ComplaintsforAuto by Rent Inc

• Initial Complaint

  08/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I first bought a car from this dealership a few years ago and had no problems at all. The engine ended up going out on that car in December. I went back to this dealership and they first put me in a car that was not reliable whatsoever. I contacted them once again and asked them what else they had. They informed me of what they had and I decided on the car I now have. It's a 2004 Acura MDX. They told me I would have to put more money down, which I put $800, and the manager stated he would take $1000 off the asking price to help me out. I also asked for my payments to be bi weekly, when I get paid. I recently found out, they did not put the $800 towards my down payment. And, they did not make my due dates what I asked for. I have addressed the due dates previously, but they said once everything is signed, it's set in stone. That's another thing they lied about, they have told me they could be changed. Now, I can't even drive this car and the dealer is not doing anything about like they said they would. I explained to them that by the time I get off work, they are closed. They will need to go to my house and try to figure this out for me since I only live about a mile from the dealership. They have done that in the past. I also told them, since it's not running, and I don't know why, I can't get it to them anyway. I have told them, in a reasonable time frame, other things that have come up, like the check engine light, wipers not working correctly, etc and they just blow me off and tell me they don't know what the problem is. As far as the wipers, they will get stuck on the window, and I was told by the salesman, well it doesn't do it when I turn them on!! Something needs to be done about this place. They are taking advantage of people who just need a car.

  Business response

  09/12/2023

  ****** is a previous paid off customer of ours. She paid off her first vehicle back in September of 2021. She returned to us in January of 2023 with the need for a vehicle but not very much money for a down payment. She had been a good customer so we got her approved for $650 down on a Chevrolet Malibu. When it came time to pick the car up on 1/7/23 she only had $612 so we made that work. She had some mechanical issues with this car right out of the gate. It wasn’t anything covered under the powertrain warranty but she hadn’t had it long so we offered to switch her into a different vehicle if she wanted to. We didn’t have anything we could sell her at the same $650 so I needed more money to make it work. I offered her the one she wanted for $500 more down but told her I would also discount the total price by $1000 to try to help keep the payment down for her. She seemed very happy about what I was doing. She picked it up on 2/6/23. Recently on 8/23/23 she began asking if she could get a different vehicle with a lower payment but with no money down. We explained that she would have to have a down payment to get a different vehicle. She then contacted one of our employees, *******, on 8/29/23 asking what he was going to do about her vehicle not starting. This would be more than 6 months after she got the vehicle and there would be no warranty in place at this time. He wanted to try to help though so he went through a series of questions with her to try to help her diagnose her issue. She began to get angry saying she didn’t have time to deal with it and wanted him to go fix it at her house. We typically do not have the extra personnel available to send out for things like this. He tried to explain this but she seemed to get more angry. She called in on 8/31/23 and I took the phone call. She told me our employee, *******, had blown her off. I attempted to explain what ******* was trying to do to help her. I also attempted to understand exactly what she wanted us to do. As best as I can tell, she did in fact want us to go to her house to try to get her vehicle started. She then called on 9/1/23 and told us to come and get it and that she was going to take out the new batter she just bought. We went and picked up the vehicle and drove it back to our location. It just needed a jump start. Per her request, I have closed her account and do not have plans to go after her for the balance she owes. Let me know if you have any further questions. **** ********* ************. Thank you.
  
  

  Customer response

  09/12/2023

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  The only reason I was upset with ******* was because I kept telling him I was so work when he tried to walk me through any steps to fix the problem. Also, about a week before, the car would not recognize the key, and I didn’t know if that could be an issue again. I did not say I was taking a battery out that I bought, I had not bought one yet. I figured out on my own the battery was dead. And there is no way they jump started it, I took it to ******** auto and was informed that battery was completely dead, the only thing it would give power to, was to roll the windows up, if that. So that’s a lie. Also, when I first called the dealer, ******* told me that it was probably something with the box that they put in that you have to put a code in when you make your car payments. And he was trying to give me instructions over the phone when I was not even with the car to troubleshoot the box. And I kept telling him I could not do that. I was not home and I did not get off work until they closed.  And then when I talk to Sean, he was very disrespectful and unprofessional and told me I was just expecting something or nothing. And that was not it. I was not expecting any repairs. I wanted them to help me troubleshoot the box, but I could not do it while I was at work since I was not with the car.  Also, Shanna told me recently that all I put down was $500 for the Acura. Now he is saying that I put down more and if that’s the case which it’s in his note and his response to this then I want that extra money because they did not credit to my account to lower my payments or anything else so that’s the car I want that money since it was not put towards my car
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** *****

  Business response

  09/19/2023

  We were trying to help diagnose miss *****' issues to see IF it could be our device or something else. It ended up being a battery. As far as the down payment goes, it was only $500 for the Acura plus we gave her a discount on the total price to help her with her payments. This is all in her paperwork as well. I apologize if ******* didn't communicate well what he was trying to do for her but he was just trying to help. I also apologize if I came across as anything but helpful when discussing the down payment information with her. I'm not sure what else I can do for her now. She requested we pick her vehicle up and close her account and we did that with no additional charges or penalties to her. 

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