Complaint Review: Bill Heard Chevrolet

Never accept a spot delivery. This is a classic example of what can happen. I am sorry that you experienced this the hard way, but...when you lie with dogs you are going to get some fleas. If a dealer wants you to leave in their car, tell them you require a binging contract prior to delivery. If they are not willing to provide with this...tell them to call you when they can and you will go over it with them at the time and in the meantime you are still in the market. Car dealers will move heaven and earth to get you committed to them, but after that-you are on your own.

This is in response to the comment about signing a "bailment agreement". I have purchased 4 vehicles in the last 3 years and driven them away without signing the final contract. I also never signed anything to accept responsiblity for damage to the vehicle while I was driving it in the "finance limbo" period. And yes, I read what I sign BEFORE I sign it, so it's not some piece of paper that was slipped in somewhere.

As a matter of fact, I put over 1500 miles on a the first car I ever attempted to buy and financing fell thru. I received my trade and my full down payment back and free use of a new car for two weeks.

This incident is much like all the others involving this particular dealership. I just stumbled along this web-site; and I LOVE it. Finally, a voice for the ripped-off and misled. In specific response to this young lady's incident, I want to advise EVERYONE that a growing tactic of ALL dealerships -specifically NEW auto dealers is to allow the "customer" to leave with the vehicle allowing the dealer to secure financing and under the generally unspoken word that IF financing is NOT able to be obtained; you return that vehicle. Vehicles that leave the dealerships MUST have the dealer plate -sometimes stating "dealer used" or "dealer new". That issuing dealer PAYS for the insurance on ANY vehicle that the plate is on -therefore YOU the person driving ARE covered by THEIR insurance. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I was ASTOUNDED to read you people telling this girl to "just drive the Blazer"! That dealer -as any -needs to treat her -AND everyone else like they are: CUSTOMERS. Why would she WANT to buy ANYTHING from them after they reacted like that to her. Take your business elsewhere. Research. The Internet is a POWERFULL TOOL, you can buy a car through ANY dealership in the country. MANY would actually remember when you are buying a car; YOU ARE A CUSTOMER -AND THAT MEANS YOU HAVE A CHOICE. USE IT.

Again, I urge you to read the entire post. If someone else is responsible for the damage, they are responsible to fix the car, not this woman. That's why there's this thing called at-fault. I'll forgo explaining what that means, as you probably won't read it. If the deal wasn't complete, then the trade in does not belong to the dealership yet, and they must, by law, return it to the owner, or it is theft.

I read the report of the lady driving a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer that was not purchased when she was involved in an Accident. Dealerships including Bill Heard Chevrolet require the Customer to sign an agrement called the "Bailment Agreement" which states that the Customer is reponsible for all damage that might occur to the Vehicle while in the possession of the customer or third party; that the Customer will hold the Dealer harmless from any and all claims, actions and damage of whatever kind and nature that may arise out of or by virtue of the Customer's use or possession of the Vehicle; that the Customer has a valid Driver's License and that his or her Insurance coverage is in full force.

Think a moment; if you let someone operate your vehicle and they did damage to it we would want them to pay for the cost of repair. RIGHT!

Thank you for allowing me to voice my say on this complaint.

Sincerely,

If there was a deal on the Blazer, Melissa owns it (subject to making payments described in the first contract) and the damage is her problem. If there was no deal on the Blazer, then Melissa still owns the Mazda, and the damage to the Blazer is the dealer's problem. They took that chance doing the "spot deleivery," and in my opinion, they deserve what they got. If the damage was Melissa's fault, the dealer might sue her and/or her insurance company. But they have no right to keep her trade car if, as they contend, "the deal fell through".

Ok, let's all look at Melissa's story. THE OTHER PERSON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT. It is not her responsibility to wait on their insurance to pay for a car that is not hers, is not in her name (or her father's), she had not agreed to buy it, and the dealer made a mistake in letting it off the lot without that. The dealer is taking a risk in letting someone drive the car without settling the deal first, and with risk comes the consequences of what might happen. The dealer has absolutely no recourse in the matter, except for filing with the OTHER parties insurance to claim damages against THEIR vehicle... It's the exact same situation as if there would have been a wreck while she was test driving the car. She would have returned to the dealership and left in the car she arrived in, no questions asked. The dealer needs to take responsibility and not try to bully this poor woman into doing something she doesn't want to do. It's their fault for not having a suitable alternative for her to buy instead.

Melissa:

I am totally a GM person and if Bill Heard Chevrolet was the last GM dealer on this earth, I would switch to Ford. As you see I am not a fan of this dealership either. However, I do believe you are in the wrong in this case. You should live up to your responsibility by accepting the debt you incurred to fix the Blazer. If it were reversed, say to left your "potential" trade in with them while you were "test driving" one of their vehicles, and your vehicle got damaged on their lot, would you not want them to take responsibility? I am sure you would. Again, this dealership has a bad reputation to begin with. Why did you go there in the first place? I would have hoped that you checked Bill Heard out on this site prior to even thinking about going there but if you did, shame on you.

Do you really think the car dealer should pay of your accident? They should have the right to hold your trade until you pay for the damage you made to their vehicle. The Blazer was not your yet. The papers were being signed for it to become yours.

I know there are a lot of Rip Off Reports filed on this dealership, but sit back and look at your situation. You damaged THEIR vehicle before you owned it. You should be the one held responsable to pay for the damages. If I was in your position I would feel I was the one resposible to pay for the damage, without the dealership telling me so.

Just like the last guy said, fix the Blazer and drive it!

Sorry for your misfortunes, but you cried a river... now build a bridge and get over it!

You were grown enough to crash a car that wasn't yours, you should be grown enough to pay for YOUR mistakes!

Seriously, Bill Heard might Rip Off other people, but your situation is not a rip off, by far!

Melissa,

Even though this particular dealer is one of my least favorite I think you might want to step back and look at what you did. They allowed you to drive the vehicle you bought until your father signed the paperwork then wrecked the car you agreed to buy. I hate it for your misfortune but is it right for them to pay for your actions? Sounds like you consemated a sale and should stand by your word. Get the car repaired through your insurance and drive it. Sorry for your misfortune.

Melissa car dealers love to find ways to Rip Off car buyers anyway they can. You might not know but car dealers hate this web site because we expose their deceptive ways. They also know that no Rip Off Report is ever deleted and they can't stand it.

At this time I would like you to visit the following Rip Off Report. Look at what happened to this car buyer. This is a good example as to how dirty car dealers can be.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/view.asp?id=52158

Melissa I would like you to take some time and view the following web sites. I am not bashing them, but I would like you to ask yourself this one question, What product or service do they sell to car dealers?

Here is the list, Go to them ALL, OK?

www.probac.com
www.nationalautotraining.com
www.appliedconcepts.net
www.grantcardone.com
www.davidlewis.com
www.jeffsacksandassociates.com
www.stukertraining.com
www.paulcummings.com
www.tewart.com
www.joeverde.com

www.biggross.com

www.nationalautotraining.com
www.fandiprofit.com
www.carsalestraining.co.uk/preview.html
www.autoscreeningtraining.com
www.autosalestraining.com
www.wwcsonline.com