new truck buyers beware

[JWilkinson]

If you do NOT have license plates on the expiration date of temporary tags go to your tax assesor and ask if it has been registered. If NOT, pay the fee to find out just who it is registered to. Ask who to comlplain to, should be an auto enforcement division of the state attorney general's office. I hope this will help someone else in my same situation, or better prevent it. I bought a new CTD Feb. 14 and dealer wont give me the tags YET. In Texas dealers have 20 days to register a new vehicle. So much for 5 STAR DEALERS.

 

[HBarlow]

This has never happened to me or anyone I know.



Reputable auto dealerships don't intentionally play such games. They would bring the long arm of state government down on themselves very quickly and they know it. There is more to this story. Either there is an issue with title to a trade or payment for the new vehicle.

 

[JWilkinson]

dealer didn't pay the taxes

No problem with trade or title. Bank has documented the dealer was paid in full. By paying the fee at the tax assesor I have PROOF the dealer did NOT pay the taxes or register the truck in my name. The Attorney General is sending a complaint form. I WILL send the documentation. You are right. It is hard to believe the dealer NEEDS the interest free loan.

 

[HBarlow]

What does the dealership say about the matter? Have you spoken with the owner or general manager?



Do you believe the dealership is in bad financial shape and floating your money?



If you believe the dealership is abusing you why don't you publish the name?



In 1994 I bought a 1 1/2 year old Airsteam TT in El Paso, TX from one of the very old original Airstream dealers in TX and the southwest. The dealership was named Land Yacht, I believe, and was operated by the son and daughter of the founder who was deceased.



I traded another Airstream in on it which I owed a small balance on to my credit union. Ten days or two weeks after the transaction was completed I received a note from my credit union that my payment was not made.



I was hot! I picked up the phone and called the woman co-owner at Land Yacht who I had bought the trailer from. I told her if my credit union was not able to report that my balance was paid in full within three days my next calls would be to the El Paso district attorney and the TX Attorney General's office.



When I contacted my credit union a couple days later my loan was paid in full.



Land Yacht Trailer Sales folded within a year of my purchase. They weren't making it with the influx of cheap, throw away TTs they were trying to compete against.



I felt sorry for them later. A grand old family business went down the tube.

 

[JWilkinson]

I finally got to speak to the general manager today. He blamed the state for the paper work problem. He said he will send a "blue sticker" to put on the temp. plate so I wont be ticketed. I am No lawyer. A bank examiner, my bank, and YES an HONEST 5-STAR Dealer have come to my rescue. My temp. plates expired Fri. I WENT to the dealer Thur. and was given the brush off. When I called back, I was told NOT to go to my local court house to in quire about plates. I got suspicious!! Numerous phone calls have been made both by me and in my behalf. Today the dealership in question told me it would be another 3 weeks before I can get plates. Texas DOT told me I have a legal problem but they cannot offer any help. Truck is sitting in the driveway. I want this settled before rigging for gooseneck. Another reason I am so skeptical is the dealer that I trusted was bought out. The NEW company has been in the news for NOT paying off loans for trade-ins. I am NOT anti-dealer. I went to this one because of the specific truck. Nothing like this has ever happened to me either. When the economy slows, just beware and dont take everything for granted.

 

[HBarlow]

You might be wise to contact an attorney. If this dealership is teetering on the edge of going down the toilet somebody is going to lose some money. If you act quickly and forcefully you might be one of the customers who doesn't get screwed.

 

[MMeier]

I finally got to speak to the general manager today. He blamed the state for the paper work problem. He said he will send a "blue sticker" to put on the temp. plate so I wont be ticketed. I am No lawyer. A bank examiner, my bank, and YES an HONEST 5-STAR Dealer have come to my rescue. My temp. plates expired Fri. I WENT to the dealer Thur. and was given the brush off. When I called back, I was told NOT to go to my local court house to in quire about plates. I got suspicious!! Numerous phone calls have been made both by me and in my behalf. Today the dealership in question told me it would be another 3 weeks before I can get plates. Texas DOT told me I have a legal problem but they cannot offer any help. Truck is sitting in the driveway. I want this settled before rigging for gooseneck. Another reason I am so skeptical is the dealer that I trusted was bought out. The NEW company has been in the news for NOT paying off loans for trade-ins. I am NOT anti-dealer. I went to this one because of the specific truck. Nothing like this has ever happened to me either. When the economy slows, just beware and dont take everything for granted.

Names !!!!

 

[MOates]

Names !!!!

With possible legal action in the offing, it's probably best he doesn't name names for the time being.

 

[JWilkinson]

back to the tax assesor

I was informed this am I may have to testify for the Attorney General in either a civil or criminal case. I received more misdocumented paperwork this am and the tax assesor noted more irregularities. The dealership was called by the tax assesor and informed it would go to "enforcement". The tax assesor photocopied several documents. In the meantime the dealer is calling me with the good guy, bad guy routine. As soon as I hear from the Attorney General I will post the name. Just because this dealer is a rotten apple in my in my opinion I do want to thank an honest 5-Star Dealer for his help.

 

[captainmike]

No tags for a used car

This sounds very familar. I bought a 2001 Grand Cherokee in Jan 07. Same story. I paid in full at the time of purchase. The check cleared. 30 days passed and still no tags, even after repeated calls to the dealer. We always got different excuses on each call. To avoid me being put in jail for killing the dealer, my wife went to see the general manager. She told them that if we didn't have tags in the next 5 days, legal action would be taken. The manager was down right nasty to her, but 3 days later we had our tags. Guess the dealer was using our money and not paying off the previous loan on the Jeep. oh yes, the name: It was: Dade Jeep Chrysler in south Miami.

Needless to say, they are off my list.