MEM Automotive & Specialty

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the responseIf no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved] Complaint: [redacted] I am rejecting this response because: Again, before I signed the contract, I verbally asked about that asking price of $6, I was told that was the price if I made all payments of $250, due to the interest and extra charges I would be paying if I had made the payments, rather than pay off the principle early I explained that I intended in paying off the principle within months and specifically asked if there would be any charges incurred for doing so I was told no, I would not have any problem paying the principle off The problem was that the representative who sat in on the contract signing did not know the dealer had verbally offered the car at $2, When I went to pay off the vehicle, they told me the payoff was around $ You can imagine my shock, when I was expecting to hear $ Regarding this dealers response, I again was not told [redacted] would be changing the value of the vehicle to suit them The value of a vehicle, is the value of the vehicle It does not change depending which program you use or what bank you get a loan from If the car was only worth $2,200, how could anyone, including [redacted] , change the value of the vehicle to almost triple it's worth? I was quoted $2,200, and that is all the car was worth That is all I should have paid for the vehicle If I had not paid off the vehicle then yes, I would have paid more in interest, but I was upfront with my plans before signing the contract and due to verbal statements, I was mislead to sign a contract which had incorrect information When the value of a vehicle is almost tripled on a load and should something happen to the vehicle, the full coverage provided by insurance is only going to cover the actual value of the vehicle, not the made up value, which then creates a gap It does not make sense Something's value does not change significantly, person to person The value of a vehicle is the value of the vehicle, regardless of circumstances I attempted to work this out with the dealer previously via telephone and he flat out denied ever quoting me the $2, Now he is agreeing he did advertise it at $2,200, but claiming [redacted] changed the value, which again I had no knowledge of until I called to get the payoff amount This is not right, nor good business I would like to be able to work something out, even if we need to involve [redacted] , but this contract is not valid and I need it to be corrected Regards, [redacted]

[redacted] < [redacted] > 2:PM (minutes ago) to me "Request the complaint" so that we can respond online - as per [redacted] Complaint ID#: [redacted] Company Name: MEM Automotive & Specialty Contact Name: [redacted] [redacted] Contact Phone: # [redacted] Contact Email: [redacted] Person Who Sent the Complaint: [redacted] Revdex.com Staff Member: [redacted] Company Response to Complaint: Customer was quoted $DOWN if purchasing vehicle through a Buy-Here-Pay-Here programTo clarify, the Buy-Here-Pay-Here program requires a certain amount of money put DOWN (or deposited) on the vehicle and then payments are to be made over a year period to pay the vehicle offCustomer did not have the $DOWN and opted to try out the new financing program called [redacted] that we had partnered with at the timeThis program only required $DOWN (or deposited) and then payments were to be made in the amount of $over monthsThis program also helps to establish credit Customer had asked the [redacted] Representative that was present at the signing and explanation of the contract if an early pay off was possible and he told her yesThe total amount financed would be discounted off of INTEREST, NOT OFF OF THE PURCHASE PRICE, like with any other finance companyThe total purchase price of the vehicle was $PLUS $for the sales taxSubtract $for the down payment = $PLUS $Lien Fee PLUS $Title Fee PLUS $Registration of Vehicle PLUS $to Sells Tag and Title Company PLUS $Seller Fee PLUS $Notary Fee PLUS $Electronic Filing Fee PLUS $FINANCE CHARGE (18% Interest)= $is the total amount financed ($x payments = $- payment date starting July 22, 2013)Customer acknowledged, initialed and signed several papers that stated these exact numbersCustomer also signed a paper with these exact numbers and a statement in bold that said "YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS CONTRACT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS CONTRACT WITH ALL BLANKS FILLED IN AND THAT YOU HAVE READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT", dated June 22, We have documentation to support all of this informationWe will be happy to forward it to you if you find it necessary You may also contact "Jennifer" for questions or comments or for general information regarding this complaint Thank you for your time Matthew D [redacted] (Owner) Mem Automotive & Specialty, LLC York St Hanover, Pa ####-###-####

