I am writing you on behalf of my close friend. She has no idea I am doing this, she would cringe if she knew. I have never seen her so distraught, she was actually crying, and feel this is why you must help me help her.
My friend has been a BMW owner and driver since 1998. This is her third lease with BMW, the second with the same sales person, Robin Sarno. She is a loyal customer and was 1,000% mislead in the new lease she consented to.
She was phoned by Robin on September 24, 2004 and informed that her lease would be up on December 24, 2004. She still had 3 months left on her lease but had already made her October payment and reconfirmed that she was over on miles.
She was then encouraged to look at a new car by Robin and decided to go into the showroom and look at cars because Robin said that she could turn in her car early and Robin would pay the over mileage and last 2 payments remaining.
My friend trusted Robin and listened to and believed every word she said about the new car lease. She went to the dealership, test drove a new Z4, and decided to move forward due to what the Robin had told her. The deal was constructed with “fancy terminology” provided by Robin which she called a short collect. To my friends knowledge, and that of her companion, Robin stated that for $500.00 my friend could get into the new car and turn in the old car and she (Robin) would pay for the over mileage and 2 remaining payments.
My friend is FLLABBERGASTED to say the least, as to why her trusted sales person would personally and directly burn her, and virtually rob her, by making her make double payments by turning in the car early after telling her a completely different story / sales pitch. What salesperson who cared would ever put a loyal customer into such a losing, one sided, rip-off deal for the customer? My friend is a business person who has been buying cars for over 20 years, runs a successful business, and negotiates business daily. This is a total rip-off scam. She never thought for a moment this selaes perosn would ripp her off!
They questioned Robin about this and she became indignant and nasty, acting as though my friend didn't “trust her.” In addition, my friend questioned why her October payment was not being applied to the lease on the new car, since she was turning the car in.
When my friend turned in the old car she questioned the salesperson again that the only bill she would be receiving would be for the front end damage equaling $450.00 and Robin agreed.
But when my friend received her final statement from BMW financial it contained the charges for her front end damage ($450) and the remaining payments from her previous lease and the over mileage that she was told were being taken care of by Robin.
Since receiving that bill my friend has contacted BMW Financial and Robin Sarno. BMW Financial, who were very helpful and understanding, contacted the dealership on my friends' behalf but was unable to resolve this matter. On the other hand, Robin has been rude, indignant, and no help at all. My friend can't understand why Robin would have wanted her to make double payments and only one car and still owe mileage. She easily could have driven her car until the end of December and got herself a new car without any issue.
I feel this is what my victimized friend deserves and United Auto Groups BMW North Snotzdale should do to make things right, if she can ever reach the sales manager.
To make things right for my friend and their customer they need to Reimburse for the following:
Payments for 2 months ........................... $ 1,082.24
Mileage..................................................... $ 659.60
7 hours of calls @ $150.00 an hour ......... $ 1,050.00
TOTAL AMOUNT DUE: .........................$ 2,791.84
Because my friend is so busy, we have decided to picket the dealership. I read an article on this website in Automotive News that is titled, “Let the seller beware: complaints that linger on the web.”
I have fully researched Rip-off Report for my friend and the best solution. If this is not resolved by this Thursday 12 noon!, we will be there for my friend to picket.
And each hour that goes by, the belittlement figure will grow $200.000 every hour and an initial $500 for the labor and materials for the signs if this is not resolved by Thursday at 12 noon...
Vikki
Pensicola, Florida