Lovely tammy
Cranberry Twp,#2General Comment
Mon, March 25, 2013
Jim from Orlando, all I can say is thank you, thank you THANK YOU! I'm sure the author of this post thank you as well. When unsuspecting consumers fall for scams the questions and anger are usually directed at them and not the con-artist! Why didn't you do research, why would you believe someone like that, why, why why! Many consumers don't realize the BBB is nothing but a scam!
I was contemplating a move from New Jersey to North Carolina. I called myself conducting research on the best 'so called' moving company's in the area. I found one that had an A+ rating with the BBB so I went with them. The week before my trip, Sunshine Van Lines had an excellent rating! A+! The day after my trip their rating dropped to an F! How does that happen? Then.....all of a sudden all these complaints started showing up! Unbeknownst to me, they were a deceptive company. When I initially called to receive a quote, the quote was pretty reasonable. When the day arrived for the movers to show up at my home, they were in a truck that had paint covering the vehicle as if they were trying to disguise the logo underneath, no big deal (so I thought). The movers were polite and wrapped up the remaining mirrors very well. Once these people had my furniture in their truck and were on their way, that's when the games commenced! I had to give them more money which amounted to well over $3,000. When everything was all said and done, Sunshine Van Line destroyed my furniture, cracked my beveled mirror and left someone else's belonging at my home!!!! To add insult to injury, I gave up trying to file a claim to recoup my loses. The operator in the claims department basically told me I wouldn't receive any money from Sunshine Van Line so I gave up! Moving companies are notorious for pulling scams once they have your furniture! The hold your furniture hostage until you SHOW THEM THE MONEY! When I checked the sales slip, to verify exactly what articles JANET listed, I noticed she listed my king sized canopy as having one poster! ONE POSTER?!!!! Who does that? How can a canopy bed have one poster?
When unsuspecting consumers seek assistance, we honestly think there are people that emphasize with us and are willing to help us dig out of the hole we somehow found ourselves in! Unfortunately, in this day and age, there are more scammers than ever before just lurking around every corner, waiting for the right opportunity to dupe someone unexpectedly! Their main purpose is to scam as many people as necessary BUT I still believe in KARMA! So if you give dirt, you'll receive dirt!
Jim
Orlando,#3Consumer Comment
Sun, February 27, 2011
Every legitimate businessman alive knows all about the BBB SCAM. Right from the start the BBB establishes itself as a DECEPTION by using the name "bureau" and referring to themselves as "the bureau" as if they were some type of government agency. If they didn't intend to DECEIVE a consumer then they would call themselves something different like "The Association of Better Businesses" or something similar. This car dealer wants you, the consumer, to think the BBB "mediation" process is so-o-o-o great and so-o-o fair. Lets take a look at that SHAM. In this "mediation" process its you the consumer up against a BBB "member" with a "mediator". Sounds great so far, doesn't it. Hold your nose. The BBB "member" is in reality a BBB CUSTOMER...they have provided revenue to this SCAM OPERATION. You haven't! Now lets look at the so-called "mediator". The "mediator" is a BBB EMPLOYEE! The "mediator" is PAID BY THE BBB. Do you actually think you will on a level playing field with the person who makes the decision is PAID by the SCAM OPERATION which benefits from the REVENUE provided by the "member"?
This car dealer says the BBB ratings are great? Any legitimate businessman knows all about the BBB SHAKEDOWN process. Here's how it works. The businessman opens up his operation and is given a LOW RATING by the BBB. The BBB then offers to give them a HIGHER 'RATING' if they "join". Thats exactly how the BBB gets its money! These BBB PHONEY ACCREDITATIONS are exactly the same type of SCAM used by offshore diploma mills. Would you like to go to a doctor who BOUGHT his doctor's degree? Of course not! But that's exactly what the BBB does...SELL PHONEY 'ACCREDITATIONS'. On the BBB website notice how they say they do not endorse any business. If they "give" some car dealer an A+ rating, then why won't they endorse that car dealer? Why? Because they know exactly these PHONEY ACCREDITATIONS are pure garbage.
