Talk about a lesson learned!
By JenInTN
@JenInTN (27514)
United States
April 1, 2011 4:39pm CST
Ok..so I told everyone about the person that was sent to me out of nowhere and saved my tail. Just when I was thinking all hope was lost..here is the story...
So, I am looking for my daughter a car. Wander onto a dealership and am asking about nice trade ins they might have. I am thinking I might finally get myself a nice car, clean up my other one and give it to my daughter. The elderly car salesman..tells me that they are having a huge sale. He can put me into a 2010 for less than 300 a month. I thought wow...less than! Ok..I could do that. So they take my credit app...we sign all the papers..6.2% interest rate so my payments are only $250 a month! I am on cloud nine...I have my first new car..20,000 miles is new to me..and I go get my insurance. I put $2000 down by the way. 3 days later the guy calls me and says the bank has changed the interest rate..it is going to be 13%!!!
So I tell him...have my money ready...I'm not doing it. Little did I know that when you sign in these things it isn't so easy to get out of. A friend if mine told me a horror story about the same thing happening too him and he lost his downpayment, the care he wanted, plus had a repo put on his record! Ok..anyway..older car salesman says..don't worry..we'll work this out..I have a friend at the credit union. I have already talked to him and he is ready to finance you for just a little more. Let's go talk to him and we'll help you. So I take half the day off work and go..I am sitting in the lobby with the salesman and suddenly the woman showed up..out of nowhere. She says she is going to take me back to input my info..that way it will be ready for the other. I could tell the saleman wanted to see the guy only but I got up and went with her. She put my info in and the salesman was right there. She looked at him and asked him to step out..we would be going over personal info. She wasn't going to help me. The dealership had run my credit so many times they had dropped it 10 points!! I just dropped my shoulders and told it all...everything...the way they had done me..how scared I was. The more She leaned across the table and said..I am going to help you alright...and she called the salesman in..she said that she wasn't going one dollar over the amount for that car that would give me the payment I wanted. Then she looked at me and said that if he didn't like it, I could go pick out a car from another lot that didn't have a mile on it and she would finance it to me! I could tell he was frazzled then...he called the lot and before you knew it..he had come down $4000 on my car to meet the request!!!! I was so relieved! She handed me that check and winked at me..she said I can't stand a snake in the grass.
Did you know when everytime they run your credit it drops the score? I did but I didn't know they were going to run it that many times! Did you know the deal agreement you sign means nothing unless you are the one breaking the deal? I didn't know that!
So I tell him...have my money ready...I'm not doing it. Little did I know that when you sign in these things it isn't so easy to get out of. A friend if mine told me a horror story about the same thing happening too him and he lost his downpayment, the care he wanted, plus had a repo put on his record! Ok..anyway..older car salesman says..don't worry..we'll work this out..I have a friend at the credit union. I have already talked to him and he is ready to finance you for just a little more. Let's go talk to him and we'll help you. So I take half the day off work and go..I am sitting in the lobby with the salesman and suddenly the woman showed up..out of nowhere. She says she is going to take me back to input my info..that way it will be ready for the other. I could tell the saleman wanted to see the guy only but I got up and went with her. She put my info in and the salesman was right there. She looked at him and asked him to step out..we would be going over personal info. She wasn't going to help me. The dealership had run my credit so many times they had dropped it 10 points!! I just dropped my shoulders and told it all...everything...the way they had done me..how scared I was. The more She leaned across the table and said..I am going to help you alright...and she called the salesman in..she said that she wasn't going one dollar over the amount for that car that would give me the payment I wanted. Then she looked at me and said that if he didn't like it, I could go pick out a car from another lot that didn't have a mile on it and she would finance it to me! I could tell he was frazzled then...he called the lot and before you knew it..he had come down $4000 on my car to meet the request!!!! I was so relieved! She handed me that check and winked at me..she said I can't stand a snake in the grass.
