Murphy is visitng, and he's long winded

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2010
Murphy is visitng, and he's long winded
9
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 5:21pm

I need a little advice if anyone has any or even a fresh idea would help right now. And this is looooong! This is so long! Go get a snack first I warn you.


OK, here goes. This past summer we were in desperate need of a car. We ended up going to this dealership to see what they had. Let me say first off that this is a very large well known and reputable dealership and many people we know have bought from them. This wasn’t some off the corner scam lot where you deserve whatever misery you get. We met up with the finance manager who was very nice and these people were going to great lengths to help us out. We weren't the best car buying candidates out there lol.


Now the only snag with purchasing came from needing a co-signer. Neither DH or I have great credit and since I have no income we needed someone to sign with us that had a job and a little credit and Dhs mother gladly stepped in. Now, I have my problems with Dhs mother but it was really great of her to put herself on the line to help us get this car. We ended up getting a 39 month loan at a staggering interest rate with the only company out there that was willing to give us a shot. We put $2200 down and rolled the tax tags and registration into the loan. We all left the lot happy and everything was fine.


Fast forward 90 days to when the temporary registration was about to expire and we still didn’t have to official registration in. So we started calling the dealership wanting to know what was going on. The man that did our loan (the finance manager)was still very pleasant and helpful and was almost promising us the moon trying to help us figure this out.


Now fast forward to about 2 ½ weeks ago when DH gets a call from the dealership wanting to know if we had purchased a vehicle from their lot through their finance manager. DH say yes, why? They say because they have a list of people who seem to have bought a car from them (us included) from this finance manager and they have none of the revenue from these sales. Apparently the finance manager has taken off with the down payment and the check from

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-1999
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 5:34pm

OMG, what a mess! I think you really need to speak with a lawyer and get some advice. The whole thing doesn't sound right...and I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (are you in the US?), it is ILLEGAL for them to be calling people who are not you and discussing your financial issues with them.

Definitely call a lawyer...and {{{{HUGS}}}} hang in there!










Photobucket


























iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2010
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 5:59pm
yeah, we're in the US. The only problem I'm having is they aren't a creditor so I'm not sure what they can and can't do though and I'm not sure what kind of privacy practices they have to follow. I'm just hesitant to find a lawyer and have to deal with legal fees on top of everything else.

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 6:10pm
Do you have a local tv station that has one of those ombudsman type people that will help? If there are others in the same boat as you, publicity might help get it resolved.


iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2010
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 6:18pm
You know, thats a good idea! Especially since they're being so secretive with us and not telling us anything. I think the local CBS affiliate does that kind of thing. I'll talk with DH and look into it.

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2002
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 8:01pm

Stop giving them information. If they continue to call tell them verbally to stop calling, and then send in a cease and desist letter stating clearly their actions are harrassment. Send it registered and notarized, so you have a record (only a few dollars). Next time they call, inform them you will no longer discuss this with them directly, only through their legal representation. They are attempting to collect a debt with you, which is not whom they have the debt with. You are financed through a company, they need to direct their inquiry with them.

Their beef is with the old finance manager not you. And the new finance manager does not know what he is doing, otherwise he would have forwarded this situation to a legal team to hash out.

Next, Car Dealerships are essentially franchises. You can call up the corporate headquarters for the brand they are franchised with and ask them if what they are doing is legit, or perhaps in need of an internal investigation.

And if they are still dense and bugging you........

Then you also call your local station and let them know what is going on as well.

Photobucket
Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2007
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 8:05pm

I completely agree with ileea - getting a t.v. station was the first thing I thought of, too.


I am so sorry you are going through this mess!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2005
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 9:44pm

Contact a lawyer ASAP.


The problem I see is that it's unclear who holds the title.

Jennifer


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2005
Thu, 02-18-2010 - 10:11pm

I am really sorry you are in this mess. My first suggestion is that you not only call a lawyer, contact your local state police department, asking for the motor vehicle fraud unit.

Angel

Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Fri, 02-19-2010 - 10:17am
I agree, lawyer up!

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus