Gurley Leep Automotive Familly - Gen Mgr Troy Young Very unethical car dealership that wants to take my husband to court to sign off on car title Elkhart Indiana
I went to the Gurley Leep Imports on May 10th 2008 to see about getting a new car. I told the salesman I had a preapproved loan with 5.19% rate and he said they have a promo of 0% for 36 months and 2.9% for 60 months. After running the credit check he said I qualified for 3.9% because I had some bad marks on my credit and we can go 60 months or 72 months. He showed me the payment difference between both options with my car trade-in. I asked him twice if the payments were after my car was paid in full and he said yes. He encouraged the 72 month loan because it is simple interest and they have to take my trade that day because they have a buyer. They did not have the car I wanted on the lot but found one they could put customize when it arrives. I was reassured by the Manager that they will make things right if the new car comes in and I didn't like it. They also gave me a new Honda Accord courtesy car to drive.
After filling out the paper work with the finance manager, and after my return home I looked over the paper work and realized I signed a big bad 8.12% auto loan with a balance of my old car tacked on that ended up being more than $10,000 over the value of the new car. My husband was unable to go with me on this trip because he had surgery and he looked at the paper work and saw the bad deal and called the dealership right away for our car back, Lucas BeMiller the salesman shut him down by saying a deal is a deal; he even spoke to the manager Tim Chapman and he said the same.
The following Monday we both kept flooding the dealership with calls to get resolution, informing them my husband had not signed off on the title and I have not driven nor seen the car I had intended to purchase. We got the phone number of the General Manager of Gurley Leep, Troy Young. He said he will legally fight my husband to make him sign off on the title and because the CTS belongs to him. I went to the dealership escorted by a policeman that night to pick up some belongings I left in my old car hoping they did not sale it as stated on Saturday. Fortunately, it was there and I was able to retrieve my belongings. I asked if I could have my car back and again it was no. On Tuesday May 13th, I sent Troy Young a certified letter to clarify my intentions of not wanting to do business with them and asked for my car back. On Thursday May 15th, Lucas BeMiller the salesman called to tell me the Honda I purchased was ready for pick up. I told him I was not picking the car up and that I wanted my old car back. He said he could not help me with that. On Friday May 16th I called the company I had my car financed through and it was paid in full. On Saturday, May 17th I finally was able to talk to Troy Young about the situation he said he had a Honda Civic waiting for me to pickup. I asked if he got my certified letter stating I was not picking up the Honda Civic and he said yes. He said the CTS was no longer available and requested the courtesy car to be returned back. I told him I would not have a car to drive and he said that was not his problem than proceeded to say I was refusing to return the courtesy car. I called him back and said I will have to make arrangements and he said that was not his problem. I also mentioned he could pick it up and he said he would not do that. He also informed me that I will be receiving a payment book from Honda Financial Services. I asked how he could do that if I did not sign a contract with a specific VIN number and he said he had ways around that and I initialed something off.
Mdg
Albion, Indiana
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Lcg
Edwardsburg,Michigan,
U.S.A.
C'mon Guys
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, February 17, 2009
I am not exactly a big fan of Gurley Leep. I worked for them as well as several other dealers in area. I have been in the industry for about 15 years. The reason I am responding to what I read is to say that people need to start taking a little responsibility for themselves. Nobody understands the concept of "Axe to Grind" more than me. I could go on and on about the Leeps. I just can't agree with the two people who commented before me. I actually found this article accidently when I was looking at Ripoff Reports. Since I am not a fan of Gurley Leep I was anxious to see what they did to piss someone off. Unfortunately it was another "axe to grind" by someone who did not even take time to read a simple interest rate on a contract before they signed. It is kind of hard to miss. I am to believe that the finance person when going over the paperwork neglected to disclose the interest rate. RIGHT!!! If in fact the finance person did neglect to go over that very important and hard to miss part of the contract, did you think to ask what it was before you signed. The person mentioned that there were some credit problems they were dealing with. My experience is that people with bad credit always want to blame someone for thier lack of reponsibility. As is the case in this situation. Bottom line is I would not believe this person.
The second person does not know what the heck they are talking about. Gurley Leep has nothing to do with the loans once the contract is signed. They are not sitting around waiting for you to get behind on your car so they can pounce on it and take it from you. Ridiculous!!!! They do not "OWN" thier own service contract company. It has changed recently and is now being administered by Resource Automotive. That is the same company that services hundred if not thousands of dealerships. This person is probably refering to the financial pool that the dealer keeps to pay claims under the policy. Gurley Leep holds this money and yes gains interest on the balance that is kept. With Gurley Leep this fund is quite large because of the amount of dealerships it has.
In defense of the first person, Gurley Leep did not act in a very professional manner. But if this person was even the least bid savy they would know that you cannot possibly own or be liable for a purchase of a car you never drove off the lot. It is the law! Next time contact a lawyer and have them help you with your purchase because it is obvious you cannot handle it!! Sounds like it would be money well spent. I am sure you will continue to be the "victim" your whole life!!
Leep Sucks
Davenport,Iowa,
U.S.A.
I work for the leeps
#3UPDATE Employee
Sun, June 29, 2008
My significant other works for the leeps and I can tell you they suck. What most people don't know is they are going around the Country and spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year buying up other dealerships..That money is actually saved by tax write offs making their tax rate equal to yours or mine..esentially they get free dealerships by doing this... Most people don't realize they own over 35 dealerships....including what you think are their "competitors" down the street with a different company name...
They recently bought up my significant others dealer and are trying to purchase at least 3 other dealerships locally...(But this is all under tight wraps to prevent the media from getting involved) They bought "Lujacks Northpark Auto Plaza" last year...A very large dealership.. They came in fired off dozens of people, including HR personnel who have worked there for 20+ years, closed down the cafeteria and employee gym.
In reply to this complaint I can say that the leeps are crooked. They have a pretty good reputation of giving loans when noone else will. They then wait till you default and do nothing until you are just about caught back up. After paying $3000-$4000 dollars in late fees and monthly bills for a car that was purchased for $2000 they repo the car when only $200-$300 is left until the customer has cuahgt up on late charges.. If you are falling behind and are making small payments they will not repo the car...They simply wait until you get really deep then start threatening to collect tons of money from you...They wait until they ring you out then repo it when you owe only $200-$300 in late fees from the $3000 you used to owe...Then repo it just before you get caught it...
Next is their "aftermarket warranty plan".....They own their own warranty plan...That's right..They don't sell someone elses warranty plan...The own a warranty company and sell their warranty plans at their dealerships....Talk about conflict of interest...All I can say is if you plan on buying a car from the creeps (leeps) think about buying a warranty from fidelity or someone else reputable...Buying a warranty from the company who works on your car is never good and writted very specific to not cover very much....HUGE conflict of interest...
I could go on and on about cars that they've sold that they knew had problems...The car comes back a few weeks later with a complaint and the salesman has to tell them they didn't know the problem even existed and there is nothing they can do....."How could we possibly find EVERY problem when they didn't even know there was a problem for 2-3 days."..."We will do everything we possible can to help you, but ultimately we are a businees and can not afford to fix your car for the price we sold it for and lose money.."
There's plenty more, but I'll stop there.