Did you know when everytime they run your credit it drops the score? I did but I didn't know they were going to run it that many times! Did you know the deal agreement you sign means nothing unless you are the one breaking the deal? I didn't know that!5 people like this
15 responses
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
1 Apr 11
Thank heavens it all turned out o.k. I don't like a snake in the grass either. I do know that men at car lots & similar places will take advantage of a woman if the can. Dirty dogs is what i think of people that do things like that.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
2 Apr 11
tHEY WOULD HAVE TO, U JUST LUCKED UP & GOT HELP. i USE TO FIGHT W/EVERY DEALER & MECHANIC IN MARTIN OVER WHATEVER CAR I HAD bought from them. The only brand new car i ever had was a 68' roadrunner. would u believe it leaked around the back window the first time i washed it. Me & that dealer went round & round. He told a friend of mine he'd rather his wife be mad at him instead of me, lol. That was during my bad a** days,
. They are dormant now but can still call them up if i need to.
. Happy weekend to u, Jen
. They are dormant now but can still call them up if i need to.. Happy weekend to u, Jen1 person likes this
I bet you set them straight real quick. I would have loved to see those bada$$ days come alive on a car salesman or two here.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
2 Apr 11
My dear, they took advantage of you. It was a bait and switch. I would have been on the phone to our attorney general's office so fast it would make their heads spin. If they quoted you 6. something percent, tell them you want to see it in writing or you sign nothing. In NY State, the quotes have to be in writing before you sign anything,.
I always bring my husband as a witness. Before I got married, as a single woman, I had people try to pull lots of crap on me. But you pull out a card with the name and number of your current Attorney General on it and you'd be surprised how they start to back peddle. Our state has laws against the bait and switch. No contract is legal if they don't include the percentage and you shouldn't sign it. They run the credit check once, in front of you, make the contract with the percentage right then and there. Otherwise, no deal. You learned something my dear. Pass it on to your daughters.
I see why she helped you. We women have to stick together and car salesmen can be terrrible to women. Sounds like she has these guys figured out. I can see why she was on your side, I would be too. Next time, buy your car from someone else. We have one car dealership here that is absolutely terrible. Only one guy in the entire place I trusted. I bought my car from a private individual, but the dealership was the only one that could fix their cars. If the bearded guy wasn't on duty, I didn't bring my car in. They ripped me off fixing my car. Never bought another Dodge again. Too bad because Dodge is a great company, but the dealership, we had 10 people sitting around saying what they had done to them and that they had to call the main company whereever it is to complain and they sent someone up here. So my car is from a better company and I have my own mechanic now. Not sure how that dealership stays in business, must be people who don't know any better.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
2 Apr 11
Good for you! Maybe it's federal law. At any rate, if you had said the word lawyer, I bet they would also have honored the deal. You had the signed deal that showed it. When we went to buy a car, they asked me if I wanted to do it through the dealership or through the cheapest bank. I said to compare, so we went with Well's Fargo.
I would have said that, "I have my lawyer looking at the contract now," on the phone. I think you said they called you later to tell you 13%.
I forget who tried to swindle me once and I said that, they said they would call me back. Then everything changed back to the original.
Glad you have a good and honest mechanic, they can be very hard to find, too.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Apr 11
That's the thing...when I drove off with that car the first day..I did have a signed deal agreement that showed 6%. It even had the day my first payment was supposed to be due! I thought that car was already mine when he called me and said the bank was changing the interest rate. I was furious.
My grandfather taught me a lot about cars and business. I can go onto a used car lot and check the car over for leaks and such. This is the first time I have been to a dealership. I didn't understand the indirect lending thing until now. They send your info to certain amount of banks that they get a kickback on if you get approved. They all were running my credit while I was riding around thinking I had a new car.
I have a certain mechanic in town that I use too. They are very honest and very good. Gotta have a good mechanic.
I have a certain mechanic in town that I use too. They are very honest and very good. Gotta have a good mechanic.@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Apr 11
My boss told me to threaten them with Don Dare. He is a news reporter here that busts local scams...lol...he is all about televising a jerk and asking them about contracts or shabby work. There have been a lot of people in my area taken care of because if that guy...have you ever heard of him?
