Complaint Review: Courtesy Ford of Portland - Portland Oregon

TO:  Haydilza, customer relations, Ford Motor Company ,

 

Thank you for taking the time to inquire about my experience purchasing two new vehicles from Courtesy Ford of Portland, Oregon.  Allow me the opportunity to answer the specific questions you posed followed by an excerpt from e-mail I send to an aide from Senator Merkley's office regarding my very negative experience where I was coerced into signing what amounts to an indemnification of Courtesy Ford from the vagaries of the CARS program despite proscriptions against the same on the official government CARS website and my admonishing the dealer regarding this fact.  Please see below:

 

Address: PO Box 1711/5291 W. Skokomish Valley Rd. City: Shelton State: WA Zip Code: 98584 Cellular Phone Number: (360)427-xxxx (let ring 10+ times) Daytime Phone Number: (360)427-xxxx (let ring 10+ times) Home Phone Number: (360)427-xxxx (let ring 10+ times) Exact name and Location of the Dealership Involved: Courtesy Ford of Portland, OR .

1313 NE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97230 (tel. # 503-255-1771 )

 

The vehicle I purchased using the government CARS rebate was a 2009 Ford Focus SE

vin #:1FAHP32N89W147806

The vehicle I sold/transferred title to Courtesy Ford for the CARS was a 1993 4x4 Ranger

vin #:1FTCR11XXPUC97138

The vehicle I purchased/took possession of using the proceeds was a 2009 4x4 Ranger

vin #:1FTZR45E99PA63885

 

All my life I have purchased Ford vehicles/trucks including new ones since I was a teenager.  I love the Ford line of vehicles and was very impressed with the 2009 Focus SE.

But I'm heartsick at being insulted by the staff at Courtesy Ford and being forced to aid and abet Courtesy Ford's violation of the CARS program proscription against forcing me to indemnify the dealer, especially in light of the fact any failure in receiving the government's promised rebate could easily be due to Courtesy Ford making application errors through no fault of my own but due to their own mistakes!  Were it within my power, I'd recommend Courtesy Ford seek indemnification from an insurance company that traffics in such matters or possibly the Ford Motor Company.  I resent being handed the document I'm file attaching and being directed to sign it in the middle of the night (11:00pm) after the dealer had locked its doors and turned out the lights and left me with no other transportation in a strange city in another state with no way home and the keys to the 1993 4x4 Ranger I'd brought locked and unretrievable at the time of the demand as well as having already signed over title to Courtesy Ford and having made other irreversible commitments or alterations the left me with no options but to sign under protest/(reserved).

 

I hasten to add that John Dunn , himself, was about the best Ford salesman I've ever worked with.  He was patient, professional, and helpful.  Without him, my deal would never have gone forward.  Another employee (Michael) was insulting and, to make matters worse, apparently Mr. Dunn's superior.  I noticed, after this entire affair on the night of Friday, 8-14-09, a website critique of the Courtesy Ford from another customer I'm including the link to below for your convenience:

http://www.ripoffreport.com/COURTESY-FORD/Auto-Dealers/RIPPED-OFF-BY-COURTESY-FORD-PO-F5FWW.htm

 

I can only say after my own experience the criticism/complaint sounded entirely plausible.

In my case, I wasn't given copies of the documents I signed until days later after complaining repeatedly.  I didn't even get a trip permit until days later and was given no proof of purchase/interest of/in the 2009 4x4 Ford Ranger I received other than a 'borrowed' document with no vin number or other identifying numbers.  In fact, even now, I have NO documents with a Courtesy Ford representative's signature, although I noticed they have cashed the check I wrote them on 8-14-09!

 

Finally, there is the matter of them charging me $50 for a service I didn't require and the dealer did not provide, i.e. the handling fee for registering the 2009 Ford Focus SE.  I drove it off the lot (took physical and legal possession) and drove it right back on the lot to sell it for over $5,000 less than I paid for it (full MSRP).  All of this had been contemplated by all parties including due dilligence as to whether it was permitted.  It was, there were no proscriptions against selling the vehicle I had purchased and all parties were agreeable before I left home for an inter-state trip to Portland, OR.  Besides the $50, there was an additional $500 I was short changed, but 'Michael' told me he would send me a check for that amount after Courtesy Ford received the CARS rebate although he gave me nothing in writing confirming his oral promise.  I can honestly say my experience (except for dealing with John Dunn) was the worst car buying experience (given its magnitude) of my life.

