Complaint Review: Auto Marketing Group - Internet

The Auto Marketing Group contacted me last August.  I had my Vehicle “For Sale” on Kijiji.  When they first called, they even said they had a buyer for it and would pay the price I was asking.  I just was required to pay $500 down, to ensure that I don’t sell it privately within 90 days. If they don’t sell it, I will get my money back, less $99.  

I told them I would get back to them as I had to think about it. They continued to call me at least twice a day.  Then finally, I decided I would take a chance, especially since they said they already had a buyer for it.  I gave them my credit card number.  I was told that someone would be contacting me, to come out and inspect the vehicle.  Within those 90 days, I never heard one word from them after my Credit Card was processed.  I would try calling them, and they would tell me that my rep. would get back to me and never would.  I did make contact once and was told the deal went through on the guy who was going to purchase it as he lied to them; but there are still others who are looking at buying it.

I waited patiently for those 90 days to end and I turned down anyone who made an offer, as that was a condition of me selling through Auto Marketing.  When the 90 days ended.  I filled out the paper work, hired a lawyer to sign off on the documentation swearing that the vehicle was still in my possession and that it was still for sale.  I sent the paperwork by express post to get there in the time frame that they requested.  Again, I never heard back from them, so for two months, I kept calling them.  I would get the same answer.  Your request is being processed.  Then I finally called again, and told them that they needed to give me a better answer then my claim is being processed.  This time they told me that I didn’t qualify for the refund because I didn’t send in a copy of my vehicle registration.  I got upset with the man and asked him why they wouldn’t honour the signature of a lawyer who made me swear under oath? I also told him that no where on the return policy does it say I have to send in my vehicle registration.   I told him, that I would e-mail him a copy of my registration right now, but he said, I would have to fill out all the paperwork again, get a lawyer to sign off and send in a copy of my registration and express post it to a different department now.  At this time I was very frustrated.  

My husband called him regarding getting my money back and he was told that I wouldn’t get a refund because I was verbally swearing at the guy on the phone.  Not once did I swear to the man.  Yes, I got angry and told him that the company was a rip off, but I did not once use a swear word. Needless to say, I lost a couple sales on my vehicle because I had 90 days with them and I honored my contract with them. I lost a total of $600 between paying them, sending envelopes by express post and hiring a lawyer to have me swear an oath that I still owned the vehicle. I have read through yahoo a couple other people having the same exact experience as me.   I also contacted Troubleshooters here in Canada and was told that a Consumer Report was done on them because others were scammed.  I called my Credit Card Company and they too have had complaints about this company and the reason they use 90 days, is because that is the length of time a person has to dispute a claim in Canada.  In Canada, if someone does not provide the service as promised, they would be required to send back a refund. 

Honestly, I didn’t get one call back from them.  No matter how hard I read the fine print on requesting my refund and even going to the extent of hiring a lawyer and have me swear under oath, it wasn’t good enough for them.  They still refused to give me my refund.  Then when my husband asked for a phone number to dispute it, they refused to give it to him because I got upset with them. At this point, I don’t care about the money.  However; I do care that someone else will be scammed that might be in a worse financial position then us.  I am also on the “National Do Not Call List”, but that didn’t matter to them.  They used my Kijjiji advertisement to scam me.  Not only did I lose a couple sales on my vehicle, I also lost $600.  The reason I was trying to sell my vehicle in the first place was to try and get finances in order and to get ahead.  Instead I got totally ripped off. I don’t want anyone going through the nightmare I did with this company. 

I was totally expecting to have my vehicle sold by Christmas, since I registered with them in September or least get my money back.  It is now February, they didn’t sell my vehicle and they refuse to give my money back.  I really don’t want anyone else going through this nightmare I went through with this company.  They are so convincing and even tell you upfront they have a buyer, but it was all a scam.  I am ashamed to even know companies like this exist.