- Report: #82719
Complaint Review: Christopher's Dodge World - Golden Colorado
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Christopher's Dodge World
16655 West Colfax Avenue Golden, Colorado, U.S.A.
Phone:
303-238-7311
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Christopher's Dodge World ripoff, fraudulent disclosure of vehicles' condition upon sale Golden Colorado
To whom it may concern,
On November 24, 2003, I purchased a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM SE from Christopher's Dodge World located at 16655 West Colfax Avenue in the city of Golden, Jefferson county. Specifically, the vehicle was sold to my by Marie Ellison, titled Five Star Sales Representative. The total sales price per the credit sales contract was $10,635. The amount financed by Security Capital Lending Corporation is $6,999.88 with an annual percentage rate set at 21.00.
At the time of purchase, November 24, the odometer reading was 78,868 miles. At the time of purchase, Marie Ellison made it very clear to me that the vehicle in question had been given a thorough inspection by members of their own repair shop. Carfax Vehicle History Reported provided to me by Marie Ellison reiterated this.
As a buyer, I relied on the claim made by Marie Ellison that not only had the vehicle been checked out, but that the vehicle was in good working order as well. This was disclosed to me not only on a test drive of the vehicle in which Marie Ellison was present but in her office as well as can be testified by witness Armand George Ryan Mezey. If Marie Ellison had not given me a reliable guarantee of the vehicle, I would have had the vehicle inspected independently.
On December 8, 2003, I brought the vehicle in question to Midas Auto Service Experts located at 3000 Walnut Street in the city and county of Boulder due to a blatant overheating problem. There conclusion was that the thermostat was close to end of useful life, that the radiator cap no longer performs intended function, and that the lower intake gasket no longer performs intended function as well.
In addition, they concluded that the old coolant needed to be flushed out, and that a new cooling system cleanser, conditioner, sealer, and coolant needed to be installed. The total estimate provided to me from Midas totaled $800.69. At this point, the vehicle in question had an odometer reading of 80,438, only 1,570 miles more than the reading at the time of purchase.
On December 11, 2003, the vehicle was brought to 28th Street Garage located at 4730 Old Pearl Street in the city and county of Boulder. Their conclusion was as follows:
ENGINE OVERHEATING: CHECK & ADIVSE
Gauge reads high. Coolant boils out of overflow. Coolant light comes on & not getting heat out of heater (intermittent). Worse on high way.
Check coolant level (low). Pressure test cooling system. Found major coolant leak from the intake manifold gasket. Radiator cap is also leaking. Recommend replace intake manifold gaskets, thermostat, & radiator cap.
At this point, I made an effort to contact Christopher's Dodge World with the problem that existed. I initially attempted to speak with Marie Ellison who had me speak with a Sales Manager. The gentleman with whom I spoke told me the vehicle was sold as is. I asked him if there was a possibility of receiving a discount to have the necessary work done in their repair shop, but he declined my request.
He simply told me that the vehicle was purchased, as is, end of story. I was very unsatisfied with the service that was given to me on this particular call as it left me with zero options. The overheating problem continued to get worse and on December 22, 2003, the vehicle was serviced at Metro Car Services LLC, in the city and county of Denver.
At this time, the vehicle's thermostat was replaced, the antifreeze was drained and refilled, and a pressure check for leaks was administered. The test concluded that the intake gasket was in fact leaking. On February 27, 2004, I made a trip to Christopher's Dodge World to attempt to talk, in person, with a salesman. I told him of my problems with the vehicle and he advised to trade the vehicle in.
After completing the necessary paperwork, he forwarded the request on to a sales manager. I met with the sales manager briefly and he told me it was impossible to trade the vehicle in. I even asked him if I could trade the vehicle in for one with a much lower retail value, yet my request was denied again. After speaking with him I even asked if I could trade into a vehicle of greater value, but he informed me the bank needs consistency in payments for one year.
When I first purchased the vehicle, I spoke on the phone with the bank, Security Capital, about the payments on the vehicle. They asked if I was comfortable with the vehicle I was about to purchase. Specifically, the bank made it apparent to me that they wanted me in a vehicle that would require little repair so that I could make the monthly payments.
As a full-time college student, employed part-time, there is little room in a limited budget for the vehicle to have severe problems. Security Capital wanted to make sure that I was put into a vehicle that would last me the duration of the finance term. However this has not happened.
It is my conclusion that Christopher's Dodge World fraudulently represented this vehicle as being free of problems. In fact three independent repair companies verified the defect. In addition, it is my deduction that Christopher's Dodge World committed a felonious act in that they failed to make an inspection, yet portrayed the vehicle as passing their inspection. I have spent hundreds of dollars on this vehicle in repairs along with countless hours of walking and using public transportation due to the inoperability of this vehicle.
It is my belief that Christopher's Dodge World was well aware of these defects when they sold the vehicle to me. In fact, this article appeared in the December 31, 2003 Rocky Mountain News:
LOCAL
Licensing board closes Golden auto dealership
The Colorado Dealer Licensing Board has closed Christopher's Dodge World in Golden for two days because of false advertising.
The board also fined the dealership $70,000 and placed it on one year's probation for not making full disclosure in at least some of its newspaper ads.
Last year, the dealership was fined $23,000 and given a year's probation for another advertising violation. In 2000, the dealership was ordered to pay nearly $1,700 to settle a complaint.
Calls to the dealership for comment were not answered Tuesday.
If this does not constitute unethical sales practices, then I do not know what does. I feel it is only fair that at this point Christopher's Dodge World take the vehicle back and I am relieved of financial obligation. I am not seeking any damages or to even be reimbursed for my out of pocket expenses that ensued due to this fraudulent representation of the vehicle. If even the Colorado Dealer Licensing Board closed Christopher's Dodge World something is not right. Thank you.
