Complaint Review: University Chevrolet - Tom Moore Chevrolet - Tampa Florida

My husband and I attended a car tent sale on May 24, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium. University/Tom Moore Chevrolet was one of the dealerships there. Unfortunately, due to heavy rain, we were unable to do much, as the rain affected the computer equipment that was set up. The following weekend, May 30, 2009, we received a call from the dealership's general manager, Jeff Nunn. He told my husband that he wanted to make a deal for us and to come down, and he will make the numbers work. We spent five hours at the dealership dealing with Duane Fisher and another salesman named Tony. They told me that I was approved for a 2009 Malibu, which is now used, because it had been previously titled. The Malibu only had a little over 9000 miles on it. The following day, May 31, I sign the purchase documents and took possession of the vehicle. When we asked for a second set of keys, we were told it was probably in their service area, which was locked because it was a Sunday. That day, I dealt with Danny, another salesman, and Amy Cline, the finance manager. On Monday, June 1, I took the car in to get detailed, when I asked again about the second key, Duane tells me that the original owner never returned the second set and that he will check if another keyfob is available.

On Saturday, June 6, we receive a voicemail from Duane stating that Amy could not get the banks to approve the financing, and that I now needed a cosigner if I wanted to keep the vehicle. I immediately discovered a practice called spot delivery/yo-yo scam that car dealerships do in order to drive up their quotas and to get more money out of customers, in particular, customers with less than perfect credit. Given the current state of the economy, I am one of those numerous people as I've got medical bills, a foreclosure and a bankruptcy on my credit. We contacted a lawyer to see if I had any options available to me, because I refused to get a cosigner. It wasn't what I signed for and agreed to. I want the car on the terms that they told me I was approved for. While we were researching my options and disputing the issue, someone from the dealership came to my job looking for me, called my home on numerous occasions, came to my home looking for the vehicle, and eventually took the car that had been registered to me out of my job's parking lot, which is gated and the only way to get in is with an electronic parking pass. This was on Thursday, June 18. The dealership is en route to my job and I have seen my car sitting in their lot up for sale again. I still have the key.

I am aware of the clause in their sales contract stating that purchase is subject to financing approval. However, I was led to believe that financing was not an issue and that the car was indeed mine. Had I been aware that financing was not final, I would've never taken the car. The people at this dealership were also knowledgeable of my credit and still led me to believe that my credit would not be a problem. I do feel victimized and taken advantage of because of issues with my credit. Now, my family is at an inconvenience again as there is only one car for two able-bodied adults and an infant. What happened to me is not what I expected of the GM brand, a brand that I grew up with and respected.

I understand that these dealerships must make certain quotas and sales in order to keep the licensing and privileges that your company has extended to them. What I don't understand is using deceptive sales tactics in order to do so. Duane even admitted to my husband during the tent sale that cars have been returned because financing did not work out and the customers returned the cars. Which would explain why my used 2009 Malibu had 9000 miles on it. It seems like this dealership is only moving the product around to make it seem like they are selling more than what they actually are, only to get the cars back a few weeks after they have reported that they sold X number of cars. These practices eventually make the corporation, in this case General Motors, look bad because these dealerships are a reflection of the corporation.

Yasava

Tampa, Florida

U.S.A.