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Apr 11
That would be the best way to do it! That is how I have always done it too. I have not had a car payment in a hundred years. I think I might have been early twenties and even then, I was hit in the rear and the insurance company settles with paying my car off and getting me another one. Staying out of the red tape rocks the house..lol..thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
1 Apr 11
They are such rip offs anymore and especially with women. This is why I only do business with one lot. I do not get new cars, but I have had some nice ones from there. I just recently got a 2001 Chevy Malibu and although it is not what I truly wanted, they were willing to sell it to me with the agreement that I can trade it in when they do get what I truly want.
You forgot to mention what kind of car you got. I hope you enjoy it after all of the problems you had getting it.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Apr 11
It is a 2010 Hyundai Elantra GLS. I love it. I will be sure to go directly through the credit union from here on out and never ever deal with the dealership directly..not when it comes to credit and paperwork. I originally wanted to go through my bank first and the salesman says...no...they don't give near the interest rate that we can get. Then I say well..I don't want my credit ran too many times because the score will drop..he says..well...we better just do it here then
It is still under warrenty and the lady at the bank, the one that saved me, said if I come back to her in a year that she would refinance it for an even lower payment! Down to around $200 a month plus have my warrenty extended if I reached the 60,000 miles. She was so good to me. I am even thinking of having all my bank accounts transfered there.
Thanks for the response.
It is still under warrenty and the lady at the bank, the one that saved me, said if I come back to her in a year that she would refinance it for an even lower payment! Down to around $200 a month plus have my warrenty extended if I reached the 60,000 miles. She was so good to me. I am even thinking of having all my bank accounts transfered there.
Thanks for the response.
@celticeagle (159019)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Apr 11
I didn't know about the deal agreement meaning nothing. I had heard about the credit score somewhere in my reading on the net. I had something similar than this happen to be when I was going through my divorce. I had called for some legal advice regarding a legal situation I found myself in afew years ago. In my area you can call and talk to a lawyer for a certain amount of minutes at no charge. So I did this and the lawyer asked me who was the other lawyer. I told him and he said to drop everything and come in to his office. He would take care of this matter for me pro bono. I was shocked and so happy I could hardly maintain my excitement. I never did find out what there was between these two lawyers but it was amazing how he just jumped and did it pro bono when he found out who the other lawyer was. Glad you had such a person step in and do what was right for you. We are sort of at the mercy of other people when we don't know the laws and such.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Apr 11
I know!!! I mean..it was all going so smooth..I should've known..Nothing has ever been easy for me..lol..My friend I was referring to in the discussion actually got really shafted under the same kinda situation. A lawyer asked him about his trade in and he told the lawyer it was worth $1500. The lawyer said it would cost him more than the tradein was worth to even bother! I wish he had had a person sent to him.
My car salesman was trying to make a fortune just off the deal he was "helping" me out with. It is hard telling what would have happened if he had got me in there with the person he wanted to.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159019)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Apr 11
Car salesmen have never had a reputation for being honest. I'm glad it worked out like it did. Now days you really have to be careful. Makes a person thankful when you come across an actual honest person.
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
1 Apr 11
Wow sorry you had all that havoc with what was suppose to be an easy deal. Glad though that in end it all worked out well.
Yes I knew about credit score dropping due to so many times they run your credit; this I know first hand and it is what caused me in life to be on top of it the way I was. It was not until one time several years ago that I was applying for credit and was rejected. I was in shock because to date I had always had impeccable credit. Upon requesting an appeal and review of my history I found that the credit bureau intermingled someone's credit with mine. Was a headache to decipher, took almost one year but in the end could not for the life of me understand how they did because the other person and I had nothing similar except for our first names beginning with the same letter.
So upon reviewing/appealing it was then I learned about the points dropping each time someone runs your credit, which by the way someone so young as me at the time had almost 15 pages of credit check runs and I only owned one credit card. It was all part of the credit bureaus mix up which after so much untangling I managed to fix.