Customer came in on January 5, for a late day drop off appointmentTwo technicians looked at the vehicleThey did not properly communicate with each other and then one tried covering up for another and the situation turned into this situationOn January 6, 2015 at 4:30pm, Joe came in
with two other gentleman and asked the technician, Keith, to show him how to replace the bulbsTechnician attempted to show customer and fumbled and attempted to place blame on the other technician that had left for the day. Keith handed the customer $in cash as a refund at 5:pm on January 6, After the customer left, Service Manager spoke with owner regarding the situation and made it clear that the technician was not truthful and the situation needed to be properly addressedOwner immediately attempted to contact Joe on his cell phone at 5:30pm on January 6, to make amends and apologizeJoe did not answerOn January 7, 2015, Joe returned the call at 10:37am and spoke with the Service ManagerThe service manager apologized, agreed with the customer that the whole situation was wrong, told the customer that this is the first time that she was aware that this technician had done something like this in the year and a half that he had worked there, and explained that the technician was going to be penalized for his actionsLater in the day, Joe spoke with the owner as well and the owner also apologized and explained that the technician was going to be put on probationCustomer received refund, apology and admittance of wrong doingThis is not a situation that we as a company have run into before and we hope this is the last time that something like this ever occurs

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
Regards,
*** ***

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:
Again, before I signed the contract, I verbally asked about that asking price of $6,995.  I was told that was the price if I made all 33 payments of $250, due to the interest and extra charges I would be paying if I had made the 33 payments, rather than pay off the principle early.  I explained that I intended in paying off the principle within 6 months and specifically asked if there would be any charges incurred for doing so.  I was told no, I would not have any problem paying the principle off.  The problem was that the representative who sat in on the contract signing did not know the dealer had verbally offered the car at $2,200.  When I went to pay off the vehicle, they told me the payoff was around $5000.  You can imagine my shock, when I was expecting to hear $1000.  Regarding this dealers response, I again was not told [redacted] would be changing the value of the vehicle to suit them.  The value of a vehicle, is the value of the vehicle.  It does not change depending which program you use or what bank you get a loan from.  If the car was only worth $2,200, how could anyone, including [redacted], change the value of the vehicle to almost triple it's worth?  I was quoted $2,200, and that is all the car was worth.  That is all I should have paid for the vehicle.  If I had not paid off the vehicle then yes, I would have paid more in interest, but I was upfront with my plans before signing the contract and due to false verbal statements, I was mislead to sign a contract which had incorrect information.  When the value of a vehicle is almost tripled on a load and should something happen to the vehicle, the full coverage provided by insurance is only going to cover the actual value of the vehicle, not the made up value, which then creates a gap.  It does not make sense.  Something's value does not change significantly, person to person.  The value of a vehicle is the value of the vehicle, regardless of circumstances.  I attempted to work this out with the dealer previously via telephone and he flat out denied ever quoting me the $2,200.  Now he is agreeing he did advertise it at $2,200, but claiming [redacted] changed the value, which again I had no knowledge of until I called to get the payoff amount.  This is not right, nor good business.  I would like to be able to work something out, even if we need to involve [redacted], but this contract is not valid and I need it to be corrected.
Regards,
[redacted]

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:
None of the information provided by the business regarding this complaint was explained to me as it was explained in response to my complaint.  As I have stated previously, before signing the contract I asked why the asking price was listed on the contract at $6995.00.  I was NEVER told that was the price he was aksing for if I went through this [redacted] program.  I was told that was the price if I made payments for 33 months and did not pay off the principle balance early.  I am a single mother, recieving no assistance or child support.  I knew what the price range I could afford was when I went in to MEM and asked the price of the vehicle.  If I had ever been told the asking price was being changed from the $2,200, I was originally quoted, to $6,995, I would have walked out right away.  The Kelley Blue Book value of this vehicle is worth only $2,705, listed in excellent condition, which the car absolutely was not in excellent condition when purchased.  The locks never worked.  I had issues with the brakes and when I recently went to have the vehicle inspected, not even a year after buying it, I was told there was over $800.00 dollars of work underneath which needed to be done in order to be inspected.  Clearly that proves this dealership baited me with the correct asking price of $2,200, and then switched the price without my knowledge causing the contract I signed to be invalid, due to misleading information which was verbally provided to me about the contract.  I just want to pay the amount I was quoted, because had I ever been told I would be paying almost $7000.00, for a 2001 [redacted] Coupe in fair condition, I would have never agreed or signed the contract.  This is not the first time I purchased a vehicle and I have never had any other problems with loans.  I know what is to be expected and this dealership truly targeted me for their own personal gain at my expense by lying to me and falsifying information.
Regards,
[redacted]

[redacted] <[redacted]>
2:35 PM (23 minutes ago)
to me 
"Request the complaint" so that we can respond online - as per [redacted]
Complaint ID#:[redacted]
Company Name: MEM Automotive & Specialty
Contact Name: [redacted]...

