Evil Car Dealership.

First and foremost, this story will veer towards the personal side since it involves a recent incident at Marine Chrysler  Dodge in Vancouver. But you should read it so one, you don’t ever get yourself into my situation. Two, if you do, maybe here are some tips on how to deal with it.

So let’s get to the story, and let me tell you, it is appalling.

End of April this year (so very recently) the lease on my ’08 Jeep Wrangler was up so I went into the dealership to see what my options are.  Not surprisingly, the balloon payment was atrocious. So I opted to look at a new vehicle provided that I can keep my payment the same and the amortization period reasonable. The sales person was rather helpful and sold me on this really pretty “Islander Package”. At this point, I had put a deposit down at the sales person’s instructions that it’s just procedure and I’ll get it back in about 5 minutes. This was Thursday around 6pm. I was told by the Business Manager after the deposit that the bank is closed and I didn’t get an auto approval so that I’ll have to wait till tomorrow.

Friday, after work I went into the dealership again after being notified that I wasn’t approved for financing and I would need my mother on the loan. I refused to get my mother involved. I forgot what excuse they gave me, but somehow I was to come back tomorrow and it was all going to work out since I was dropping off my lease anyway.

On Saturday, I took my leased vehicle to the glass shop to get the cracks fixed. Which, when I was at the dealership on Thursday the mobile insurance guy who had done up my permit completely messed up and I had the most basic coverage on the car and I wasn’t even aware of this. After, a direct instruction to keep the coverage the same. So the glass ended costing me the full price. OK, I accept that the glass was more or less my responsibility. After the glass was fixed I went to the dealership again to drop off the previous lease. Now this time at the dealership I was dealing with another Business Manager. So counting the sales man I have already deal with 3 different people and feeling I was getting a bit of a run-around. The manager today told me that he will work on it again since I did get approved for an amount that was very close so he will try and push it through. But once again, the bank is closed and I would have to come back on Monday. Knowing my rent cheque would clear on my Monday, I asked if I can get my deposit back. Oh sorry, the signing manager isn’t in so that would have to wait till Monday.

So I called my landlord to put off depositing the cheque for another day thinking on Monday, I’m either taking the vehicle or I’m not. Either way, I would get my deposit back.  (It was a zero down situation). Monday comes, again I went in after work. I was told I did get approved for financing but the terms were way off. So at this point I said probably not this time. I’ll wait on buying a new vehicle, but I’d like to get my deposit back since now we’re no longer doing the deal. Again, I was told there was nobody to sign. I asked if it can just go back on my debit card since that’s how they originally took my money. The terminal should be 24/7. No, that’s not possible, the owner (the owner now, not the manager) would have to sign off on everything, and that I was to come back on Tuesday.

At this point, I’m peeved. I’ve been at the dealership Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday already and have on numerous occasion cited I don’t want the deal, it wasn’t going to work and I don’t want my mother involved. I have a feeling that I wasn’t going to get my money back.

Tuesday, I did some research and faxed them a formal request letter citing that if I did not get my money back and whoever needs to sign to release money didn’t sign, I will be taking the case to small claims court for the original deposit plus additional damages as well submitting the case to the Better Business Bureau. I has also called in to confirm that the fax was received. On the phone, I was told the manager (who didn’t have any signing authority two days ago) was looking after it. I instructed them that if she had no signing authority she shouldn’t be looking after the letter since it had explicitly stated that it be dealt with by the owner or person with the same signing authority.

After work, again I went into the dealership. I was told first of all that I had over $600 of damages to pay for on my lease vehicle. Keep in mind I just paid over $300 for a windshield. The entire windshield. What would possibly cost $600 unless I ran into a moose? The report stated that it was a stain on the carpet. I checked it out. It was an about pancake sized spot of mud. Just in case you forgot, it was a Jeep. A vehicle built for off-road and washouts. And these jokers were going to bill me over $500 for a carpet shampoo. Seriously? Not related to the $300 deposit? Coincidence? I think not. Second of all, that they did have the money for me BUT I would have to sign to release the dealership of any claims I have against them. Um… I don’t think so? As a consumer, I believe I have the right to file the case to the BBB at my discretion and release the story to any news and media as I wish. I was not releasing anything. Nowhere on my letter states that amending the terms was part of the equation. So I said I’ll sign it, only under the condition that both parties understand that I’m not releasing my rights as a consumer.

This time, the owner Ted – a very rude man let me tell you who tries too hard trying to convince himself he isn’t, said he doesn’t agree to my additional terms, and that no where in his amendments to my terms says I may amend his. Um, excuse me but where did I say you can amend mine Ted? He said he wasn’t playing this game with me and that he wasn’t giving me my money back till I agree to his terms. I ask asked what game we’re playing first of all and second of all on what grounds he’s holding my deposit. What right did he have to hold my money. He refused to answer and said he was “going home” that he “didn’t need to be here to deal with me”.

After everything, I verbally stated that I will sign his scribbles of “releasing any claim against Marine Chrysler Dodge Jeep” only so I can get my money back that rightfully belonged to me, however I did not sign under my free will and that I was wrangled into the agreement and by signing is in now an indication that I release my right as a consumer to seek action against the dealership.

What’s really funny is that the manager without any signing authority – Ricky is her name, do not deal with her. This is the second time I’ve had to deal with Ricky albeit this time not directly, got in her truck and was spying on me when I was in the showroom and later followed me to the service department and again spying on my through her car.

I also have the entire conversation on audio recording and would love to supply any news/media a copy so that these people can stop hurting consumers. Contact me anyway you want. I can be reached by phone, email or Twitter.