I don't even know where to begin. Let's try the beginning. Let me just start by saying, if I had found this website 3 months ago, I wouldn't be in this situation now. OK, deep breath, short and sweet, here we go.
On July 31 I went to Bill Heard on a whim. I had been to 3 other dealerships and had eith been flat-out turned down, or I didn't like their terms (too much $ down, etc.) Anywayz, I ended up at Bill Heard.
A salesman named Brian in the used car dept. Took my and my fiancee's information and ran our credit. I knew that I had bad credit, I've had it for years. He came back and told us that they could finance us with a down payment of $1500. I explained to him that we didn't have that much money to put down and we were ready to leave. Another salesman (from the new car dept. I think) asked us how much money we had on us and I told him $400. He then told me that if we gave them the $400, we could split the remaining $1100 into two payments over the next 30 days. I thought 'Great!' so we started looking for a car that we could qualify for.
We found a 2000 Daewoo. It was a really nice car. Nicer than I thought I could have gotten, so I was excited. Brian started the paperwork so we could get the contract signed, and we rang the bell. About an hour goes by and a lady at the next table goes up and rings the bell. We start talking about her purchase, and find out she just bought the same car! Needless to say, we were ticked.
We pulled our salesman aside and he goes to talk to the manager on duty. He assures us that the car is ours and not to worry, but the car hasn't been smogged yet and we can't pick it up until Monday.in the meantime, they'll give us a loaner. I'm thinking that they're doing me a favor to make up for the mix up and now I'm satisfied again.
We get called to the back to sign the contract, but it's for the loaner car. We were told it was just a formality, for insurance purposes, and that when we came to pick up the Daewoo we would sign a new contract for that. At that point, I look at the contract and I'm at 28% interest, with monthly payments at $320. I know I have bad credit, but I'm happy with that, I can afford it.
Monday comes (8/30/04) and we call the dealership. Brian informs us that the car is not ready yet, it will be ready on Tuesday. Tuesday comes and I call a couple twice from work to verify that the car is ready. I spoke to two different people, and neither one of them knew what I was talking about. I call a third time and am forwarded to Brian's cell phone. He told me that he wasn't on site, but that the car should be ready by the time I get off of work.
We head over there after I get off of work, and guess what I see?! The lady from the first night, in the parking lot, with the keys to the Daewoo in her hand, getting ready to drive off! Needless to say, I am very upset at this point. Even Brian seemed confused and even made the comment that he was going to quit soon, he was tired of the games. He goes to find us another car. When he comes back, he says he has another Daewoo that just came in that day, and to hold on while they run it through detail. An hour passes. Meanwhile, my 9-month old son has a dirty diaper, and my 6-year old daughter is complaining that she's hungry. He finally comes out with the car. It's a lot nicer than the first one and he says they'll give it to us for a lower price to compensate for their mistake. I'm now down to $290 monthly. I'm happy again.
A couple of days later, I get a phonecall from Randy asking for additional information. I faxed him my phone bill and my 8 references, and he said everything should be fine.
On August 12, I get a call from Randy that there's a problem with the deal. It turns out that it wasn't a problem with our deal, but a problem with the deal for the person who turned in the Daewoo that we had been sold, so we have to return the car. Now I'm livid.
On August 13, we take the car back and we were told, "Sometimes these things happen" and that it could take a couple of weeks for the bank to make its approval. Meanwhile, they'll look through their inventory to find another car that fits into our financing parameters. We also find out at this point that our original salesman did, indeed, quit. A new salesman, Anthony Simmons, spent an hour trying to find us something. Just when they were going to give up and give us another 'loaner', Anthony comes out with a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
They offer to lower the price on the Jeep, which reduces my monthly payments to $269, to compensate me, yet again, for their mistake and they will push back the due dates for my down payment split to reflect the new date of the contract. I'm thinking how great they are for thinking of me. We sign a new contract (an hour and a half later, and yes the kids are with us again!), and we're given the temporary (paper) plates (another half hour wait) with an expiration date of 9/10. (By the way, if you haven't been keeping count, this is the 3rd contract, 3rd car)
We finish paying off the down payment in just under 4 weeks, (around 9/3) and our first monthly payment isn't due until September 27.
