The past six months has been horrible experiences one after another in trying to clean up the mess that Smithtown Nissan has caused me.
I had just gotten into a car accident and my previous car was totalled, so naturally, I needed to look for a new car. I have always been a proponent of Nissan cars for their style and driving experience. This is why I sought to buy another nissan altima after my previous one was totalled. Yet, it was an unfortunate mistake to trust the employees at Smithtown Nissan in buying my new car.
For insurance savings, I have been under my father's policy, and the previous car was purchased and registered to his name. To continue this savings as I was not currently financially independent enough to purchase my own insurance, I wanted to purchase this car under my father name. This is exactly what I told the sales representative "BQ" from Smithtown Nissan when I walked in. Before I continue, I would like to mention that the reason why I selected Smithtown Nissan was because of a special that they were having for that weekend, $16,000 roughly for a brand new 2008 Nissan Altima plus remote start and a service plat. This was a deal I thought I could not pass out on. So I continue to tell "BQ" my situation that I needed a car soon and needed it signed under my father's name. Unfortunately, my father was not available that day to sign the papers, but naturally they said that is ok, we'll work with you to make this work as they seem bent on selling me a car that day. This is when John Walsh, the Finance Manager and the worst representative (in my honest opinion) took over. He assured me that everything would be taken care of and that my father can come in and sign the papers the next day, but I needed to sign papers just to hold on to the sale for today to assure that I get this savings. So I believed him, and signed the papers.
The next day, when I arrived with my father to sign the papers, to my dismay, they told me that the papers I signed yesturday had sealed the deal with my name as the legal owner and registrant on the car... I was furious as I clearly told them throughout the purchase process that I wanted my dad to be the owner and the car to be registered under his name. After a lengthly argument with another sale representative, John Walsh, and a manager, they managed to convince me that I can still get it under my father's name by changing the title once I get it, and transfer the loan to my father. Also, as far as insurance is concerned, I am still covered under my father. This is what they told me, so I drove away with my car thinking everything is alright.
After that things turned from bad to nightmare. The next morning when I tried to start the car to get to work, I found my brand new 2008 Altima did not start... So I contacted the dealer to get the car towed to their service center. I asked if I could get a loaner so that I can get to work, and drive my wife to work. They said I could only get a loaner with an appointment. How can I possible make an appointment to anticipate that my brand new 1 day old car would not start?!?!? So I stuck around to try to ask a few more questions about my insurance situation and the title/loan transfer process. My heart sank when I found out the reality of the situation. I drove out the night before with my brand new car, and it wasn't covered by insurance. Needless to say I was furious, not only did they screw up my purchase process, but my wife and I missed a day of work, I drove a car for a day without insurance coverage, and now I would have to purchase my own insurance. So I went to talk to the agent they had at the dealership, Joe Deluca, and he signed me up for GMAC auto insurance, when he quoted me for $7000 a year (this was the reason why I wanted to stay under my dad's insurance until my rates lowered).
Fast forwarding to 6 months later, when the loan transfer process was complete with Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. (don't even get me started on the nightmare it was to deal with their incompetitant technical support line). When I finally took a closer look at my car payment statements, I find out for the first time that the actual cost of the car was 25,000 and some change... I was appauled, the only reason I purchased the car from them in the first place was because I was because of their 16,000 special. No wonder my money has been so tight for the past 6 months, paying over $600 a month for insurance, and an extra $9,000 for a car that wasn't even the color I wanted, but bought for the price... When I tried to contact their finance manager, he sounded annoyed to hear from me again, and when I was trying to give him my information to bring up my account, he acted like he couldn't hear me, when clearly the receptionist heard me, and the sales representative heard me before I spoke to him. The manager refused to speak to me, and they would not return my calls.
So now, I'm stuck with the 72 month loan for a $25,000 car that, and $5,000 that I already paid for my overpriced insurance before I switched back to Allstate. And they asked me to fill out a good survey for them with NissanUSA (HA! You tell me if you have the conscience to do that after such a horrible experience). I will never go back to Smithtown Nissan again, and I have been telling everyong I know not to deal with them again. I was inspired to write this report because I read another report against Smithtown Nissan titled: "Smithtown Nissan Unethical Contracting Behavior towards a single mom St. James New York". I don't even know what I can do anymore about this situation because everything is my word against theirs, and everything is signed already...
0 comments