The BBB is a SCAM. This fact is WELL KNOWN in the business community. Many slimeball car dealers will continue to scam the public and when caught they hide behind the BBB as if the BBB is some type of badge of honor. Like I've said...many of us know all about the BBB SCAM OPERATION and many of us know to avoid a car dealer prancing about telling everyone how honest and full of integrity they are while hiding behind the BBB when they get caught with their pants down.
Oh yes, one more thing...remember Bill Heard Chevrolet? Known by many as BOGUS BILLY. Ole Billy Boy was in trouble with the regulators in every market in which he had a store. Finally, the State of Georgia hit him with an eight figure lawsuit regarding his FRAUD and DECEPTION. Guess what? BOGUS BILLY HEARD was a BBB member!
Jake Sweeney Smartmart
Cincinnati,#4UPDATE Employee
Thu, February 24, 2011
I appreciate everyone's compassion for our customers. Everyone is entitled to opinions, but there are only one set of facts. The original thread starter had no real facts to back up their arguements. They have also never responded to our rebuttal. My response included only facts about the situation. I believe our company provides reliable, safe, affordable, late-model, low-mileage transportation for people in a bankruptcy situation. If an individual were to make any judgement on what is posted here about the customer or our company, it would be completely uninformed. Because our customers are in a bankruptcy situation, there are a lot of things that must remain private between us. Because of this, you will never get the whole/real story on here.
Every company is bound to have an unsatisfied customer at some point. We have definitely had customers in the past that no matter the response on our behalf, the purchase ended unsatisfactory to the customer.
To the person that discredited the BBB. My response to this is that, unlike websites such as these, that are created to allow people to trash a company's reputation with no facts, the BBB looks out for consumers, as well as, companies. They are an intermediary for both parties. Regardless of what videos and reports you can dig up, they are a great asset to doing business properly. Can anyone become a BBB member...pretty much...but the BBB score/rating is as real as it gets. If a customer files a complaint, it is dealt with right away. They make a decision about the situation based on the facts from both sides. There is ALWAYS a judgement at the end, and if it is in favor of the customer, you must respond or your score/rating will go down fast.
Anyone that will put stock into anything posted on a website such as this, with no policy for incorrect reporting, is doing very uneducated research.
Our company's history is a statement to how we conduct business. We have a long-standing reputation for providing what we promise.
Scotty Rienschield
Used Car Manager
Jake Sweeney Smartmart
Jim
Orlando,#5Consumer Comment
Sun, January 23, 2011
As you said, people who have BK are not in a position to be taken advantage of and many in the Sleazy American Car Business want to do just that. The usual congame is they will tell you "Nobody else will take a chance on you but us." When you buy a USED CAR sight unseen over the internet, you are ASKING TO BE DEFRAUDED. I'm sure you want a car you can trust. You cannot determine that if you cannot check out the car both you and a mechanic of your choice. That won't happen if you do what the original poster did...buying a USED CAR sight unseen! Surely theremight be a REPUTABLE dealer in your part of the world. Also beware of any dealership which throws around the BBB name. The BBB is NOTHING...nothing but a SCAM. Anybody can buy a BBB phoney accreditation. ANYBODY. The BBB is NOT part of the government but they try to DECEIVE you into thinking that by calling themselves "the bureau" as if they were like the FBI. Go to Youtube and enter "BBB scam" and watch how the BBB slimeball quickly ends the interview!
Good luck!
Wendy
La Crosse,#6Consumer Comment
Sat, January 22, 2011
I have just had my court hearing and my Chapter 7 will be discharged in 60 days. I was able to make an arrangement with my previous auto lender to purchase my vehicle back for a $1000.00. It is over 10 years old and has a lot of wear and tear, but I know that it is safe for in-town driving. My need for a vehicle is not immediate, however it is in the near future.
I received an invitation card from 722 redemption yesterday. In the invitation it mentions only about lowering your existing payments and restructuring your car loan through a different lender (US Bank). I did review their website to find they have a "chapter 7 wholesale replacement program". When reading the bulleted points, it tells you that you will never pay more than 120% of the NADA trade in value for the car. So you could over pay 1/5th, meaning that a 10,000 car could cost you 12,000 before they even make the money on the interest rates.
