Complaint Review: Route 23 Honda - Pompton Plains New Jersey

Route 23 Honda of Pomptain Plains, NJ, charged the following erroneous charges to my contract:

1.)Window etching/dealer add charge of $1,300.00 (was to be as equipped, with no additional charges)

2.)Was charged $1,600.00 for a Honda Care 100,000 and $500.00 for GAP insurance (I was told this would cost $2.00 to $3.00 extra for both)

3.) I was quoted a 4.2 annual percentage rate and was actually given a 6.9 annual percentage rate.

4.) I went onto Honda's site to their finance section and put in the purchase price (including the above erroneous charges), deposit amount with the 6.9 APR percentage rate and it told me the same monthly payment I was given by Honda for 60 months instead of 66 months!! So, they were trying also to have me make 6 months extra worth of payments -- how is this possible?!

This is my entire purchasing experience with your Route 23 Honda. The account is painstakingly detailed in the following paragraphs.

In the beginning of August, I came in and test drove a Honda Odyssey with Route 23 Honda's sales representative, Elio Castaldo. Elio received approval to match a price given to me by Honda of Mahwah of $23,230.00 on a 2005 Honda Odyssey LX, with no additional fees. I was very excited to become a "new" Honda customer (as I never owned a Honda before and only heard good things about their vehicles).

On August 8, 2005, I came in to write up a contract for my new 2005 Honda Odyssey. Elio was out that day taking a Honda class, so their sales consultant, Mike Wadhwa, waited on me.

The contract was written up by Mike who let me forge my husband's name on the first written contract. He told me to come in the next day with my husband to co-sign, because I am a homemaker and do not have income to make a car payment. Then I take home my new vehicle.

I was called the next morning by Mike and was told my car was ready and I was approved on my own because I had a better credit history than my husband. Mike told me that I needed to arrive before 11:00 because all the staff was having its daily morning meeting at 11:30. I arrived at Honda at 10:45.

While getting ready to sign papers, I asked Jerry what the cost would be for Honda's 100,000 mile warranty. He told me it would only cost me between $2.00 and $3.00 extra per monthly payment and proceeded telling me about your GAP insurance details, and made it sound like both were one in the same. I said to him, why wouldn't anyone take the warranty at this cost? He said, "exactly," in agreement with me. Jerry rushed me through completing the paperwork, since he needed to get into his meeting shortly thereafter. He explained everything was the same as the contract I signed the day before with Mike.

When Jerry told me my total monthly car payment, I was shocked and asked why it was so high on a $20,000 loan. Instead of reviewing the numbers, he just increased the time-frame of the loan to 66 months, so that it would be lower. I should have realized right then that there was an issue, but I was being rushed because of your internal sales meeting.

A week or so later, I received my Honda Care warranty in the mail, where it showed that I paid $1,600.00 for this warranty! I was shocked, because I expected it to say under $200.00 with the price quoted by Jerry. This is when I realized I needed to go over every small detail of my contract.

I was given a much higher finance charge than originally quoted.. Elio, Mike and Jerry, all told me I would be receiving a 4.2 annual percentage rate for having good credit history. I was given a rate quote by my husband's credit union of 3.7%. However, to make things easier, I decided to go with Honda Financing at only a 1/2 percent higher. However, I was actually given a 6.9% annual percentage rate -- 2.7% higher than quoted! This is deplorable, and I think that their dealership should make additional amends for this error through some other means, since I understand it's not possible to change the rate.

After this, I decided to run a credit report on my husband and paid the additional fees to also receive our credit scores. I found, both my husband and I have excellent credit. I noticed that I was now suddenly employed by Briteway Cleaners as of August 2005. I called TransUnion and told them I was not currently employed. I asked where they got their information from and they had told me through Honda!! I waas wondering how I was able to get approved without being employed for almost 5 years, now I know!

Route 23 Honda, say you have a commitment to excellence. Their goal is to provide me with the highest quality of service for my vehicle in a professional and courteous manner. Let me reassure you, I felt none of that. I have been trying to get in touch with someone -- anyone -- who would help me out. I was calling Jerry for weeks, then a couple weeks later, I called and he no longer worked there and I was told to speak with LaMonte Mejia, the sales manager. I left messages upon messages for Jerry Conforth and LaMonte Mejia, and no one returned my calls. The receptionist told me that if I wanted to get anything settled, my best bet was to come in. Every time I called I know he was physically there, because I would ask the receptionist, if I came in now would LaMonte be in the office. I was always told yes.

It wasn't until I showed up in their facility that I was actually able to speak with LaMonte. He claimed he didn't return my calls because of personal reasons (he claims he had his wisdom tooth pulled and has been in and out of the office). If that were the case (which it wasn't, because I knew he was physically there every time I called), I'm not sure why message wasn't forwarded to someone who could assist me.

Supposedly LaMonte claims that everything will be corrected after he receives a letter confirming everything I told him. I faxed sent the letter out September 19th and left him a follow-up message the next day to make sure he got it, plus I had additional questions. Not surprising, my phone call has yet to be returned!

Karen

Bloomingdale, New Jersey
U.S.A.

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