I felt taken advantage of while purchasing a car at Duffys Auto. To protect vulnerable people, i.e., the elderly, people who speak English as a second language, the inexperienced, and many more, I write this.
So basically, this company deceitfully added Vault insurance, GAP insurance and a service contract fee as part of my contract preparation without EXPLAINING or ASKING me if I wanted it! By the way, once you sign for the VAULT insurance, you cannot cancel it! This leads me to believe there may be others that this has happened to!
I went to Duffys Auto Center in Covington to purchase a car for my daughter. This was supposed to be an enjoyable experience but progressively became worse. After friendly bartering with the manager, "M, " with "T," because I was purchasing the vehicle, I had to inform Duffy's of my vulnerable situation. With this knowledge, what happens afterward makes me sick.
"T" handed me off to the finance guy "R" who works at both the Auburn and Covington store. "R" brings my daughter and I into the office. He has papers ready for me to sign. He says that I am signing for GAP insurance. This should have been my FIRST red flag. This was already on the contract! He did not ask me if I wanted it first. I do WANT this type of insurance, however. Then he informs me of the interest rate and how much the car will cost at the end of the loan. He tells me to sign for the document fee and a few more places. I tell him I need to go to the bank to get the cashiers check for the $1500 down payment which was suggested by Duffys. He says he will wrap up the paperwork in the meantime. When I return with the cashiers check, I am surprised to see "R" standing outside of Duffys with paperwork enclosed in an envelope. I was like, "Wow! These guys are so efficient!" Minutes later while I am driving, I ask my daughter to review the paperwork. This is when we discovered he had added $4000 for a service contract fee. He NEVER discussed a service contract, he did not talk about different types of service contracts, and he did not ASK if I wanted a service contract! I immediately turn around and approach "M," the manager, and inform him that I did not ASK for a service contract and I and want it removed. After mention of the police, "R" finally begrudingly removes the service contract fee. He prints out a new contract.He says to me "let me go through this thoroughly, so there is no misunderstanding" like I am stupid or confused. He says, "This is your Vault insurance, this is your GAP insurance, and these are your numbers." I figure this Vault insurance is standard, since it is already on the contract. My daughter questions him about the Vault insurance and he says that it is in case the car is broken into. Very frazzled, I sign the paperwork, glad that the $4000 service contract fee is removed. Later that evening, I want to review the Vault insurance information, as well as the GAP policy but "R" kept the old paperwork and gave me a summary statement with the new numbers. I call and ask for "R" the next day. I was bounced around with "Oh, he's at the Auburn store, no he's at the Covington store, and "oh he is sick." Dissapointed, I informed a man at the Auburn store what I experienced with "R." He says there has never been any complaints before. I told him that I think "R" is a slimeball. The man informs me that he is Daniel Duffy, the owner of Duffys Auto, and that he will not tolerate name calling and he hangs up. For the paperwork and more explanation of the Vault insurance the following Monday, I went to the Auburn store to talk to Daniel Duffy. Two smiling people wave at me and "R" is there. My daughter and I politely ask for Daniel. Daniel is at home. "R" says that he can explain the Vault insurance and provide all the Vault paperwork which he does not do (and even today, I still do not have all the GAP paperwork, only page 1 of 5). Very unproffessionally, he says "let me explain this to you in the least slimeball way." He further comments on how I went behind his back and called the store. I told him I didn't call to talk behind his back. I asked for him. I would tell him directly. He then tries to kick me out of the Auburn store! This is where I feel that if I was alone, and my daughter was not with me, I may have been treated even more poorly. Finally, Tim Duffy (owner) helps my daughter and me by pulling us into his office. He explains the Vault insurance and gives me missing Vault insurance paperwork "R" did not give me. He even has me sign for the catalytic converter protection which was originally supposed to be included because of the fee "R" charged me ($999.00).
Later in the month, I express my worries to Tim Duffy in an email. I do not hear from him for two weeks. He replied to the email stating, there have been zero complaints, only praises for "R, " unvalidating me. He says he has taken the necessary steps with "R" and the matter is between them. Very unfortunate. read more