About breaking the deal, I will say I believe I knew that but only from acquaintances having the experience of buyer remorse and to later learn that first hand. So having them experience it and explaining their stories to me is when I learned the dealers little tricks of the trade.
It was all part of the credit bureaus mix up which after so much untangling I managed to fix.
About breaking the deal, I will say I believe I knew that but only from acquaintances having the experience of buyer remorse and to later learn that first hand. So having them experience it and explaining their stories to me is when I learned the dealers little tricks of the trade. 1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
2 Apr 11
Tricks of the trade is right..lol...they are very savy. I will tell you it won't happen like that for me again...we live and we learn. I am going to research this a little deeper and learn just exactly what my rights and risks are before entering. Thank goodness that woman was there for me...wow...if I had seen the guy the car dealer had wanted...I think they would have taken me through the wringer one way or another.
The best advice I can give now is go through a bank..not an indirect lender...and be pre approved before dealing with the dealership. Stay out of the redtape..lol..Thanks for responding.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
3 Apr 11
Wow!! Sorry to hear about your situation. We actually were in Luck about a month ago when we went to a Toyota dealer looking at the Pruis's. This was the actual car we had our heart set on, and we thought we were going to have to wait until Fall to be able to get one, but knew if they could offer us a Good deal then we would have one that day. We did walk out of there with our Prius and have been really enjoying it and saving a lot on gas as well.
Glad this woman was there to help you, and get things straightened around for you. We know how shady Car dealerships can be about Cars, as we had a New Car that we were misled on quite a few yrs. back and Glad to know that this is finally behind us.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
3 Apr 11
I'm glad things worked out for you with your new Pruis. It can be tough and I'm sure he tried to take advantage because I was alone during my venture. It was obviously the first time I had bought a new car too. I have always held my own with car lots...but that was for a cash price...not the financing thing. There are a lot of little secrets and red tape with those. Thanks for responding.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
2 Apr 11
No, I didn't know that. Nor did I know they (the ones that make up the contracts) could pull a stunt like that.
Are you sure that isn't illegal? It seems like the contract should go both ways. I know if that were to happen to me I'd be beyond mad!
Although my husband and I never bought a car on payments, we (or rather, my husband) did buy one from a dealership last year. First time too. My husband took care of everything there and even bought the extended warranty for it...
Well, after we had the car for a few days we found out what the warranty actually entails...and we weren't too thrilled with that. We also found out that we could cancel it before 30 days and get the money he'd put down on it back. So, my husband ended up going back to the dealership...
Boy, did the salesman that sold my husband our car put up a fuss! But my husband freaked out! By what he told me he even made a scene...which is rare for him as he hates doing such a thing! LOL I guess the salesman was scared of my husband because he backed down and canceled it.
Anyway, congrats on your new car! What kind did you get? 20,000 miles is new to me too. The least I've ever had was 52.
Happy driving!
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
3 Apr 11
I gotta 2010 Hyundai Elantra. It still has the factory warrenty on it so that is good for me.
I think if it wasn't legal, they work it where it is. You just never know. My friend's horror story put the fear in me. I think I would have made a scene too if I had had to give that car back. I would have called the police and everything over that downpayment had they refused...even if they were within their rights...I would have showed my tail...lol...I was gearing up for it before that lady stepped in and saved me. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
2 Apr 11
I guess what they say about car dealers is right, it's all a case of buyer beware. We had a nightmare with our last purchase, We traded in our old car
and thought the dealer would advise the DMV and clear that. Well in this state it's the owner that must clear with the DMV. I found this out when I started getting parking tickets, several hundred dollars worth by the time I got the first one. It took me three years to clear this, by the time I finished it had been through the court system. I knew enough law to moan and groan enough to get it cleared, but what finally got action was a threat to go to the press. So if you ever get in trouble and were not guilty of anything go to the local press.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
3 Apr 11
That's good advice. There is a reporter here named Don Dare and he loves to investigate for people that have been cheated. He goes straight to the snake and asks them what the deal is for everyone to see. I might consider doing it anyway just to keep anyone else from having to go through what I did. Thanks savypat!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
3 Apr 11
Wow, what an ordeal! You must have been so worried and upset! Sometimes an angel comes out of goodness knows where to save the day. I was not aware that the deal agreement means nothing unless you are the one breaking the deal! I wonder if it the same in Australia in regards to credit checks, I must look into that. It is so easy to get ripped off these days. I have my husband’s support for things like car purchases etc. but he is such an honest person and I worry someone may pull the wool over his eyes too! Glad it all worked out for you...
