Complaint Review: Wilkes Barre Dodge

On July 11, 2007 my boyfriend and I saw an advertisement on tv for Wilkes Barre Dodge. The ad stated that no matter what your credit score they could finance you for the car of your dreams. My boyfriend and I have been looking for a 2nd vehicle for months now. But due to each of us have ex-spouses who ruined our credit we were having some difficulty. So when we saw this ad, we both agreed that maybe we should go talk to them and see what, if anything, they could help us with. We went into the showoom that afternoon. Before we went into the building we looked around on the lot to see what the dealer had.

We were on the lot about 10 minutes looking at the Dodge durangos they had when we were approached by a salesman named Jeff. Jeff inquired as to what we were looking for and explained that we could do an application and see what they could do for us. We went inside with Jeff and did some paperwork. Jeff took the paperwork to the finance guy and returned about 5 minutes later. Jeff stated that they could get us the financing even though our credit score was low. But it would be a little bit before the bank would get back to them with the specific terms. He told us there was no need for us to sit there and wait, so we should go home and he would call us as soon as he found anything out. Jim (my boyfriend) and I returned home and proceeded with our day.

About an hour after we returned home we recieved a phone call from Jeff. Jeff proceeded to tell us that they did get an approval for jim, but that because of his credit score the finance manager was uncomfortable with the terms that the bank offered. He stated that the bank offered a very high interest rate. Jeff then proceeded to explain to us that if we had a co-signer that the bank would lower the rate and create it that our down payment would be lower. We said alright and that we would call him back with our co-signer and go from there. We then called my sister who had already offered to co-sign for us. We gave her Jeff's name and number so that she could speak with him.

At about 6 pm on the 11th, we recieved a phone call from Jeff stating that my sister was an excellent co-signer and that everything was in place for us for our financing. Jeff stated that they were able to finance us for a 2006 Dodge Durango. Jeff asked when we would be able to come in to sign all the paperwork and pick up the truck. I explained to him that we would have to wait until the next day (July 12th, 2007) at around 6pm. Because my sister did not get out of work until then. He said that was fine and he would see us then. At this point I called my sister told her everything that was going on and we made arrangements to meet her at the dealership at 6 pm the next day to sign everything.

Then at 7 pm the night of July 11th, we recieved another phone call from Jeff. Jeff stated that Serge(the finance manager) told him to call us and find out if we wanted to test drive the truck we were getting. We told Jeff that we could do that the next day when we came in. Jeff then proceeded to tell us that Serge stated that since all of our financing was in place that if we wanted to we could pick the truk up right then and test drive it for 24 hours on dealer plates, and then when we came in the next day all we would have to do is sign the papers and take the truck home. Jim and I agreed and we picked the truck up at 7:30 pm that night. When we picked the truck up Jeff handed Jim the keys and told him the truck was his and that he would see us the next night to sign all the papers. We drove the truck for the 24 hours, noted the few problems with it, and wrote down alot of questions that we wanted to ask the next day when we went in.

On the 12th of July we met my sister at the dealership with the truck. We were sat down with a man named Alex, who proceeded to tell us that they could not do the financing for the truck with just Jim. Then they proceeded to tell us that the bank would not allow my sister to co-sign for Jim because she was young and had what they call "soft credit". They proceeded to tell us that she had a great credit score but since it was so new that the bank would not allow it. However, if we really wanted the truck that our best option would be to allow my sister to finance the truck on her own and then we make the payments for her. We did not like that idea so we told them no. We did proceed to question why we were told the day before that our financing was already in place if in fact they didnt have it done. They told us that they wanted to wait and tell us this in person. We asked why we were given a truck to drive for 24 hours on dealer tags if they had not secured the financing and that was when we were told that when my sister gave them all her information they new that the bank would finance her on her own and not as a co-signer for us.

So they just figured that we would like the truck so much that we would allow my sister to finance the vehicle by herself so that we could have it. We were so upset by this that we took back the deposit we had put on the truck and left. The next day I spoke with the general mangaer of sales and the general manager of finance at the dealership and asked why things were done the way they were. And was given the excuse that Jeff was a new sales man and did not know what he was doing. I also did speak with the general manager at one of wilkes barre dodges sister dealerships and was informed that the dealerships had a policy that buyers are not allowed to drive a vehicle off the lot with dealer tags unless financing has been confirmed by the bank. He said that this policy was put in place to prevent situations like this.

Then we also came to find out the my sisters information was never even ran through a bank. Which leads us to believe that the dealership realized that Jim would not be able to be financed for the vehicle, but yet my sister would be able to and they were just looking to get the sale, not matter what tricks they had to pull. Not only did they lead us to believe that we were getting this vehicle, and fixing two problems we were having at one shot, (the first being the need for a 2nd vehicle, but also the ability to rebuild the credit we took so long fixing from our ex-spouses) they lead my sister to believe that she was helping us to finance this vehicle. Not once did anyone ever tell us that they only way we were gonna get this vehicle was if my sister financed it for us. Never once did we get an apology from the GM of sales or finance for them pulling these antics. Nor did anyone ever feel that our complaint, when we tried to file one with the company directly, was valid.

Sharon thorne
larksville, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.