Car Dealer or Indian Giver?
A used car dealer takes back the car he sold and keeps the money!
Last month Sonny Pierre bought a 2006 BMW M5 for $40,500 from Planet Motor Cars in Queens. He paid cash, making several payments over six weeks, until he had paid as much as $34,000, only then was he allowed to drive it off the lot. He says he felt there was something wrong with the front of the car's handling, so he took it to a BMW dealership to have it inspected.
The BMW dealership told him the car had been in a previous accident and there was as much as $4,000 - $5,000 worth of damage to it. So Sonny called his bank to stop payment on the last $6,500 installment on the car, then he drove back to Planet Motor Cars. Sonny says he wanted to talk to the dealer's owner to work out a new price.
When Sonny got back to the dealership, he says Planet Motor Cars' owner told him to wait in his office. While Sonny waited, the owner went outside to the car, removed the plates and registration and took the car back! When Sonny learned the car had been seized, he demanded his money back, but was told by Planet Motor Cars' owner, "I have no money for you, call the police!". So that's what Sonny did, he called the police. When the police arrived, Sonny was able to get the owner to sign a piece of paper stating he would return Sonny's money on March 2nd.
But when Sonny arrived on March 2nd to pick up his money, the owner kicked him off his property and told Sonny to take him to court. So Sonny called Help Me Howard and Howard went to talk to Planet Motor Cars' owner and get Sonny's money back. They went back and forth for a few days, but within a week Sonny got $29,000 back.
If you are shopping for a used car, run a Carfax vehicle history report BEFORE you buy the car, to see if the car was totaled, salvaged, stolen, flooded or rebuilt. Have a mechanic put the car up on a lift for inspection and check for accident damage BEFORE putting any money down. Avoid high mileage used cars and have your own financing and loan approvals ready before you go shopping for a car.
Comments: 5
Dear Howard on 02/17/09 I was sold a 2005 Toyota Sienna with tranmission damage and other car issues. I immidiately took the car back o Potamkin who is givin me the run around. I have not had the car for a two week and the car has been in the shop for repair. Please help.
Dear Howard, I don't know how a tag line including the slur "Indian giver" ended up on your blog, but I hope you remove it. This is inappropriate and given the true history of our (US) policies toward native Americans a surprisingly insensitive usage. This is not a message from the "political correctness police"... I'm all for the freest speech...it's just that this doesn't corelate with WB 11's normal commitment to empathy.
Dear Howard, I been rob clean from a used car dealership ! I went to Queens auto mall in Queens NY on atlantic ave. I put money down for a car. Came back and notice that they sold it. So I decided to get another car I put money down for that and they got me in some crazy finance deal ! I try to get out !told them, I want my money back they say no ! So I told them put the money to another car they did but ihad to put more money down! I did but I still don't have the car yet help me! Asap! Please contact me howard so I can get back my money !
Taniky Hylton 9175820164
Dear Howard, This is the first time I finance a vehicle thru a used car dealer. This dealer pretty much violated every consumer fraud law there is. I'm so embarrassed to say that the dealer never provided me with any documents on the vehicle,no contract,no warranty,no receipts of repairs. Now the vehicle is back in his possesion because it needs serious repairs with the engine and transmission. I made it very clear to the dealer that I do not want the vehicle I would like my refund back. The dealer still refuses to comply with me to resolve the matter. Every time I call him he hangs up on me, every time I go to his office he's no where to be found. I've done nothing but lose time and money and I'm tired of playing cat and mouse with this guy. I really don't know what else to do or who else to call. PLEASE HOWARD HELP ME! Now I have no car and I'm out of my refund I'm so embarrassed and depressed please help!
The Used Car Dealer that I forgot to mention is Sterling Motor Collection. They are no good.