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  • Report:  #879665

Complaint Review: Autotrakk

Autotrakk Lycoming Auto Trust taking advantage of the situation Williamsport, Pennsylvania

  • Reported By:
    William — Donora Pennsylvania United States of America
  • Submitted:
    Tue, May 08, 2012
  • Updated:
    Tue, April 15, 2014
  • Autotrakk
    PO Box 365
    Williamsport, Pennsylvania
    United States of America
  • Phone:
  • Category:

This company likes to take advantage of people and families who are in dire financial situations and have trouble finding financing for a vehicle.

I responded to an advertisement for easy auto loans. It advertised for help for people with bad or no credit, even if there had been repositions or bankruptcies.

they took some information over the phone, and told me that they thought that they could help. I was told to come in to look at their inventory. Myself, my wife andtwo of our daughters went to the dealership, Priceless Automotive, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. we were looking over the vehicles that were on the lot, when a salesman came out and aske what we were looking for and our names, which seemed perfectly normal as this was not our first time at a car dealer. He went into the office and came back out with a female salesperson and told us " We pulled your file, here, what do you think of this van?" We told them that we were not looking for a van but for a small SUV that was good on gas. We inquired about a few that were there and were tald that none of those vehicles would fit into the programs that they had for us. they already knew from the information that had been given to them, since they pulled our file, what our financial situation was and where we stood on a down payment and monthly payments. Still the "only vehicle" they had for us was this van. We were also very honest and open with them, so they knew that we felt that they were our last hope, and they played on that telling us that they probably were the "only" ones that would help us.

To shorten this report, they wanted sixteen hundred down ( they knew that we had only five hundred) they said thats ok, we just won't tell the bank and you can make payments to us,making us believe that they were really trying to help us. We agreed and they started the paper work. Now keep in mind that they had on file that we could only afford around three hundred a month, and they were reminded this several times. aftre the paperwork was done and signed, their "Fianacial Manager" came in and took over the situation. He showed us that our payment would be $113.09 (This we thought was great). He talked about the down payment, and said that to not cause trouble for us, that if anybody from their financers bank should ask,"Don't say anything about the payments for the down payment". When things were almost done, he told us about a device that would be put into the van so that if we didn't make our payments they could disable the van. I believe his words were "this isn't a tracking device, its only a switch to turn the car off if you don't make your payments. Jokingly we said that payments wouldn't be a problem, especially, since they were able to get the payments down to $113.09 a month. That's when we were told that it was $113.09 a week and if we were more than three days lote, that the car would be disabled and would not start until all late payments and any late fees or penalties were paid.As I said they knew were we stood on needing a vehicle and what our financial situation was.

Now, it's bad enough that we were made to feel that this was our last resort and that we had no other options on geting a vehicle, we would now be hit paying $452.36 without lat fees or anything else, the insurance, because of the coverage limits that they wanted or we could not get the loan approved, costs anither $186.00 a month which now has raised our payments to $638.36, without the payments to the dealership, Priceless Automotive of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, for the down paymentthat they told us not to say anything to the finance company, Autotrakk of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

15 Updates & Rebuttals


Noneya

Camp hill,
Pennsylvania,

Same thing happened to me... Sort of

#16REBUTTAL Owner of company

Sat, March 22, 2014

My complaint is with the dealer, not autottrak. I spoke to the salesperson a few times and met with him twice. I ended up agreeing to $100 more monthly than i wanted. at NO point was i told this was a lease. I have NEVER done a lease. If im paying all that money monthly for 4 years, already paying well over what its wortj, i want to own it.... Not pay an additional $2,600 at the end to own it. AFTER they had me sign my title to them, they had me sign the paperwork to get the car and that is when they decided to tell me it was a lease. That was also when he decided to tell me about the gps. I was very misled into this deal. But, they already had me sign my title over to them so what could i do?! They also told me that autotrakk didnt think my trade in was enough for a down payment so they cut a check and had me sign it to them and said they would pay it to autotrakk. They told me to tell autotrakk i paid it and autotrakk DID ask me. They do verify it when you first call to activate your gps. Very bad business by the dealer. They suck and mislead people into a deal so they can get commission. I would NOT have signed my lease over or the paperwork had they told me this all FIRST. I think i need a lawyer to do something but not sure how or what or how i could prove it.


