Hi Dave,

Wow! What a story! These guys sure are a bunch of sleazballs! What you got caught up in was an independent company that contracted with some dealers in that area to sell cars to a list of people who have discharged bankruptcies.

There are a number of marketing companies out there that specialize in doing targeted promotions for dealers. In this case the targeted audience was people with past credit problems. These companies compile lists of people with discharged bankruptcies from public court records from around the country.

Most of the promotions they set up are direct mail campaigns whereby, in the name of the dealer, they mail a package to the list that includes a guaranteed financing proposition along with a flashy coupon or whatever. The whole purpose of the promotion is getting people in the door. They know going in that they are not going to be able to help everybody.

You got caught up in a very aggressive variation of this concept. The marketing company actually put their own people on site in the dealership under contract with the dealer. They used a very aggressive telemarketing campaign to get people in the door.

These people have no scruples, and they will tell the prospect anything to get him in the door. They didn't care that you had to drive 4 hours to get there. It was no skin off their backs!

They earn a percentage of the business that they drum up, so they will do anything and say anything. They don't care. They're going to be gone in a week or whatever, so they don't care how many people they tick off.

The dealer looks at it as a "Win - Win" situation for themselves, because if these people don't sell anything the dealer doesn't have to pay them! They are all thinking short term, and they fail to realize the damage that's done to their business' long term potential.

This "Promotion Manager" that called you knew good and well that he wasn't going to be able to meet your terms. He didn't care. He figured that if he could get you in the door he had a pretty good chance of bumping you on payment and down money and even switching you to another type of vehicle.

That crap about the dealer taking a loss for write-off purposes is one of the oldest lines in the book! Don't believe it for a minute! In his mind you were a captive audience with limited options, so you would probably go along with whatever he came up with.

The Ford dealer he called who was his "good friend" was probably the dealer where he had been set up previously! These guys are as sleazy as they get.

I've had a lot of experience in dealerships as a Finance Manager and as a Special Finance Manager (helping people with credit problems). I can tell you that there is indeed life after bankruptcy.

All banks and finance institution have different policies regarding approving a car loan for someone with a bankruptcy on their record. Some won't even consider it. Others will with a "BIG" down payment and some re-established credit.

You can expect to pay a higher interest rate for sure. When I was doing "Special Financing" I dealt with several loan companies that specialized in what they call the "sub-prime" market. They make you jump through a lot of hoops and the interest rate is usually 20% plus, but I put many people into cars who couldn't get one otherwise!

When I was a regular Finance Manager I put some time in a Ford dealership and I discovered that I could get Ford Motor Credit to finance quite a few people with credit problems, including many with past bankruptcies!

It takes a certain knack and aggressiveness on the part of the Finance Manager, because Ford will usually say no, then the Finance Manager has to call them back and "work" them until they finally relent! I've done it hundreds of times. Both on new and used and on buys and leases! Ford is much more aggressive in this area than GM or Chrysler.

My advice to you is to save up as much as you possibly can for a down payment then start shopping Ford dealers for the truck that you want. Once you find it negotiate a price, based on the principles I outline on this website. Don't even discuss financing until after you have agreed upon a price.

Once you get this far talk to the Finance Manager about getting you hooked up with Ford Motor Credit. If he or she seems aggressive let them try to get you done through Ford. If they seem negative then keep shopping Ford dealerships until you find a top notch, aggressive Finance Manager.

I hope this helps. I'm sorry you went through your ordeal. When this kind of thing goes on it gives a black eye to the entire car business.

All my very best...

Tony Iorio