A DRIVER was left unable to get around when his vehicle broke down just after he bought it, but when he took it back, he was left $2,000 out of pocket.
Ken Bartnik says he had gone just a block and a half from the dealership when his SUV came to a sputtering halt.
A driver has opened up about their car dealership nightmare[/caption]
The driver from Flower Mound northwest of Dallas, Texas, said he went no faster than 15 mph before the car broke down.
That was almost two months ago, but Ken still has no working car.
On top of that, the dealership refused to refund the $2,000 cash down payment he made when buying the vehicle.
Ken told The Dallas Morning News he first saw an ad for the 2012 Chevy Malibu on Craigslist, for sale from a Dallas dealership, 101 Financial LLC.
He said the ad told him he could buy it with “No credit, bad credit, no problem!!!”
But the first warning sign was when he arrived at the dealership and the car he wanted wasn’t there.
He saw a 2009 Mercedes GL 450 for sale that also appealed to him, but was told he couldn’t drive it because the suspension was under repair.
The salesman asked him how much he wanted to spend, to which Ken replied $2,000.
The salesman asked Ken to show him the money, and he handed it over, never to be seen again.
Ken asked how much the Mercedes cost and was told he would learn the price once the paperwork had been drawn up.
He signed and was given the keys, despite never even going for a test drive.
On its very first drive home from the dealership, the Mercedes broke down.
He had been told the suspension had been fixed, but now the accelerator didn’t work.
Ken had the car towed to his house, fearing he might lose the money and the vehicle.
He demanded a refund from the dealership and was told the money would take four to six weeks and come from New York.
But when he called the owner, Ken told The Watchdog, “He picked up the phone one time and said he was real busy and couldn’t deal with me right now.”
Ken didn’t give up.
I’ve lost so much sleep. I want a refund.
Ken Bartnik
He was so persistent that the dealership blocked his phone number.
One staffer said that if he showed up on their property, they would call the cops and have him arrested for trespassing.
Dealership Tips
Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:
- 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
- 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
- 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
- 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
Ken is still in limbo.
The dealership towed the vehicle from his house but hasn’t repaired it.
And despite filing complaints with the DMV, the FTC, the Texas Attorney General, the Dallas Police Department, and the North Texas Auto Theft Task Force, he still doesn’t have a vehicle or his $2,000 back.
“I’ve lost so much sleep,” he said. “I want a refund.”
The dealership, 101 Financial, has been in trouble with the authorities before.
In March, it was fined $500 for failure to keep dealer auction records and misuse of temporary tags, according to Texas DMV records.
The U.S. Sun has approached 101 Financial LLC for comment.