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
3 Apr 11
That credit check thing is a real drag. The more a person applies for credit and their credit is checked, the lower the score. The lady at the credit union told me it is about 2 points everytime it is ran. She also told me the dealership gets a kickback if they get the car financed through one of their lenders. I am glad the guy took me to that credit union but if he had got me in there with the person he wanted, I would have been in trouble I think. Those contracts are tricky things and it depends I guess on what all is in there. I will be taking the old magnifying glass the next time I go. Who knew you needed and angel or a lawyer to buy a car...lol...Thanks for the response Paula and take care.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
7 Apr 11
I know about the credit score dropping everytime they run a credit check. I learned that the hard way. That's why they always ask you everytime they run it. To unsuspecting clients, we think it's just one of those questions, but really, they ask because it's our credit score that goes down.
And I also have a horror story about putting a downpayment on a car, and being threatened of not being able to get it back after I changed my mind. I was being harrassed by the salesman that I already lost my deposit. Luckily I had the wits to write to the president of the dealership. After receiving my complaint, he apologized in behalf of the salesman, and returned my deposit promptly.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
7 Apr 11
That's terrible...there are a lot of good people out there getting scammed. There is a grace period of 72 hours, but the way they were going to bilk me was they let me have the car for over three days before they called me and told me the interest rate was not staying the same. I knew right then I was in trouble. The car salesman knew I was going to throw a big fit and that's why he took me to the credit union he did...I guess he was in coherts with a guy there, but that wonderful lady just came out there and took me away from those wolves..lol...thank goodness! She really saved my tail.
I will tell you one thing...I will have my ducks in a row before being roped into another deal like that.
Thanks for responding.
I knew right then I was in trouble. The car salesman knew I was going to throw a big fit and that's why he took me to the credit union he did...I guess he was in coherts with a guy there, but that wonderful lady just came out there and took me away from those wolves..lol...thank goodness! She really saved my tail.
I will tell you one thing...I will have my ducks in a row before being roped into another deal like that.
Thanks for responding.
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
2 Apr 11
That is so terrible, but when we sign something the one that created the agreement only put writen down what's good for them. They are not thinking about everyone involved, and there are people that say 'it's just bussiness', I mean being selfish is bussiness? Great excuse, bussiness weren't supposed to be that way.
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
2 Apr 11
! SO..so, very glad, that ANGEL appeared to get you out of this MESS! I can only read this story, and feel sorry for you going thru this stress, as very little of this applies in Canada!
#1 You have 72 hours to opt OUT of any contract, tht's the LAW!
#2 It is just common knowledge here, we NEVER look to a Dealership for Financing, as this sorta sh$te happens! And the red tape goes on forever! You do not lose points on your credit rating, if you use your Bank (that's here!)
JEN...I truly am sorry for this, but I really suggest, that when it comes to financing anything (I have been with the same Credit Union for 31 years)take a Witness with you! No matter what it is! Every 5 years I have to re-do my Mortgage, and I always take my son...sometimes, I think we are looked on as pussycats...and often, some-one else is thinking clearer than us, as I am always nervous when finances are on the table!
Congratulations on your NEW to you CAR...I just wish the experience had been more enjoyable....BUT still am thrilled over your ANGEL
HUGZ
I am really liking it now. I am glad to have someone step in like that and help me out. It could have been real bad for me.