My Stepmother Mistakenly Signed a ‘4-Year One-Sided Lease’ at the Dealership – Costs $4.5K to Return but Sale Couldn’t Be Stopped

FAMILY members have spoken out after a woman was told it would cost $4,500 to return a car she once drove.

Grace Gangemi, a 92-year-old woman with a walking boot from a recent Achilles tendon injury, bought a brand-new Nissan Versa. The dealership said no road laws could stop her from buying the car.

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Gangemi told family members he would never buy a car again, according to The Boston Globe.

She had recently been in a minor accident with her 2019 Nissan Sentra. The family was relieved to see her willingness to get off the road.

At the time, the Sentra still had one month left on its lease.

After visiting Nucar Nissan in Massachusetts, she surprisingly signed a new car contract. She drove the new vehicle four miles back to her home in an assisted living community.

She confided in Michael Gangemi, her stepson. He said she told him, “I did something I shouldn’t have done.”

The stepmother brought the car home after signing a 4-year lease. It was set to cost $420 per month.

“The dealership shouldn’t have asked her, ‘Are you able to drive?’ and ‘Can we just check with a family member?'” the stepson asked.

He said the lease agreement was “completely one-sided.”

Michael pointed out that his stepmother wore a boot on her right foot, the one used to accelerate and brake.

Nucar Nissan addressed concerns about renting a car in statements to The US Sun, emphasizing its commitment to customer privacy rights.

“At Nucar Nissan, we prioritize the autonomy and dignity of all our customers, regardless of age,” the dealership told The US Sun.

“Our responsibility as a dealership is to respect the legal rights and autonomy of our customers. There was no reason for us to question Ms. Gangemi’s ability to drive based on her age or any physical ailment, and doing so without just cause could be considered discriminatory.”

The dealership acknowledged that it knew the woman’s age. Massachusetts state law requires companies to verify driver’s licenses before selling new vehicles.

But the dealership noted Massachusetts’ self-reporting policy on medical conditions that affect driving and said the driver did not discuss any illnesses.

Michael said his stepmother was independent and mentally sharp during the purchase, according to The Globe.

However, his health was rapidly deteriorating.

Grace suffered a fall in June. Doctors discovered she had a brain tumor during the operation.

Expert car rental advice

Ray and Zach Shefska, the father-son duo that make up CarEdge, spoke with Sun Motors USA reporter Kristen Brown in an exclusive interview about their top tips before signing a new car lease.

Leasing a car may be a more viable option for some rather than financing with an auto loan.

Leasing a car for 24 to 36 months can be attractive to many because the monthly payments are typically lower than loan payments, although there are some restrictions, such as a mileage allowance.

At the end of the lease, people can purchase the vehicle at a reduced price or they can return it to the dealership and lease another car.

Before entering into a lease, Ray offered some important tips to consider, drawn from his 40 years of experience as a sales manager at various dealerships:

1. Learn the interest part of the rent — or the “money factor” — to understand how much interest you’ll pay and how much that adds up to in total.
2. Negotiate the sales price before discussing monthly payments – the cheaper the car’s sales price, the cheaper your payments will be.
3. Accept the premise that you will always have to make a payment, so you can have a good car for a cheaper price or a smaller car for a higher price.

Read more here.

She passed away at the end of June 2024, a month after taking the car home.

Now, his family is struggling with the car and the subsequent return fees.

The dealership quoted Michael $4,587 to terminate the contract, a standard 20% fee imposed upon early exit from a vehicle lease.

The car only drove once from the dealership to the woman’s house.

Nucar Nissan told The US Sun he was in contact with the family.

“When Ms. Gangemi’s family expressed concerns after signing the contract, we discussed with them to resolve their issues. We strive to balance commercial considerations with compassion and fairness, and remain open to resolving disputes amicably,” the dealership told The US Sun.

“We also recognize that hindsight can bring new perspectives and we are committed to continually improving our practices to better serve all members of our community.”