all I can say is wow

Amherst,
New York,

Autotrakk

#16Consumer Comment

Tue, October 01, 2013

 Bought truck 4k down $95 weekly 130 weeks Required insurance on vehicle bright the monthly cost to about 1k for the first 6 months! then... Residual value about 4k...in payments Then... Final payment of $500 And..."purchase option fee" lmao $250 When I called them for my buyout I was put on hold...FOREVER! SHE HAD NEVER "DONE THIS BEFORE" They asked for the address to the dmv...a state agency? I have it to them My title was supposed to be sent to me A month later I receive a letter....I have x about of days to get the title out of their name and pay traces on the vehicle or they would repo the truck I paid for in full! As a matter of fact double the sticker price because of my credit situation at the time. This was done today. We will see if this is the end... Not a way to get a repeat customer out a good recommendation. It is designed for you.to fail, they want to repo you...


Valvoline

Tulsa,
Oklahoma,

Too hard on the victim

#16General Comment

Sun, April 28, 2013

First of all, I read alot of comments regarding the dishonest sales tactics.I here what happened to you and it makes me sick. People comments are geered toward you like your just all around stupid. In great detail you explained not only to them what happened but also you explained to the dealership. The key word...LISTEN.If you ever been in a situation where you needed a vehicle and credit and money tries to stop you,(notice I said stop you because even though you have bad credit there are ways in getting a vehicle. Your never completely stopped.) People do what's necessary to get a vehicle for thete family. Life goes on. I feel them jokers had no. right selling you something that costs way out of your budget. If it was a house situation, it would of been prefitory lending and maybe some people would notice wrong when they hear wrong. What happened to you whether you agreed on the deal was also misleading. You told them 300 per month and they should of worked with what you asked. Next time somebody tell you we wont tell them about the down payment, say this is all legal and honest transactions here. You write a separate contract to the dealership andor you need to see in their legal documents that you've done these before. (Testing their honesty) because they saw a sale. You came for help. Its sad to say people hollar at the ones in a weak position. Let them get in a stink. Now mercy, truth,and evil will come alive in there eyes. They cant see common sense alot of times because the movies of America taught some people how to respond and think. That's Auto Trakk. We are advised several times, get rid of that car and or lease before the miles get too high. The buy before amount is growing higher than its worth.Sorry it happened to you all.


MovingForward

Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida,
USA

It's fraud

#16Consumer Comment

Sun, December 23, 2012

I am sure you are describing exactly what happened when you wrote the above about your boyfriend's down payment. The original author described something similar. No matter how you slice it, it is loan fraud. The lender is basing their decision to lend the funds to purchase based on $X down from the buyer - not the seller. If you read the loan documents there is bound to be a section describing the total purchase price and down payment to be paid by the buyer.

It is up to the consumer to read the loan docs before signing and if something is not as specifically agreed (without fraud) then don't sign it. Get up and walk away. If the dealer is willing to induce you, the buyer, into a fraudulent transaction for the loan - then you know that there will be issues with the vehicle too. Why would the dealer just lie to the lender? The dealer will lie to you too. Don't get involved with fraud. After all, if something does happen down the road do you think the dealer is going to step in and say "Hey, I told them to lie to the lender."? No, the dealer will lay the fraud right at your feet. Protect yourself first. Walk away from any dealer that behaves like this one did on this transaction. Walk away before you sign anything. Find a legitimate dealer.


ijs

Washington,
District of Columbia,
United States of America

About the down payment

#16Consumer Comment

Fri, December 21, 2012

I think I can shed some light on how the down payment went wrong.  I went with my ex-boyfriend to a local dealership that offered Autotrakk and they said the same thing to him. However, when I asked on how they could do that since there are laws against dealers assisting in any way with down payments, the dealer said directly to him (but in my presence):  "We'll make the down payment for you and you'll just pay us back.  As long as the lender gets their way they won't care where it really came from.  Besides, down payments always come to the dealer in exchange for us lowering the price of the car, and that's in any transaction.  It's how we get paid.  So we'll make it shine on paper and if they ever ask tell them you paid $1200.00."

