Buying a car is supposed to be fun but, as usual, and especially these days, everyone is out for every penny. This dealer has reset the bar!
Long story short:
I bought a brand new car from Colorado Chrysler Jeep (350 South Havana in Aurora: Sales Manager = Tim Jones) in late June. A week later, the dealership called and asked that I return to sign a new, higher rate, Sales Contract agreement, even though my first Contract went through fine; I have the original papers to prove this. They did not advise me that it was my right to decline, get my trade-in back, and move on. I was told the new contract was needed because my co-signer had no credit history (true) but why didn't they figure that out to begin with before they had me sign and agree to the original Contract?
So, this bait and switch issue was an immediate concern; confirmed by an industry lawyer who called this a classic car dealership move. Then, my former lien holder captured one extra payment on my trade-in so I naturally called them for a refund because I no longer had that car.
I found out, by getting a copy of my official payoff note, that this dealer deliberately altered the payoff amount, THREE TIMES. This document features my original signature for the true amount that matched my Sales Contract, NOT the three adjusted lower amounts this dealer hand-wrote in! I was never notified of these progressively lower amounts and the payoff note does not feature my signature acknowledging these successive changes... Again, they altered this document THREE TIMES!?!?! Isn't that fraud???
So, I buy a $40k car and this dealer, aside from being obnoxious when I called them on this issue, has offered no explanation, no credit for this discrepancy, nothing... But they have seen fit to email me promotions for future purchases!?!!?
I filed full paperwork with the Dealer Board, twice, and have made many follow-up calls and still, this case has never been assigned or addressed at all. I also forwarded copies of my complaint to the Attorney Generals office, who then forwarded it on to the Dealer Board back in late August. I filed with the Federal Trade Commission as well.
Again, Ive filed two complaints with the Dealer Board (Brenda at intake) and have never heard back; Ive also left three messages; nothing. My loss in this case (the pay-off fraud) only totals about $220 but if the dealer performed this sneaky paperwork switch on others, it could easily be in the tens of thousands is there an agency that might investigate this issue more closely that I can contact to share my story and circumstances, in whatever detail they need?
My advice to all consumers: Do yourself a favor; check with your former lienholder to see what your dealer paid off on your behalf; they will give you a copy of the check they received. Compare that amount against the amount your new car dealer charged you on your Sales Contract Agreement. Are they the same?
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