Complaint Review: Frank Machado/Snap-On Tool Truck Franchise

I Eriberto Quinonez Opened An Account/ Credit line with Snap-On Tools Co. through one of their Franchise Salesperson. My purchase was a Tool box. The total price including finance charges was to be exactly $5,762.98. I then received a letter stating the full price was over nine thousand dollars.

I decided to then return the tool box within two weeks of the original purchase date. The salesperson took about a week to pick up the box. The day the box was picked up for return the salesperson as well as myself inspected the box well for any damage none was found and the box was taken back by the dealer.

One of the bonuses for purchasing a tool box at that time was a $563.00 gift certificate good towards the purchase of tools or towards Tool box payments. I asked to keep my account open so I could still purchase tools. I then used the certificate for the purchase of a pry-bar,filler gauge set,a long half inch wratchet,a three-quarter half inch impact socket,angled pistol grip wire cutters and a three quarter-half inch adapter.

My wife then called the Snap-On Credit Co. to figure out why the balance remained the same as the first statement before having returned the box. She was informed that in order to erase the amount owed on the tool box I'd have to return everything on the account to wipe the amount clean. This was about a month and some days after having returned the box. So I spoke to the dealer about closing my account over the phone and he said we'd talk the following Tuesday. That Tuesday as I was returning the tools he was accusing me of causing dents as well as primer spray on the box which by this time was already resold to someone else. He then tried to charge me for supposed damages to the box,over $700.00 worth!

My supervisor as well as my fellow co-workers were witnesses in all this that's taken place and helped me cover the entire box so no damage would occur to it while in my posession. I then denied any damages caused under my posession of it and refused to pay the $700.00. He then got upset and demanded I also pay for the tools I had Purchased under the gift certificate. I then asked why would I have to pay for tools that not only were never used but they were bought with the certificate. He then responded that the certificate was invalid and that I was going to be charged an additional $236.00 which was a total of half the prices of each tool. I then responded stating that I was not going to pay any balance of any sort since I had followed the exact instructions of the person my wife had spoke to on the phone from the Snap-On Credit Co.

Between the date of purchase of the tool box and the return of all the murchandise my birthday had came along and he noticed when looking up my account. He then decided to give me a Snap-On Tools Jacket worth $150.00 as a gift, this was very clear. The same moment after having discussed the issue of my having to pay all these ludacris charges I was told very rudely to return the jacket I had received as a gift I thought it to be wrong on his behalf but I had no problem since all I wanted was my account cleared and closed. I happened to be wearing it, took it off in front of my co-workers and handed it to him. He then said to me that I'd also be charged a fee of $50.00 for the use of the jacket.

I felt embarrased, humiliated and disrespected in front of my co-workers. The dealer was insisting I sign paperwork stating that I would pay for all these supposed fees accrued on my account after having returned every piece of murchandise in my posession and on my account, I did no such thing and made it very clear that I was not going to sign anything handed to me by him. I then told him since he's trying to wrongfuly bill me I was thinking I'd take him to court. He responded with "You do what you have to do and I'm going to do what I have to do."

I then called my wife from work and she suggested the only thing to do now was to reach the main Co. she read me the phone number I hung up with her and called the Snap-On Co. The company the referred me to his supervisor so I then called him and explained the uncomfortable situation that had just taken place. The dealer's supervisor assured me that the situation would be resolved the way I'd hoped, my account would be cleared and closed and his opinion was that the dealer(Frank Machado)was most likely just upset over my need to close the account. He wrote down my info. saying he'd get back to me if anything new came up but reassured me it would resolve my way.

I never received a phone call and I just received a letter in the mail with alot of legal talk stating that the box was going to be resold soon and if I wanted to recover the collateral I'd have to pay off the balance of $5762.98 in full including an amount sufficient to pay all costs of repossession and resale. The letter also mentions talk of attorney fees and legal expenses and that I'd be liable for any deficiency. If this letter means their going to try to sue me then I'm in the market for a lawyer to help me counter sue the actual company and not just the tool dealer himself. This has caused some major argument with my spouse and I need this problem fixed as soon as possible.

Eriberto
dos palos, California
U.S.A.