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Bay Ridge Honda

Brooklyn

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Eric of Elmhurst, NY September 2, 2009

Summary:
1. Dealer and customer signed contract for new 2009 Honda Civic LX
2. Rebates were included in contract (including one for 4,500, the C.A.R.S. rebate).
3. Dealer states application for C.A.R.S. rebate entered into C.A.R.S. system.
4. Dealer admits the application was never submitted.
5. Refuses to honor contract for sale of new car.
6. Dealership commits fraud and breach of contract.

Dealership Employees Involved: Anthony Russo, Salesman John Marino, Manager Hank Burnsen, Sales Manager George Gambino, Senior Sales Manager

Details On Saturday, August 22, 2009, I went to Bay Ridge Honda in Brooklyn, NY. I had originally wanted to purchase a 2009 Honda Fit. I had called their dealership the evening before and was told they had Honda Fits available in three colors. When I went in on that Saturday, they informed me that they were no longer doing deals for Fits, but was interested in a Honda Civic. I said that I was on a budget and hoped to get a Fit because it was the most inexpensive Honda automobile.

They ask me to sit down and offered to sell me a Honda Civic for about 15,100 net. This would be the TOTAL cash outlay by me. It would include all fees and taxes. This was price after sales tax, destination charge, etc. I told them I would get back to them.

I went to another dealership. They had Fits, but were charging FULL STICKER PRICE, including full destination charge. This was the policy for the Civic. After looking at their numbers, I realized I could get the more expensive Civic, at a lesser cost than a Fit if I went back to Bay Ridge Honda. I called the salesperson, Anthony Russo, and told him I was on my way.

I had chosen an "Urban Titanium" Civic.

I sat down with him and we went over the clunker stuff. First, he brought up the web site and confirmed that my car and the Civic met the initial requirements. It did. I was eligible for a 4,500 credit. I provided him with the registration card, title and insurance letter confirming the car coverage. Initially, he had a problem with the registration. My registration expires on 08/15/10. It was a replacement, ordered on 08/03/09 to replace a missing registration card. After examination they confirmed it was good since New York has 2 year registration periods. If it were new, the registration would have an expiration date of 08/15/11. They made a copy of it and of an old card I had which expired on 08/15/08.

They asked for the insurance card. I presented them a letter from State Farm Insurance confirming my coverage since 05/16/08. It was dated 08/05/09. It satisfied the one year insurance coverage requirement. I then gave him the title, and signed it.

I signed a contract for the following:
2009 Honda Civic 17,995.00
Transportation 0
Sales Tax 1,517.05
NYS Waste Tire Fee 12.50
State Inspection 10.00
License Fee 80.00
Dealer Fee for Reg. Documentation 45.00


TOTAL: 19,659

Under Credit, the contract lists the following:
Salvage: 100.00
CARD - AMEX 500.00
CARS - REBATE 4,500.00

The net cost was at delivery was to be: 14,559

After going home, I looked at Civics on the net. I had thought that the color I saw in the showroom was urban titanium. It was polished metal. I had hoped for a gray, and it turned out to be brown. I called the dealership and left a voicemail. I went down to Bay Ridge Honda on Sunday, and told them. I was informed by Anthony Russo and John Marino that the paper was submitted 10 minutes after I left the showroom. The color could not be changed since there no more Civics for sale, and that once the car and purchaser's information was entered into the system, it could not be re-entered.

After leaving, I saw a Honda Civic CR-V in the brown color parked on the street. I realized that it was a nice color. It had usually been used on more upscale cars, and the first year Honda was using it.

At about 9:30 am Monday, Anthony Russo calls me and leaves a message on my voicemail. He says there was a problem with the insurance documentation. He claims that the letter was dated 08/05/09, and it stated that the coverage was confirmed to the date of the letter. Before calling him back I contacted my insurance agent, told her the problem. I got the fax number from the dealership's website and gave it to her. She was to fax a new letter confirming coverage. I called Mr. Russo back, and told him what I had done. He thanked me.

Sometime after 4:00 pm he calls me again and says I need insurance cards. I told him that according to the program that letter was sufficient. I didn't have the insurance cards, that is why I provided a letter. I gave him the number of my agent in order so he could explain exactly what he would need. Later I spoke to my agent and she told me that Mr. Russo also wanted a binder. However, a binder and other documentation he requested could only be processed by State farm's corporate office, and it had closed at 5 pm. I looked at the time and it was 5:03 pm. I asked her to get whatever it was for him when the office opened the next business day.

On Tuesday, 08/25/09, I again talked to Mr. Russo. "I need insurance cards." Everyone has been completed but you." I told him that the agent would be faxing documents. It turns out he had asked the agent also for insurance cards. "These are temporary cards," he tells me. I told him you have letters faxed from the company. Again I referred him to State Farm. I heard nothing further.

On Wednesday morning, 08/26/09, I called the dealership and left a voicemail. I stated that I hoped the documentation was ok. If there was anything else, please call. Let me know you have gotten everything. My insurance agent had left a similar message. He never called her.

On Friday, 08/28/09, at 10:34 am I get an urgent voicemail from Mr. Russo. He tells me to call as soon as I can. When I speak to him, he tells me that the "deal was dead." I was shocked. He stated that since I didn't get the proper insurance documentation, the deal was over. The system won't let anything else be scanned into it. I said that the program allows changes. I didn't understand what he meant. He told me to come in and speak to a manager.