Somewhere around the middle of September, we get a call that we need to resubmit our verification documents (pay stubs, phone bill, etc.) to be current with the date of the new contract. No big deal I think. My fiancee takes the documents in and gives them to Lonnie Simon, and I think we're done. A week later I get another phone call asking for the same documents. When I explained to this person (I wish I could remember his name!) that my fiancee had already given this information to Lonnie, he told me "no offense, but Lonnie has his head up his ass and probably lost your paperwork." I was offended, but what could I do? I resent the paperwork.
I got another call the next week from Baron in Finance asking for the paperwork again! I explained that I already sent it twice, look for it and call me back. I hadn't heard anything for a couple of days, so I called the dealership, and this time I talk to Matt. I ask him if there's any one person I can talk to, because I keep getting passed around, no one person knows what's going on with my deal, and I'm really frustrated. He tells me "When you've got bad credit, you have to deal with what you're given." Another offensive remark.
I decided to go out on my own and get auto insurance because the company that Bill Heard gives you charges an outrageous rate. I get a phone call from Lonnie (9/24) about a week after I purchase the insurance and he tells me that I have the wrong kind, I need full coverage because the car is financed. I explained to him that I couldn't pay the additional down that they required until 10/1 and that I would also be late with my first payment. He said that shouldn't be a problem. On 9/27 my fiancee gets a call that the bank won't wait until the 1st and that they would put me back under their insurance.
By this time, our plate was expired. Admittedly, I went to the DMV late to register the car due to my pay periods being changed. When I get to the DMV (10/2), the information desk worker asks me for my green slip. I asked "What green slip". The worker informed me that I should have received a green slip when I bought the car. I'm livid again and go straight to the dealership from the DMV.
I see Lonnie and ask him what is going on. He tells me that he can't get any information from the bank because it's Saturday. I'm fine with that. I ask him what happens if I get a ticket for no plates and he tells me that Bill Heard will pick up the tab for that because it's their error that I don't have tags yet. He tells me to call him on Monday to find out about the bank, and if he can get verbal approval, he'll issue the green slip. Meanwhile, I'm asking him where do I send the 1st month's payment, since I don't have a payment book yet. He told me to give him the payment and he'll FedEx it to the bank. I run to Wal-Mart to get a money order and hand it to him. I asked him at that time to sign my stub as proof of receipt, just in case. No prob, he signed the slip.
I call on Monday and ask the Operator to transfer me to Lonnie, some other name is on the voice mail, but I leave a message and say it's for Lonnie. Monday passes, Tuesday rolls around and still no call back. I call on Wednesday, asked to be transferred to him and I get the same voice mail. I don't leave a message this time, but I call the operator back and ask if she transferred me to the wrong person. She tells me no, and that Lonnie doesn't work there anymore. Fine, give me who you've got, and I leave another message.
On October 15, my fiancee gets pulled over and he gets a ticket for "unregistered vehicle". I call the dealership and talk to Matt again to ask about the bank. He tells me that unless I'm there in person, he won't take the time to help me because he's got customers in person, and I'm just on the phone.
Today, October 28, my fiancee goes to make our second monthly payment. When he gets the receipt from the cashier, it has a heading of 1st payment. He calls me at work from the dealership to tell me this and to inform me that we were never put back on the insurance! While he's on the phone with me, I ask to talk to Matt. My fiancee sees Matt, tells him I'm on the phone, and he walks the other way!
Now we have no license plate, no insurance, and no hope of getting any real answers any time soon. I can't just go and say "Screw you" it's a breach of contract on my part and I'm out the down payment and two monthly payments that I've made so far.
If anyone has any resources out there, PLEASE let me know. I have limited cash resources, but am willing to retain an attorney, if I knew what to sue for. I have already contacted Channel 13 and they just gave me the phone numbers for the Dept. Of Consumer Affairs and the DMV Office of Enforcement to file formal complaints. I will be working on those this weekend, the DMV doesn't assist with restitution, and I'm not sure if Consumer Affairs does or not. I want to make a loud stink and really get the word out there as to what Bill Heard is doing to people.
Liberty
Las Vegas, Nevada
U.S.A.
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