
Jennifer of Virginia Beach, VA on Sept. 16, 2005
August 20, 2005, we, my husband and I went into Victory to purchase a vehicle. A Nissan Pathfinder. We had a trade-in and $4,500. Of the $17,000+ owed on the trade-in, I was told that they would only allow us $9,000 on the trade-in.
The problem arose when the vehicle they were putting us in wouldn't be available until the upcoming Wednesday(8-24-05), it had to be delivered. We were called the following Tuesday (8-23-05) and told we could pick up the vehicle that evening. When we arrived we were asked to wait while it was gassed up, only to find out that the car was not ready, or cleaned up at at all. We were asked to come back the next day (8-25-05). We came back, only to find out that the vehicle they delivered had 1,000 miles on it already, we declined to pay for a "new" vehicle with that many miles. We were approached by a manager who tried to encourage us to take the vehicle with some compensations, we declined.
We were told to keep the loaner and we would be asked to return again day once Victory found another (Pathfinder) comparable for the same price. We were called and told that they found a vehicle, only to find out that that vehicle cost less. We inquired as to the difference in the amount. Mr. Carlton Samples, a manager informed us that because of the negative equity in our trade-in that the numbers didn't matter and they would pan out. "Take the vehicle, it only has 50 miles on it, he says". We proceed to close out the contract only to find out that the current contract is for the previous vehicle (with 1,000 miles) we asked wasn't the contract incorrect, seeing that it had a VIN number from the previous vehicle? Antoinette, the finance rep assisting us wrote up a new contract, changing the numbers.
We left that night with a new Pathfinder. I inquired about the trad-in being paid off and I was told that we have the amount and it will be done. My bank would be informed of my trade-in and that Victory would be paying it off. They said that the salesman (Justin) had gotten the pay-off from the bank and they would handle it. Mean while I am still getting late notices from the bank on my car loan and through monitoring my bank account on line, I discovered that the car had not to be paid off). I spoke with Antoinette, in finance, who assured me that the vehicle would be paid off by that Friday, the 2nd of September. As of September 6, 2005,I had received 3 late notices on the trade-in, I contacted my bank informing them that I traded the vehicle in and that it was being paid off by Victory Nissan, the bank said that they had not been informed and I was still responsible for the payments. September 7, 2005 I go into the dealership only to find out that Antoinette had been fired because she improperly handled our contract.
At that point I have been referred to Sean, the finance manager who apologizes and assures me that this should have never happened, and the he will have the matter taken care of right away. After he contacted Nissan Motor Acceptance, the fninace company handling our loan, he finds out that they don't even have a contract for us, so my husband and I would have to come in again to complete another contract, the next day (9-8-05). "Dan, the Man" for Victory enters the room offering his apology and a gas voucher. He assured us that this "will" be handled by Friday (9-9-05)and it should have, he promised. He told Sean to hand carry the check to Chartway if he had to,but make sure that this matter was handled. He apologized again for our inconviences and left the room. We were approach by a customer service relations person, who again gave us two more gas vouchers and he to apologized for our inconviences.
Assuming that the matter would be handled after that meeting, there was no for me to move on the matter any more. But that changed when on Tuesday,September 13, 2005 my personal bank account had been frozen because of non-payment on my car loan, still not paid by Victory. I call back to Victory and spoke with Sean. He told me that a check was sent Chartway in California on Friday. It was delivered by currier and should reach them by Monday (9-12-05 afternoon. "Give it a day or two,becasue Chartway takes a while to process their payments he said". I called back on Wednesday Chartway still did not have the payment. September 15, 2005, my car note is considered thirty days late and it is reported to the credit bureau as such.
I speak with Chartway on the 15th, and they did receive a call from Sean at Victory, only to say, "don't count Mrs. Branham's payment as late, it's not her fault, it's ours. He told them that he would bring in the payment. It is Friday morning, September 16, 2005, no payment posted and my account is still on hold. My personal funds are being held up because I have been lied to, and my integrity as a consumer has been insulted. I have never been late on my car note, nor has it ever been reported as late by the bank. Yes, I am furious!