they couldn't go out more than 45 days for a car payment. After a while he dropped the second down payment to $300 so that I would have to come up with $570 on my next pay day.
When it got to the 'Retail Installment Sale Contract Simple Finance Charge' Form I signed it and then it caught my eye that instead of it saying 17% as agreed upon, it said 21.72% interest. When I told J.C. That was not the interest rate I was quoted he said that was what the bank offered. I was stuck as I had already signed the document.
I was quite upset all weekend and so I phoned the company on Monday.in a nutshell, they claimed that they did nothing wrong, I got a very good deal and that was that. There is NO "Buyers Remorse Law"; "Lemon Law"; or "Consumer Protection Laws" with regard to vehicle purchases in the state of Idaho. I have absolutely NO recourse.
I did not get a car facts sheet; I did not get a car manual (I was told to look on line); I had signed an 'As Is' paper so I have a 30 limited warranty—any other previous existing warranty will be or is null and void and I will have to pay 21.72% interest on the loan. They did not even fill up the tank with gas (—in years past when I bought vehicles from Ford, they made sure that my car was full when I left!) Finally I am terrified that they are going to cash that bank check early (like they did to another person in September) and won't have any recourse on that either because they made me date it for March27.
I am a single parent with a handicapped child. Life is already tough and then I made this horrible, horrible mistake... I don't know if I will ever get from under this one...
Please... Do not trust this company... Buy from somewhere else... Or at least do not go there alone... Take a strong negotiator with you... A witness... Don't make the same mistake i did..."buyer beware!!!"
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