I have done some searching of feed back on this company, and it seems that there is good and bad comments out there. It seems that people who like this company did get their loan restructured as promised, however interest rate and terms were never mentioned in the postings. The satisfied people are usually ones that did get to keep their own vehicles, which means they never used the side of the program where you deal with a dealership, just the bank.There is one instance where thebank withdrew their approval for financingafter the arrangement had been given the go-a-ahead by the bankruptcy court. Causing issues with the entire case. The people that did not approveof this company are ones that were declined and/orthe interest rate or vehicle was not what was assumed, meaning that these individuals did have to deal withcar dealership.
People who are in the state of bankruptcy have been dealt with so many blows already, and feel that they are trapped to only use companies that advertise they help people with bad credit. When I saw the US Bank logo on my invitation, I did raise my eyebrow. Our US Bank branch is known for telling perspective clients that if you have bad credit or have filed bankruptcy, we do not service your needs. If US Bank has changed their strategy on that, why can't I just go down to my local US Bank branch and apply for a loan so I can use my local dealership?
I certainly understand this person's situation, as I too was wondering if I was going to have to walk to work since there was a possibility of losing my vehicle. However, I would not expect to get shiny vehicle out of it, I would have been glad just to find a beater under $1000.00 so I can get around. Which in the end, I did get a beater, my current vehicle.
After researching this company,I would call my local US Bank first to seeif they would help me direct, rather than going through this program. If they refuse and I choose to use the program, then I would know to expect a less than perfect car, as you would in any "used" car situation, and knowthe car dealership is making money at the inflated carvalue of120% percent (IF this company is not targeting bankruptcy specifically, then they should allow you to negotiate the end selling price as they do in any used car delearships. If they don't, don't buy it),and US Bank is making money off ofan inflated interest ratethat can be done through OH laws.(Probably why your local US branch will not help you).I am not to that point yet, so I will pass on this invitaiton.
It comes down to thisregardless ifyou have good credit or bad,"Buyer Beware".
Jim
Orlando,#7Consumer Comment
Tue, December 28, 2010
Don't blame the dealership. Blame the person looking at you in the mirror who went into this STUPID arrangement.
YOU took on all the risks involved thru buying a USED CAR sight unseen on the internet. YOU didn't know the exact condition of the car because YOU didn't see it.
And like clockwork, another person ends up with a USED CAR with problems which YOU could have avoided by purchasing a used car locally, actually seeing the car, its actual condition and having it checked out by a mechanic of your choice.
Incredible!!!
tellit
Illinois,#8Consumer Comment
Mon, December 27, 2010
The main issue here is the VEHICLE
Its clear the dealership sold you 'junk' and they have put one of their people on here posting on here to save face. Shady Dealerships do this all the time and thank you for sharing about this dealerships shady ways as it will save many others from g
I would also like to say that if you did more research you could of bypassed alot of issues and never dealt with this dealership. Here are a few things that could of been done:1) Check the blue book value for a vehicle (it looks like you over paid on that car anyway)
2) Locate Reviews on Dealers so that you know they will give you a good vehicle or try to make things right(I am sure you were not the only person who had issues with this dealer and a little quick research would of kept you from wasting money and time)
3) Know Your Credit- pull your credit report and score (good to know so that you do not get stuck with a interest rate you really do not deserve and paying more then you can afford)
4) Research- you should know what you want in advance and not accept less then that (if the car was not in the state you felt it should be you should not have accepted it or signed anything because by law signing something means you have accepted the terms)
5) Comprise a check list: (((Redacted))) (checklist would of helped you decide that this car was not what you wanted and you could of refused it when they came to drop it off)
6) Run your own carfax report, not the dealers (and do a AutCheck report, this would have helped you see more then what the dealeship wanted you to see)
7) Do not sign anything until your satisfied with the product you are getting
A vehicle cost more then food or daily products so being more picky or having higher standards should of been more of a priority then your excuse that youneeded to get to work.