[redacted]
Contact Phone: #[redacted]
Contact Email: [redacted]
Person Who Sent the Complaint: [redacted]
Revdex.com Staff Member: [redacted]
Company Response to Complaint:
Customer was quoted $2200.00 DOWN if purchasing vehicle through a Buy-Here-Pay-Here program. To clarify, the Buy-Here-Pay-Here program requires a certain amount of money put DOWN (or deposited) on the vehicle and then payments are to be made over a 2 year period to pay the vehicle off. Customer did not have the $2200.00 DOWN and opted to try out the new financing program called [redacted] that we had partnered with at the time. This program only required $1200.00 DOWN (or deposited) and then payments were to be made in the amount of $248.67 over 33 months. This program also helps to establish credit.  Customer had asked the [redacted] Representative that was present at the signing and explanation of the contract if an early pay off was possible and he told her yes. The total amount financed would be discounted off of INTEREST, NOT OFF OF THE PURCHASE PRICE, like with any other finance company. The total purchase price of the vehicle was $6995.00 PLUS $419.70 for the sales tax. Subtract $1200.00 for the down payment = $6214.70 PLUS $5.00 Lien Fee PLUS $22.50 Title Fee PLUS $36.00 Registration of Vehicle PLUS $10.00 to Sells Tag and Title Company PLUS $129.00 Seller Fee PLUS $2.00 Notary Fee PLUS $15.90 Electronic Filing Fee PLUS $1771.01 FINANCE CHARGE (18% Interest)= $8206.11 is the total amount financed ($248.67 x 33 payments = $8206.11 - payment date starting July 22, 2013). Customer acknowledged, initialed and signed several papers that stated these exact numbers. Customer also signed a paper with these exact numbers and a statement in bold that said "YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS CONTRACT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS CONTRACT WITH ALL BLANKS FILLED IN AND THAT YOU HAVE READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT", dated June 22, 2013. We have documentation to support all of this information. We will be happy to forward it to you if you find it necessary.
You may also contact "Jennifer" for questions or comments or for general information regarding this complaint.
Thank you for your time.
Matthew D[redacted] (Owner)
Mem Automotive & Specialty, LLC
936 York St.
Hanover, Pa 17331        
####-###-####

As stated previously, the only time the $2200.00 was mentioned was when the Salesman was discussing payment options and explained that this was the required amount to be deposited in order to take possession of the vehicle.
The definition of deposit: a sum payable as a first installment on the purchase of something or as a pledge for a contract, the balance being payable later. (ie: "we've saved enough for a deposit on a house"; synonym: down payment, advance payment, prepayment, installment, retainer, stake; ie: "they paid a deposit").
The customer was not able to afford a $2200.00 DEPOSIT and was only able to afford a $1200.00 DEPOSIT.
Again, as listed several times in the supporting documents, the full asking price was $6995.00 as quoted by [redacted]. The customer would still be required, on top of the $6995, to pay the taxes, tag fee and standard sales and state fees associated with the purchase of a vehicle. These fees would be charged whether the vehicle was purchased through [redacted] or not. The dealership is not responsible for paying these fees. This it the customers responsibility.
The payoff of the vehicle that the customer keeps mentioning would not be $1000.00.  The pay off would be the balance due of the total purchase price, along with state and sales fees, as well as partial interest. The interest that was owed would be discounted for an early payoff. Without having an exact date as to when the customer was planning the early pay off, there is no way that either the salesman or the [redacted] Representative could have quoted what the actual pay off would be.
“The
contract is signed by the Seller and Buyer(s) here to this 22nd day of June,
2013. You Agree to the terms of this contract and acknowledge that You have
received a copy of this contract with all blanks filled in and that You have
read it and understand it.” The customers signature is following this statement. If the customer did not agree with this statement, it should not have been signed until she completely understood what she was agreeing to.
Our resolution to the customer is advice for the future: do not sign anything until you completely understand what you are signing. If you don't understand, don't sign. Also, to make sure that all details are accurate across the board, make sure to always get every last detail in writing and ask questions. This way there is no confusions with future purchases or loans.
We have been informed that the customer has stopped paying on this vehicle.
No further communications regarding this matter will be made at this time.