Bo
Boulder, Colorado
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Pontiac
On November 24, 2003, I purchased a 1999 Pontiac Grand AM SE from Christopher's Dodge World located at 16655 West Colfax Avenue in the city of Golden, Jefferson county. Specifically, the vehicle was sold to my by Marie Ellison, titled Five Star Sales Representative. The total sales price per the credit sales contract was $10,635. The amount financed by Security Capital Lending Corporation is $6,999.88 with an annual percentage rate set at 21.00.
At the time of purchase, November 24, the odometer reading was 78,868 miles. At the time of purchase, Marie Ellison made it very clear to me that the vehicle in question had been given a thorough inspection by members of their own repair shop. Carfax Vehicle History Reported provided to me by Marie Ellison reiterated this.
As a buyer, I relied on the claim made by Marie Ellison that not only had the vehicle been checked out, but that the vehicle was in good working order as well. This was disclosed to me not only on a test drive of the vehicle in which Marie Ellison was present but in her office as well as can be testified by witness Armand George Ryan Mezey. If Marie Ellison had not given me a reliable guarantee of the vehicle, I would have had the vehicle inspected independently.
On December 8, 2003, I brought the vehicle in question to Midas Auto Service Experts located at 3000 Walnut Street in the city and county of Boulder due to a blatant overheating problem. There conclusion was that the thermostat was close to end of useful life, that the radiator cap no longer performs intended function, and that the lower intake gasket no longer performs intended function as well.
In addition, they concluded that the old coolant needed to be flushed out, and that a new cooling system cleanser, conditioner, sealer, and coolant needed to be installed. The total estimate provided to me from Midas totaled $800.69. At this point, the vehicle in question had an odometer reading of 80,438, only 1,570 miles more than the reading at the time of purchase.
On December 11, 2003, the vehicle was brought to 28th Street Garage located at 4730 Old Pearl Street in the city and county of Boulder. Their conclusion was as follows:
ENGINE OVERHEATING: CHECK & ADIVSE
Gauge reads high. Coolant boils out of overflow. Coolant light comes on & not getting heat out of heater (intermittent). Worse on high way.
Check coolant level (low). Pressure test cooling system. Found major coolant leak from the intake manifold gasket. Radiator cap is also leaking. Recommend replace intake manifold gaskets, thermostat, & radiator cap.
At this point, I made an effort to contact Christopher's Dodge World with the problem that existed. I initially attempted to speak with Marie Ellison who had me speak with a Sales Manager. The gentleman with whom I spoke told me the vehicle was sold as is. I asked him if there was a possibility of receiving a discount to have the necessary work done in their repair shop, but he declined my request.
He simply told me that the vehicle was purchased, as is, end of story. I was very unsatisfied with the service that was given to me on this particular call as it left me with zero options. The overheating problem continued to get worse and on December 22, 2003, the vehicle was serviced at Metro Car Services LLC, in the city and county of Denver.
At this time, the vehicle's thermostat was replaced, the antifreeze was drained and refilled, and a pressure check for leaks was administered. The test concluded that the intake gasket was in fact leaking. On February 27, 2004, I made a trip to Christopher's Dodge World to attempt to talk, in person, with a salesman. I told him of my problems with the vehicle and he advised to trade the vehicle in.
After completing the necessary paperwork, he forwarded the request on to a sales manager. I met with the sales manager briefly and he told me it was impossible to trade the vehicle in. I even asked him if I could trade the vehicle in for one with a much lower retail value, yet my request was denied again. After speaking with him I even asked if I could trade into a vehicle of greater value, but he informed me the bank needs consistency in payments for one year.
When I first purchased the vehicle, I spoke on the phone with the bank, Security Capital, about the payments on the vehicle. They asked if I was comfortable with the vehicle I was about to purchase. Specifically, the bank made it apparent to me that they wanted me in a vehicle that would require little repair so that I could make the monthly payments.
As a full-time college student, employed part-time, there is little room in a limited budget for the vehicle to have severe problems. Security Capital wanted to make sure that I was put into a vehicle that would last me the duration of the finance term. However this has not happened.
It is my conclusion that Christopher's Dodge World fraudulently represented this vehicle as being free of problems. In fact three independent repair companies verified the defect. In addition, it is my deduction that Christopher's Dodge World committed a felonious act in that they failed to make an inspection, yet portrayed the vehicle as passing their inspection. I have spent hundreds of dollars on this vehicle in repairs along with countless hours of walking and using public transportation due to the inoperability of this vehicle.
It is my belief that Christopher's Dodge World was well aware of these defects when they sold the vehicle to me. In fact, this article appeared in the December 31, 2003 Rocky Mountain News:
LOCAL
Licensing board closes Golden auto dealership
The Colorado Dealer Licensing Board has closed Christopher's Dodge World in Golden for two days because of false advertising.
The board also fined the dealership $70,000 and placed it on one year's probation for not making full disclosure in at least some of its newspaper ads.
Last year, the dealership was fined $23,000 and given a year's probation for another advertising violation. In 2000, the dealership was ordered to pay nearly $1,700 to settle a complaint.
Calls to the dealership for comment were not answered Tuesday.
If this does not constitute unethical sales practices, then I do not know what does. I feel it is only fair that at this point Christopher's Dodge World take the vehicle back and I am relieved of financial obligation. I am not seeking any damages or to even be reimbursed for my out of pocket expenses that ensued due to this fraudulent representation of the vehicle. If even the Colorado Dealer Licensing Board closed Christopher's Dodge World something is not right. Thank you.
Bo
Boulder, Colorado
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Pontiac
