As I find myself filling out this report, it's rather surreal that someone like myself would be doing this. I try to believe the best in everyone I come across in life, but after the past 48 hours, I am not sure what to say so thought I'd come to this site and any site I can go to so I can get the word out and protect others from going through such an ordeal. First, let me say that yes, I have "less than perfect" credit and am in the process of trying to start over and re-establish myself.
When I received the phone call last Tuesday, letting me know I was 100% approved for an auto loan based only on my income with no down-payment... I thought this was too good to be true (note to self, follow that instinct), but was assured that other than taxes, I would not have to have a down-payment and was also advised I would meet with a loan coordinator who would go through the interview process, take me to look at vehicles (please note when and if I decided to purchase a car I was also advised at that time I would receive a Carfax Report on the vehicle from the loan coordinator).
I do find a car and as I am looking at the car, I notice scratches, a dent in the rear near the license plate and an area on the front bumper where some of the paint is scraped off. I asked, at that time, if the car had been in an accident and was given the runaround stating once I got through the first 18-24 mos, in their program and make timely payments I would go up a level (they have the cars at different color levels based on your "income") and the cars would be a bit nicer and not so scratched up. I was also advised that the car had not been in an accident. Please also note, as stated before at the time I set up my appointment, I was advised I would not need a down payment regardless of my credit, again would only have to possibly pay taxes.
As we are going over everything, I am then told I would to need to put down $1395, but Auto Loan Finders would lay out the money and I would reimburse them, but they did want some money that day. He mentioned borrowing it, a pay day loan... Seriously? You have people who are trying to re-establish their credit and you encourage a pay day loan? I advised my loan coordinator, again, I was not prepared to put any money down. Somehow someway, they were able to do it, but I would be paying weekly payments for approximately 5 weeks and then my car payment would begin in September, anyways, during this time I am filling out paperwork and the loan coordinator is in and out of the office and I do not receive Carfax Report I was promised and by the time I leave, my brain is swimming with all the info and paperwork we had gone over.
The next morning, I call and speak with him. I request the report and am told for $34.99, he'd be happy to pull it for me... This is when I mentioned to him that I was promised a Carfax report at the time I scheduled my appointment. He puts me on hold and magically his "managers" have approved this. He tells me he can email the report to me and will follow up with a phone call. Several hours go by and nothing. I pull my own Carfax report and lo and behold... My car has been in an accident (a rear end collision to be precise) and has also had 3 separate owners in less than a year and a half (the model was a 2007) and was finally bought at auction in February... Wow, none of this had been disclosed to me.
I call and speak with a manager who manages to get me an appointment with the owner. Thinking this was great, I get there only to receive the runaround and he will try to get me into a different car. At the time, he also tells me he doesn't have to disclose auto accidents to his consumers, nice huh? They show me one car that is a 2006 with about 95k miles on it and sounds like it is about to die... I am then told to hold out until Wednesday (hmmm... That's exactly 72 hours after my purchase) to come back and they will work on getting me another car.
Moral of the story is if something sounds to good to be true, it probably is. I did return the car as of today and was advised I can't just return cars because I don't want them??? I requested a letter stating I had returned the car and the contract was null and void due to ALF withholding pertinent information about the history of this vehicle. I was told, by the owner, Hal Ross that he would only give me a letter stating I had returned the car as he was trying to be nice to me and this was a business. I had to threaten calling the police to get him to give me a conditional report stating I had returned the car and the condition the car was in.
He then had a gentlemen take me outside to look at the car, then we are back in this man's office which right next to the owner. Hal is speaking with a man named Jerry (honestly I believe he is his attorney) about what had just occurred and he stated that I returned the car because it was in an accident and sounded like he was getting advise on what to do... He said he would treat my case just like the others? I did advise the gentleman helping me that I could hear every word of the conversation... At this point he tells Hal and Hal advises him, in front of me that I will not be receiving a letter, only the conditional report stating I had returned the car and to send me on my way.
Please also note, while I was waiting to speak with the owner yesterday, a man sat in the seat next to me in the waiting room was going through what sounded like a similar ordeal, he had just purchased his car on Saturday, returned it on Sunday (please note, I do not know his situation and why he returned the car) and was trying to get something in writing stating he had returned his car.
I checked out the BBB, this company has 47 complaints, only 18 have been closed? They also have an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB. I understand that having credit issues slims down the choices we have when buying a car, etc, but it doesn't give anyone the right to take advantage of a person's vulnerabilities. I not only contacted Clark Howard's consumer line, I am putting a complaint in with the BBB... Guess that will be #48. I was given some useful advise, though... Certain companies such as Ford, do have a program designed to help people repair their credit and truly want to help you. Sorry for the lengthy report, but it's imperative that anyone and everyone know what this company is doing to people.
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