Have you been hearing the radio ads proclaiming, "Don't Get Jerked Around"? Well at West Valley Auto Plaza co-owner Nick Markosian and his team take great pleasure in ensuring those of us with poor credit get suckered into being "jerked around".
When I wanted to purchase a vehicle I made certain that everyone I was speaking to at the dealership understood my credit situation. I even went so far as to email Nick himself, which he replied, and told me he believed he could take care of my vehicle needs.
Not only did West Valley Auto Plaza not take care of anything, they made certain to make my car buying experience the worst it has ever been. My wife and I went down to the dealership to sign the papers (with the understanding of what our payments would be etc.); while in the office and of course right at the end of our contract signing "Cowboy" (this is the codename, or pet-name for the Finance Manager) proceeded to inform us that in case we can't get you financed you'll have to pay us for the mileage on the vehicle. My wife and I both looked at each other with surprise, and I said to him, "I'm not comfortable with this, I was told we had financing", he replied I wouldn't roll a vehicle off the lot if I didn't think I could get you financed, I've been doing this for a long time, it's Saturday so it usually takes a day or so."
That was our queue to get up and walk out; but we had been reassured those things would work out great, and that Monday morning we would get a call to let us know who to make our payments to.
The call never came. I called several times and was pawned off to various people who skillfully avoided giving any direct answers. Finally a week later I was asked to bring the vehicle back. When I did I was told they would refund me my deposit and they would not charge me mileage (which I was grateful for), but it still took an extra two days to get my refund from them.
Now, two weeks later the hold checks I gave them towards the deposit of the vehicle are being cashed. I was told these checks were shredded and that this was why I could not have them when I showed up to pick up my original refund check. Oh and how convenient it is for them to tell me "WE don't have any check signers here today to give you your refund"!
They lied yet again! This is a true testament to the used car dealership experience. Even after I confront them, they offer nothing but excuses, and make it sound like it's just the way thing always work.
How is it even legal to roll a car off the lot like this? They didn't even confirm we had insurance (which of course we did), but what kind of game is this?
So I have bad credit, and yes I knew exactly just how difficult it could be to get financed; but that gives no one the right to treat me and my wife with disrespect, nor does it give anyone the right to use us. We walk the same earth these snakes crawl.
I have emails and copies of cleared checks which clearly demonstrate one of two things:
1) They intended to jerk us around and simply don't care
Or
2) They're so incompetent that they should not be running a dealership, nor should they be licensed to do so.
There should be a litmus test for these organizations; and dealerships who fail to meet quality standards should not be allowed to maintain operation.
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