I feel that I was taken advantage of at a local auto dealership. On 11/07/11, I purchased a 2004 Volvo S40 from Clear Lake Nissan in League City Tx. I was trading in a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier which was not paid for. I owed approximately $1900 on it. In addition to my trade in , I put down $1000 dollars. I drove the car for 1 week before they called me back and advised me that the lender was going to require more money down. I stated that I did not have any more money to put down. They stated that they would match me with a different lender that would accept my down payment as it was. The finance representative Ike Pettit that I was working with (who is mysteriously no longer there) said that he would get in contact with me and let me know for sure who the lender was going to be. I continued to drive the car.
On 11/17/11 Thursday, the check engine light came on. On 11/19 Saturday, I went to have the car serviced at Clear Lake Nissan so that it could be repaired. I was told that they were not going to be able to look at the vehicle that day because they had so many others to service and they closed at 3. They asked me to come back on Monday. On 11/19 Saturday afternoon, I was driving down the freeway, and turned on the air conditioner. All of a sudden smoke started coming out of the air vents, then the car started to misfire. I made it to a safe place, called my road side assistance and had the vehicle towed to Clear Lake Nissan. On Monday 11/21/11, I was informed by the service department that the heater coil was damaged which caused smoke to come out of the air vents. Also, it was leaking anti-freeze which caused the car to misfire. Next the gentleman proceeded to tell me that this was not covered under my "limited warranty" and that I would have to take it to a volvo dealership.
On Monday 11/21/11 I recieved a phone call from Consumer Mortgage (my auto financier) stating that I was delinquent on my payment for my 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier. The same vehicle that I had used as part of my trade in. I informed them that I traded that vehicle in two weeks prior, gave them the name of the dealership, who I worked with etc. I also informed them that they should be aware of this because I was financing my new volvo with them as well. They stated that they were not aware of any other vehicle that I am financing other than the Chevrolet Cavalier. So then I started to think, do I even own this vehicle? I contacted numerous people at Clear Lake Nissan and finally, I was able to speak to the Finance Manager Manny.
I explained everything that happened and how I felt that I was not responsible for the mechanical problems that the vehicle was experiencing. I further let him know that I was not 100% sure that this vehicle even belonged to me. He stated that he would call me back which he did and stated that if I wanted out of the deal, he would let me. He stated that I could have my trade-in back as well as my down payment of $1000.
On 11/22/11, I went back to Clear Lake Nissan for what felt like the 25th time, I went there to get my $1000 down payment, and my trade-in. I was informed when I got there, that my vehicle had been sold and is in Mexico. They offered me the option of repairing the volvo, (which did not belong to me) at a discounted rate, or accepting my $1000 dollar down payment back, and they paid off the balance of my loan to Consumer Mortgage for my Chevrolet Cavalier (approximately $1900). I chose to take my money back. I believe that the public should be made aware of the shady and questionable business practices that are being used in the automotive industry. I am a nursing student, and I work full time. I don't have the time or energy to deal with dishonest people that call themselves car dealers.
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