On May 4, I purchased a 2000 BMW 528i from CARS 4 U NOW for $10,995. I paid $2500 down, and have made 8 timely payments of $200 each. THE DAY AFTER I purchased the car, it overheated and there was a burning odor and almost no pick-up when driving. First, they told me to put some anti-freeze in it (why weren't the fluids topped off before they sold the car?). That didn't work so they told me to bring it in. I knew it wouldn't survive the 30-mile trip, so I told them I couldn't. They came and towed it. They fixed the car (overflow tray) and presented me with a bill for nearly $200. I was livid and felt as though they were taking advantage of me, because I am a woman, and I feared I had just purchased a lemon. After a quarrel with the manager, they agreed not to charge me. He was insulted because I told him I thought they were trying to get over on me, and he threatened to keep my keys until I pay my bill. He was extremely rude.
Last Monday 8/30 they repossessed my car for lapse of insurance. When I called and asked how much I would have to pay to get it back, a woman named Crystal said she would call me back that afternoon. She didn't. I called back the next day (8/31) and left a message because no one answered the phone. I left 2 msgs on Wednesday 9/1 and finally reached her on Thursday 9/2. She said that I would have to pay the $495 repo fee and my $200 payment to get the car back. On Saturday 9/4, when I called to tell her I was on the way to pick up my car, she said that the manager told her I would have to pay the full amount due ($9,000). I asked to speak to him and she said that he doesn't speak on the phone and I would have to come in.
When I arrived about half an hour later, he told me that I would have to pay the full amount. I told him I put over $4k into this car and never had a problem with payments. I explained that I could understand if I had been late or missed payments, but I had a perfect payment record so it didn't make sense that they would make me pay the entire balance.
He said that he could let me have it for another down payment of $3,000. I told him I didn't have $3000. He said he would talk to the finance company's owner and see what the owner could do. He told me to call him back on Tuesday 9/7. When I called on Tuesday, Crystal said the finance company owner was on vacation until Thursday and to call Yaya (another guy) on Thursday 9/9. I called on Thursday and no one answered, so I left a voice mail. No one called me back. I called again Friday 9/10 and Crystal told me that Yaya was with a customer, and was about to leave and wouldn't be back until the following Tuesday. She said that I was already beyond the 10 days I had to recover the car, so the only way for me to get it back is to pay in full today or do a whole new purchase.
I checked all my paperwork. The Right of Repossession contract only mentions repossession for non-payment and the sale contract says that if insurance lapses, they will obtain insurance and bill me for it.
Basically, they got over $4,000 from me in a 4 month period, and will sell the car to someone else to make MORE money on top of the $4k I put into the car.
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