I swore I would never forget that and never do buiness with that dealership.  I tried to talk him out of going for it, but he did need a car and didn't have enough to make the down payment they asked for so he did it.  He paid the dealer back the money over two months and drove off into the proverbial sunset.  He hates Autotrakk, but acknowledges his situation, so he deals with it.  He knows that he listened to the dealer instead of reading the fine print.  When I tried to read it the clerk took the papers from me because I wasn't the one assuming the "lease."

Although we broke up, we're still friends.  So when I did read the paperwork six months later, I found an error and we took it to an attorney.  The dealer made a huge error concerning how to document leases versus bills of sale; the attorney advised that he move forward with a suit.  Unfortuantely, my ex isn't the wisest and couldn't afford the retainer for the attorney.  This is when he should have worked out a payment arrangement, but since it's not my car or decision...

So, I hope that sheds some light on why the down payement happened under the table.  When the papers are signed it certifies that a down payment was made, but not "who" made it.  In my ex's case that's how things went down; in essence, the down payment was made and confirmed by Autotrakk, no one ever asked who paid it on the signing date versus who paid it over 60 days.  In that particular point everyone took advantage of everyone.


Flynrider

Phoenix,
Arizona,
USA

Rationalizing.

#16Consumer Comment

Thu, May 10, 2012

" This was not my choice, to not tell the bank. It all came from the dealer "

   Who signed the loan application, attesting to the accuracy of the information on the application?  I'll bet it wasn't the dealer.

   Saying it is not your choice is a cop out.    You had the choice to say "No, I will not lie on this application".


Jim

Orlando,
Florida,
USA

What Is The Gameplan?

#16Consumer Comment

Thu, May 10, 2012

Let's see......

You are a subprime borrower who became such by not paying your bills on time. The reasons or excuses don't matter as the history is what it is. Lenders use GPS contract compliance trackers to protect the loan's security when the borrower once again fails to pay their bills on time. Here you are, someone who trashed their own credit and as such, earned their way into the world of high interest rates and worn out cars crying about their enforcement of contract provisions! That alone would make me, if I was the lender, to NOT approve you because you just told me, by your concern about the GPS, that your intentions are probably to treat this obligation without seriousness either.


wwoytovich

Donora,
Pennsylvania,
United States of America

Lying??

#16Author of original report

Thu, May 10, 2012

This was not my choice, to not tell the bank. It all came from the dealer (Priceless Automotive of Uniontown), not to tell the bank (Autotrakk) about the down payment. The only thing that I agreed to was not to bring it up to Autotrakk as to not get Priceless Automotive onto trouble with Autotrakk.


Flynrider

Phoenix,
Arizona,
USA

To the OP.

#16Consumer Comment

Wed, May 09, 2012

" I don't see where I was lying to the dealer or anyone else "

   I specifically said you were lying to the lender.   You wrote :

" To shorten this report, they wanted sixteen hundred down ( they knew that we had only five hundred) they said thats ok, we just won't tell the bank "

  When your loan application says that you put $1600 down, but you really only put $500 down, that is lying (and also considered fraud in many jurisdictions).     Your ability to make the claimed down payment directly affects the lender's decision on whether your application is approved or rejected.  

 As I said before, if a dealer requires you to lie to the lender, that should tell you everything you need to know about their integrity.


The Outlaw Josey Wales

Golden Meadow,
United States of America

Team Rebutt at it again

#16Consumer Comment

Wed, May 09, 2012

 Lucky you, the overlord of Team Rebutt  gave you his worthless advice. Team Rebutt needs their own web site. Always on the job 24/7


Robert

Irvine,
California,
U.S.A.

Lying?

#16Consumer Comment

Wed, May 09, 2012

Just another comment on this statement...