I conlcude by saying that the DEALER Jake Sweeney Smartmart is mainly at fault here and you were justthe type of victom who doesnt research that they look forto screw over.
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.Jake Sweeney Smartmart
Cincinnati,#9UPDATE Employee
Thu, December 10, 2009
I would like to begin by introducing myself and our company. My name is Scotty Rienschield and I am the Used Car Manager at Jake Sweeney Smartmart. We are a dealership in Cincinnati, Ohio that has been in business for 10 years and sold thousands of cars. We are part of the Jake Sweeney Organization which owns over 10 new & used automobile franchises and has been in business for over 30 years. Here in Cincinnati, Jake Sweeney is a respected name in the automotive industry. Jake Sweeney Smartmart began life as any other used car dealership would, serving the local communities. We have been involved in several programs over the years, with our most successful being an approved dealer for 722 Redemption Funding Inc. As we understand it, 722 helps people that have recently filed bankruptcy to obtain a late model, low mileage vehicle at a below retail price. Our normal bankruptcy customers that come in to our facility, if we can even get them approved, they usually end up in a ten year old vehicle with well over a hundred thousand miles. Through the 722 program, we usually can get the customer into a vehicle no older than a few years and under forty thousand miles. We understand it to be a great program. With that being said, I will attempt to tell our side of this story.
Jennifer from Kansas was referred to us by 722 for their bankruptcy program. She was directed to William who explained how 722s program works. On a side note, William has been with Jake Sweeney Smartmart for over 8 years now. William gave her the list of cars she was approved for and she proceeded to choose the 2005 Ford Taurus that she has mentioned. Her sale price was exactly $11,271.79. Our vehicles all receive a thorough inspection and reconditioning procedure. During this inspection, no indication of a previous accident was detected. The vehicle was purchased directly from Ford Motor Credit, who did not disclose any previous damage. I also pulled an Auto Check report this morning while doing research that does not reveal any accidents or damage. I cannot guarantee that the vehicle has never been in an accident, but I will say that we have multiple checks during our time with the vehicle. Our goal is to provide the customer with a reliable vehicle that will serve them well until they are able to re-establish their credit. If we were not successful with this, 722 would not use us as an approved dealer for their program. Jennifer stated that she was not allowed to have the paperwork until the time of delivery. It is our policy to send out the paperwork to be signed and completed before delivery. In some cases, however, we override this as a way to get the vehicle to the customer sooner. This is usually done when a customer requests the vehicle to be delivered as soon as possible. We can save time by sending the necessary paperwork with the vehicle. This was in no way done to withhold any information from her. To respond to her statement about being told that she had 30 days to return the vehicle, that is not our policy. I researched this issue when she confronted us about it and I feel that she was never told this. Jennifers main complaint was that the vehicle supposedly had body repairs made and that there was a claim paid on this vehicle. She stated that she had a report from an Experion company showing this. I was skeptical that she had this report because we use Auto Check (an Experion owned company) and that report was clean. I asked her to send the report to me to review. Over a period of time several people from Jake Sweeney Smartmart, as well as, 722 Redemption Funding Inc. requested a copy of this report from her with no follow up. After requesting so many times, everyone involved finally gave up. The check that she is talking about was the remainder of her down payment. She did in fact stop payment on it, which forced us to turn it over to our collections department.
In closing, I will say that I was unable to verify any of what Jennifer stated to us. She was not compliant with providing us the documents/reports she said that she had. As she said, she did contact several companies about this. Only one actually felt it necessary to check into it. I was contacted by the Better Business Bureau on behalf of Jennifer. After I filed my evidence and went over the situation with them, they closed the complaint. I can assure you that there is no fraud happening with our company. We have a great program and go to great lengths to see that each car we sell is of satisfactory condition. 722 is a great company to deal with and an entirely separate entity from Jake Sweeney Smartmart. Jake Sweeney Smartmart is only an approved dealer for 722s program.
Scotty Rienschield
Used Car Manager
Jake Sweeney Smartmart