I was sent a pre-approval letter from sales rep "Kevin Walker" from Downtown Auto Center stating I was pre approved for a certified used vehicle. I called Kevin up and he went over a few things and asked that I come down and take a look at the vehicles he had.
I arrived there and I was brought out to the used car lot across the street to look at the vehicles that "Kevin" had decided fit in my range. There were 2 2001 Mazda Proteges, 1 VW Jetta not sure of the year, 1 Honda Accord not sure of the year either. Well out of such slim pickings I told him I was intersted in the 2001 Mazda Protege. Kevin took me back to the office and said lets run some numbers.
The first payment Kevin through at me was around $600, look at this time I was 22 years old with a wife and a child, $600 yea right. I told Kevin that was impossible, so he ran to another office came back and said ok, what about 515, I told him that that was way to much, that we were looking for something between 200 and 300 a month, well after 6 or 7 trips to the other room Kevin said he was doing me a favor because it was almost Christmas and we could do $282 a month, this was in my price range and was suitable. He took my 1989 Honda Civic in as a trade in and after signing paperwork at a 22% interest rate I was off.
Now 22% interest was stupid and now I realize this, but being "Young and Dumb" and thinking of my family I needed a car and this did not seem that bad, little did I know this was the worst experience I was going to have in my entire life.
1 1/2 months after having the Protege, it was damaged in a parking lot, not bad, but cosmetic. I recieved a phone call 1 week later from "Kevin Walker", Kevin stated the bank would not finance this vehicle and I had to return it, I told him what had happened and he said he would get back to me. When I heard from Kevin again he said to bring it back and any damage they would add on to the next vehicle they put me in. This fiasco went on all day trying to get another car, the placed me in a 1998 Toyotal Corolla LE, from 20 miles into driving this thing home the check engine light came on. This car went into their service center 4 times, at this time I went off, and they offered me another car, another Toyota Corolla, this car smelt like mildew and I mean bad, just awful, I refused this one. They then put me in a 2001 Toyota Corolla CE, which is what I still have today. Guess where the money I paid for the Protege went??? You got it, I have no idea either.
I was on a 60 month load at 22% Interest, this not only means 5 years, it means I am paying double the price for the vehicle. I was told after 18 months I could refinance the vehicle, well after 18 months, this was denied, what do you know.
I contacted Downtown Auto Center in March to see what we could do, they asked that I come down there, oh and guess what, completely new staff. They had me look at some cars, the offered to take the Toyota in give us a 2000 Ford Explorer at 12.9% interest but only if I could put $5000 down, you got to be kidding me, they said that is the only way they could help me I said goodbye.
I am trying now to refinance through my lender "Drive Financial" this company is crap also. I have never recieved a call back from my loan office in 10 messages. My wife and I now have 33 more payments on this car, pay off is under $7000 but with interest the amount paid will be around $10000.
We need help, this company took a young family and screwed it over, there has got to be something that can be down about this situation.
Please HELP.
0 comments