A DRIVER who got her dream car was left heartbroken when it broke down on the way home.
Tierra Snell purchased an attractive Chevy Trax at her local dealership in San Antonio, but things quickly took a turn for the worse.
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“Before I got home, the AC stopped working,” said Tierra KENS 5.
“Whenever I stopped, the car started shaking a lot.”
Tierra paid for the engine at Auto City Finance, but the lot sold him the car under the trade name “Cars 4 Sale”.
But after taking the vehicle for a spin, a diagnostic check at AutoZone discovered that the touchscreen on the car’s console was not working.
Furthermore, Tierra claimed that he drove a 2015 Chevy Trax instead of the 2016 Chevy Trax for which he had signed the contract.
“I start to realize… that’s not my VIN number. That’s not my mileage! she said.
Tierra allegedly tried to exchange the car for the correct model, but claims the dealership refused.
KENS 5 reportedly visited the lot where the vehicle was sold and someone reportedly said the problem was simply a big misunderstanding.
According to the outlet, the individual added that he was working closely with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to arrange the contract with the correct Chevy – which can be a complicated process.
“The dealer can’t just scratch off the VIN number and say, ‘Okay, here’s the right contract,’” said consumer protection attorney Bill Clanton.
“Each of the documents would have to be rewritten with the correct VIN number and then re-signed by the consumer and the dealer.”
“If the consumer doesn’t want the vehicle, they can say ‘give me my money back’.”
On June 5, Snell finally received his refund.
The dealership also contributed an extra $1,000.
Tips for buying a used car
When shopping for a used car, the experts at US News & World Report offer some tips before you hit the sales lot.
- Set a realistic budget. Some cars are more expensive to insure and register than others, depending on the engine type, body style, weight and number of doors. Before you get ripped off by a slick salesman, it’s important to know what you can and can’t afford.
- Researching which car best suits your lifestyle can save you a lot of time. Would a sedan work better for your garage or narrow street? Would a truck meet transportation or towing needs? Knowing what meets your needs can narrow down your options.
- Look for certified pre-owned cars. Certified pre-owned cars are backed by the manufacturer and come with comprehensive warranties at affordable prices. Some manufacturers have better deals on CPO cars, so shop around carefully.
- Not all financing options are created equal. Depending on where you intend to finance, if this is on the table, be very careful about who you finance. Your best option would be to get pre-approved by your bank before coming in to get an idea of what rates are affordable and give the dealership an incentive to meet or beat those rates.
- Consider a used car inspection. Depending on where you are purchasing a vehicle, you may choose to pay around $200 for a used car inspection to have major components examined by an expert.
- Consider a vehicle history report. When things get close to signing, purchasing a VIN-based vehicle history report can help shed light on previous owners, maintenance records (if it was taken to a dealership), title status and more.
Source: US News and World Report
Snell was very happy to have the vehicle off his hands and his money back.
She told reporters that the media attention was what helped speed up the investigation.
“They mentioned that because of their segment on KENS 5 it sped up the process and they could look into it a little earlier,” she said.
After the interview, she said she intends to use the money to buy a different car.
However, she hopes her story inspires others with similar problems to seek help.
“Take advantage of the rights you have and seek help,” Snell said.
“Situations happen like this all the time, but you can’t just sit back and take it.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