 

***E-Mail to Senator Merkley's office:                               ***

"Joel Corcoran,

Thank you for returning my call.  I am complaining about being bullied and coerced into signing a document I protested against.  I pointed out the fact there was explicit language on the federal government's official 'cars' website prohibiting requiring a customer to indemnify the dealer against such exposure.  Not only is Courtesy Ford picking and choosing which requirments it wishes to honor in the 'cars' program, but it has forced me to indemnify it against errors it may be responsible for having committed itself that have nothing to do with any omissions on my part.  Hence, it's patently unfair and contrary to the program requirements if one chooses to participate as Courtesy Ford has done.

 

They are not listening to me.  I'm too small and don't have a big enough voice.  I'm hoping your office will represent consumers fairly in this matter as it benefits all citizens in Oregon to require Oregon businesses to comply with the law and government regulations they opt to utilize to their benefit.

 

It was 11:00pm on a Friday night (08-14-09) when I was required to sign the document I'm attaching in the lot of the dealership after having already signed my vehicle over to them and made irreversible changes I could not back out of for many practical reasons.  I had little choice but to sign it although I protested its 'legality' as contrary to the program requirements.  The dealership office had already been locked and closed behind us and the keys to my 1993 Ford 4x4 Ranger had been placed in a locked box that could not be retrieved even by their salesman, John Dunn .  I could not take back my trade-in, I had already transferred title to Courtesy Ford, and I had already written them a check in full for the vehicle.  Please help me by persuading Courtesy Ford to treat me fairly and in accordance with the 'cars' program proscription against such practices as their representative (Michael) said Courtesy Ford does/did for other purchasers of a 2009 Ford Focus taking advantage of the government 'cars' trade-in rebate.  Even my salesman, John Dunn, admitted I was treated differently in this respect.

 

I have other supporting documents as well if you'd like me to send them.

 

Thank you for taking the time to work with me on this issue."

 

TO:  Ripoffreport.com readers,

 

The following is the text of the indemnification Courtesy Ford insisted on contrary to the rules of the government CARS rebate program posted on the government official CARS web site.  Courtesy Ford was informed of this and waited until 11:00 p.m. on 8-14-09 (Friday night) to present me with this document to sign over my protest.  The vehicle I had driven from Shelton, WA was locked up on their lot with the key in a box that could not be opened and Courtesy Ford already having had the title to my '93 4x4 Ranger signed over to them.  I was in a different state (Oregon) in a strange city (Portland) with no transportation or way home.  I literally had to sign this document on the side window of the 2009 4x4 Ranger I was purchasing after having traded in a 2009 Focus SE with no miles for it.

 

TEXT of Prohibitted Language Courtesy Ford improperly used to require customer (me) to indemnify the dealership against the vagaries of the CARS program:

 

ADDENDUM AGREEMENT

 

Much of the information pertaining to the actual documentation of the CARS program is uncertain and the government may cancel the program at any time if they believe they have used up the allotted funds.  In an attempt to assist our customers in taking advantage of this opportunity, the Purchaser/Purchasers agree to assist Courtesy Ford Lincoln Mercury in providing any and all information necessary to obtain the CARS incentive voucher.  Purchaser understands they may be required to re-sign documents multiple times in order to comply with CARS and State laws as they become available to Courtesy Foord Lincoln Mercury.

 

ASSUMPTION OF RISK

 

Should the CARS program, deny the incentive amount listed below due to program cancellation, lack of funds or invalid data provided by the Purchaser, Purchaser shall have the option of paying the Incentive Voucher Amount to Courtesy Ford Lincoln Mercury or immediately return the new vehicle purchased to Courtesy Ford Lincoln Mercury in the same condition it was received and Courtesy Ford Lincoln Mercury shall pay the Estimated Scrappage Value to the Purchaser since the Trade-in Vehicle must be sent to a salvage company and scrapped before the Incentive Voucher can be applied for.  All monies received by Courtesy Ford Lincold Mercury from the Purchaser shall be returned to the Purchaser in full and the transaction shall be deemed null and void.  In the event purchaser does NOT return the New Vehicle Purchased to Courtesy Ford Lincoln Mercury within 48 hours of notice, purchaser shall be responsible for paying the full Incentive Voucher Amount to Courtesy Ford Mercury upon demand.

date: 8-14-09

CARS Incentive Voucher Amount $4,500.00

New Vehicle Purchased VIN: 1FAHP32N89W147806

Trade-In Vehicle VIN: 1FTCR11XXPUC97138

Estimated Scrappage Value: $100.00 (I paid $2,500 for it and another $2,500 repairs)

Purchaser Signature:  Xxxxx, CEO (reserved)

Purchaser Printed Name: Xxxxx, CEO

Purchaser Signature: Xxxxxx, CEO (reserved)

Purchaser Printed Name: Xxxxxxx, CEO/Amicus Curia Collections, Inc.