So,Icannot possibly see where I waslying to them to get what we wanted.

- You really don't see a problem with paying the dealer "under the table" not making the full payment up front, when they are reporting to the finance company you are making the full down payment?

Okay let's turn this around.  Say your teenage daughter really wants to have a party, but she really doesn't want to have any parents around so for what ever reason you agree to leave.  So she tells you that she is going to tell all of her friends that you will be there, and tells you that if their parents call to just not say anything about you not being there.

Since she really wants this, is this okay?

One more thing..if you go into any deal acting desperate you just set yourself up to be taken advantage of.


wwoytovich

Donora,
Pennsylvania,
United States of America

Wait a Minuet -Rebutal

#16Author of original report

Wed, May 09, 2012

No you are correct, I can see where I was rather stupid in not finding out more, but I have always believed that there are some people out there that are trying h*o help. It wasn't until a month later when we had a few arguments about making these weekly payments that we went to another, larger dealer, that we found out we had a balance of over eighteen thousand due on a van that we didn't want and was already almost five years old.

As far as repairs, no as of yet there have been no major ones. The only real problem that there has ever been has been with the device that was placed so that they could "interupt" the ignition, keep in mind, we we're told that this was all it was. In that first month, I couldn't begin to guess how many times it malfunctioned. Afew times, we were 30 or 40 miles from home and the van wouldn't start because of this device. When you would turn the key you got nothing. I would call the dealer and Autotrakk, whh coulld tell me to have it towed to the dealership. I'm sorry, but I am not paying over three hundred dollars to have this thing towed that far and leave my family stranded that far from home. Finally, after arguing with them for a while I was able to get a tech. that gave me a quick fix, but mot a cure fro the problem. It got so bad that I finally told the to either have someone come fix it or I would figure out how to remove it myself. That is when I was told by a representative of Autotrakk that even if I took out their traking device, that the still would be able to trace the van's whereabouts. Now who was lying to who?















n


wwoytovich

Donora,
Pennsylvania,
United States of America

Lying?

#16Author of original report

Wed, May 09, 2012

I don't see where I was lying to the dealer or anyone else. They knew everything about us and our finances, which helped them take advantage of us. They knew what other dealers we had talked to, they knew how much money we had to work with, they knew about past credit history, and even previous bankruptcy. We hid nothing fron them they even had someone talking ta oue teenage daughter to see what she knew, while we were in signing papers.

So,Icannot possibly see where I waslying to them to get what we wanted.


Flynrider

Phoenix,
Arizona,
USA

A clue.

#16Consumer Comment

Tue, May 08, 2012

   If I'm reading your report correctly, you were OK with lying to the lender as long as you thought you were getting what you wanted.  

   Sorry, but that should have been your first clue about the kind of folks you were dealing with.


Robert

Irvine,
California,
U.S.A.

Wait a minute...

#16Consumer Comment

Tue, May 08, 2012

How much was the van?  How many payments was it going to be?  How often did you need to make a payment?  What was your Interest Rate?  Did you ask ANY of those questions BEFORE you signed.  My guess would be a big NO.  In fact it looks worse than you just not asking....

Now keep in mind that they had on file that we could only afford around three hundred a month, and they were reminded this several times. aftre the paperwork was done and signed, their "Fianacial Manager" came in and took over the situation. He showed us that our payment would be $113.09

- Are you really saying that you signed all of the paperwork BEFORE they told you what your payment was?  That action alone proves only one thing.  If they did in fact rip you off, you let them do it to you.

You also made the statement they made you "feel" one thing or another.  That proves just one other thing.  You need to find someone responsible to go with you anytime you enter into a contract.  Because it appears as if you are very susceptible to a sales pitch. 

The only thing you didn't mention is any repairs you have needed to make.  So hopefully at least that is one thing in your favor.  Because whether or not you know it you probably bought the car As-Is and are responsible for any repairs.

I am sorry if this is too rough for you, but you described many standard things that some less than reputable dealers do in order to sell a car.  So hopefully you can take this as a lesson to keep things like this happening again if you ever decide to get another car.

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