I called the C.A.R.S. Hotline. I tell the representative what the salesman said, about the "dead deal." She tells me that "We cannot make a dealer enter into a deal or contract." I tell her that the contract was already signed. She tells me that there was no way a dealer could have gotten a rejection from C.A.R.S. so fast. An application submission on Saturday would not have triggered a rejection so fast. Any problems could be fixed with resubmissions after rejections. The initial application had the Tuesday noon deadline.

On the way there, I stopped at my insurance agent. I wanted to see everything she faxed. She stated that ever since the C.A.R.S. program had begun, customers were furnished with the same letters as I was. I was the only person to have had a problem.

On the drive there, I noticed that my middle initial was missing from the insurance letter. I though that maybe that was the reason it was being kicked back.

When I got to the dealership, I told them about the missing initial. They told me that it wouldn't make a difference in the system. I stated that the hotline had stated that resubmissions for any document problems were allowed. I figured let's try. That's when they dropped the bombshell. The Senior Sales Manager, George Gambino, told me that the paperwork had never been entered into the C.A.R.S. system. He tells me it shut down on Tuesday. I was shocked. I was told that the paperwork was entered into the website 10 minutes after I left dealership on Saturday. Mr. Russo tells me "I thought it was. I gave it to the guys in the back office." They never entered it. The Sales Manager, Hank Burnsen, tells me you didn't had insurance cards. He tells me this even thoigh he signed a statement stating that I conformed to all of the necessary requirements of the program. This was signed by him and I when the contract was signed. Mr. Gambino said "We will out the 4,500 if it got rejected." I told him that now I have to be. I wanted to look at the paperwork. They gave me the file. I saw that the insurance gave him much more than was necessary. I wanted everything I had signed. I know how these documents "disappear" when parties go to court. Mr. Burnsen tells me that the 500.00 deposit will be refunded to the credit card. I told them, "So this is it, no car?" They would not honor the agreement. I told them "I would weigh my options."

After exiting, my salesman, Anthony Russo, follows me out. He wants there to be no bad feelings. He tells me to come back after all the dust settles and he can give me a great deal on the car. I already had a good deal. He tells me that the dealership makes 1000 per Civic. "I can save you 2,500 off sticker." I was already saving 4,500. To go further, I was paying about 1,200 under the sticker price because they didn't charge the destination fee. He tries to tell me that the dealership doesn't want to lose its money.

Jun of New York, NY September 24, 2008

Jun of New York NY (09/24/08)
I just recently bought a new car from Bay Ridge Honda, Brooklyn. Our original amount for the loan was supposed to be 17,000. However, the contract I signed had some expenses that the car salesman did not fully explain to me. They snuck in additional insurance fees that I had no knowledge about and now my loan has increased to 25,000. Also, after signing the contract, the dealer did not give him a full copy of his contract.

The only copy we received was the bottom portion of the receipt. When we went back to ask for the receipt, all they said it would be mailed to us within two weeks. Two weeks have passed and we have not received the contract. All I want is the customer copy of my signed contract and my original loan amount of 17,000. Please help us! Thank you.

All I want is the customer copy of my signed contract and my original loan amount of 17,000.

Joe of Chandler, AZ August 14, 2008

Joe of Chandler AZ (08/14/08)
I brought my car in for motor mount broken. I told them, what was wrong and I told them I need the car for work the next day. If they can't do let me know and I will come and get the car. I hear nothing from them for about 4 hours, I call they say they are looking at it. I hear nothing. They are open late til 11pm. Nothing still. Next day they tell me they are testing it. Trying to find the problem, I told them check the motor mounts. I told them I need the car for work. 2 1/2 later its the motor mount and they cut my fuse box clips and attached it with tywraps.

At the end of this car fix days later and I lost my job . I was fired because I couldn't get to work. Then like 6 months later the same mount is bad. The worst workmens ship ever. I now moved to Az, but would not go to the dealership again

My fuse box under the hood the clip where cut. When all one had to do is squeeze the clips and release. So I get tywraps to hold it in place , which is shaky

Anthony of Brooklyn, NY June 3, 2008

Left dep. 200.00.Told I would get back.Called 2 days later,changed my mind.Told come in and get my dep.After waiting one hour was told sales manager would review my application and to return the following week and I would probably get my money back.I do not see why I have to keep going back.I did not prevent

Yiu of Brooklyn, NY September 25, 2007

I was told by this financial manager that in order for me to get a good interest rate, I will have to buy all kind of packages from them (extended warranty, window etching, low jack and remote start alarm). Turns out that I don't need all these, and when I want to cancel the service, they told me that I can't. After calling Honda America to complain, they offer me to cancel the warranty package and the remote start, but not the window etching service. I believe the package for window etching is like 130 from other dealers, but they end up charging me 1300.

The total scam amount is 3400, I got 2100 back. The remaining 1300 they said is "uncancellable" for the window etching. The contract did not state that I can not cancel the service. The also make me sign a stisfactory form before they refund me my 2100. I am so upset, because the window etching service is suppose to be very cheap, and I end up paying 1300 for it. The maintence department also scratched my car when they put the body side moulding on. The did not offer and service. After going back to them 5 times they still haven't fix it.

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