Hi Chris,

Man what a bunch of slimes these guys are. Listen, first thing you need to do is to go over the heads of the Sales Manager and the Finance Manager. All these guys are going to do is give you a run around to cover their own butts. Get to the General Manager if they have one or better yet the owner.

Explain the whole deal just like you laid it out for me. Demand that they back the deal out and give your car back. By the way, the Sales Manager is probably lying about the trade being wholesaled.

Look, you've caught these guys with their pants down! Don't let up. If they won't go along with you tell them you are filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and with your state's Attorney General's office. Tell them you are prepared to get a lawyer if need be.

If they still don't relent certainly do the first two suggestions and the third if it's financially feasible. You might also try to get a local reporter involved. They love to do reports on these types of situations. In fact tell the dealer this is what you will do. The bad publicity these guys could get from such an expose' could cost them many thousands of dollars.

You've got to stay strong and not let these guys get away with this crap. Stay on them every day until you get what you want. When they jumped the payment up on you, and the Finance Manager told you the other deal was dead you should have got out of there and away from these guys.

Sorry! I know it's too late for that now.

The bank has probably had unscrupulous dealings with these guys before, or they would not have called you to verify the options. They obviously don't trust this dealer. They should stop doing business with them.

Let me know how things work out.

All my very best...

Tony Iorio

I received the following update from Chris:

Tony,

Here's an update. The dealer came and picked up the car. They never produced my trade and have agreed to give me my down payment back of $1,500 and the value of my trade which was $1,000 less a mileage fee they are charging me for using the car. I now have no car and am not in a position to hire an attorney. What should I do here?

Chris

Hi Chris,

You should file a complaint with your state's Attorney General's Office. You should also file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

You should still try to get a lawyer. You may be able to find one who will take the case on a percentage basis.

These guys are screwing you over, and you shouldn't let them get away with it. They have no business charging you a mileage fee. And what about your trade? Are you satisfied with the $1,000 trade value? If they sold the trade how much did they get for it?

Unfortunately Chris, the only way you will ever resolve this thing to your satisfaction is through legal means. I don't know of any other way.

Good luck...

Tony