I signed a contract to purchase an used car, on May 13, from RPM Auto Sales, Inc. The car was a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am, which the sales man suggested as a good brand and car. I looked it up on Kelly Blue book and other things to check it out.
On Dort Highway, they have two locations. I went to the one on Webster, but I signed the contract at the 4083 Dort Highway location. When I signed, I wrote down certain things that needed to be fixed before I recieved the car, such as ANTIFREEZE leak, the brakes, power steering, etc.
I recieved the car, on May 19, and brought it back to them on May 21 and told them the problems was not fixed and the muffler was messing up. RPM is around the corner from my house so I easily stop by.
While I was there, other customers were complaining about their cars and other things. I heard the sales men cursing, they smoked our faces, and was sometimes just plain rude at the Webster location. Also at the 4083 Dort location, when I go pay the payments, I see other customers complaining about them not giving them estimates or when they come in to get their vehicles they tell them they have to pay this and that and other things that are against Michigan's Consumer Protection Act.
I called and asked RPM and the state of Michigan what I can do to give this car back. The Attorney General's office told me to file a report with them but it was the Secretary of State that I was to file a report with. (YOU ONLY HAVE TWO DAYS TO CANCEL A CONTRACT according to legal services!)
I have never been late, and I had to literally go to both locations every week to get things done. My brother, a certified mechanic, looked at the car and found some of the same things (especially ANTIFREEZE PROBLEMS) that I had originally stated before I recieved the car wrong as well as others defects.
After they supposedly fixed that, I took it to another place to get it checked out and the other place told me that the same thing (ANTIFREEZE PROBLEMS), that they were suppose to fix was wrong, but they could not write it on the report because it would seem as if it is too much.
Finally on August 20, (four months and one day after originally recieving the car) ANTIFREEZE spewed out of the car and white smoke came out of the exhaust. This time a major problem had come of the ANTIFREEZE leak and what ever was causing it. I called RPM about five to ten times that day, talking to everyone. I had been out of town in the hospital and having out patient visits, and on that day I had a test in Detroit. Finally, I was able to convince the manager to give me a loaner car.
I had the car towed for 90 miles back to RPM. They had me sign the work release, but it did not give me an estimate of the problem or price and did not state anything about payment. They were rushing me out of the door because they were trying to get other people to sign contracts!
They gave me a loaner car (1995 Chevy Lumina), that six miles later broke down. I had my sister and her one year old son with me, and we had to push the car. A sales man from RPM told me that the gas gauge did not work, and it may be out of gas.
So I put gas in it and it did not start. Once again, I had a car towed to RPM. I was suppose to be back at the hospital that morning, but had to wait until RPM opened to get another car. This time I recieved a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. It did not have turn signals nor hazardous lights, the power steering was off, and there is some front end clunking.
On the week of September 5, I was in Flint for a week break from out-patient visits, and my family stated that my car had been sitting in the same spot. On September 8, I called to see if my car was finished and the sales man rudely stated that I had a loaner car and basically hung up on me.
ON September 13, I was called and told, "your car is done, you need to bring $300, and the loaner car". I told him that he did not tell me that I needed to provide any money to get my car back, and he said he did, but I have witnesses that can vouch for me. I thought that they added the charges of fixing to my bill or did something else because they did not tell me anything.
He told me to bring the loaner car back and I asked if I was getting my car. He told me for $300, and I told him no because I am out of town. He asked me where I was because he was going to send someone to get the car. I told him no. (They have such bad service, they do not know where I am!) He began to yell and I told him I would call him back.
I tried to deal with him and another manager, but it did not work out. As of September 18, I still find a way to pay the car payment, even though I have not worked, and I have their loaner car.
As stated above, RPM is around the corner and down the street from me. They know my face and they know that I will do what ever it takes to get things done. They have give me two separate loaner cars. One the week before I recieved my car and the current one, but I had to talk to them. I am not a rude person, I do not yell, but I will not leave until I get things done. They also had the muffler fixed and supposedly had fixed the ANTIFREEZE PROBLEMS three different times for free for me.
Of course other people do not have that luxury or time because they have to find a way to get there. I can walk and I am persistant. I do not want RPM to be able to get away with saling cars that in a couple of day or months stop working. A lot of people have children and other responsibilities that they cannot adequately take care of without a car.
RPM has stranded a lot of people and they do not need to be in business. I believe they deal with a lot of poor people and when things go wrong with the cars they sale, the people cannot afford to fix it. Right now I am in the same boat.
However, I can ride a bike or get a ride to where ever I need to go when I return to Flint. It is very frustrating to know that others cannot and that the sales men and people at RPM seems not to care. They continually get away with doing people wrong. We need to stop them and bring a higher standard to used car dealerships.
Thank you for this opportunity to file this report.
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