Metropolitan Finance Company sold me a car that they never paid for, ended up losing everything due to them Plano Texas

I wrecked my prior car in January of 2009. I found a car that I was interested in at Saturn of Irving online that I called to check out and set up a meeting for early afternoon.

When I got to Saturn, I met with my salesman who showed me the vehicle I was interested in and I took a test drive while we were waiting in the finance paperwork to go through. My credit is pretty bad and I knew going in that I may experience a battle.

As we got back from the test drive, I was informed that the finance company that they were working with wanted an additional 500 dollars down with my 1000 downpayment I was offering. I politely told the salesman that I was not going to pay 1500 dollars down for a 2004 car, I dont care what my credit is like. He then advised me that there was another finance company that was actually on the premises that may be able to help me out if I wanted to speak with them. I advised him to go ahead and let me meet them.

I was at that point introduced to Metropolitan Finance Company. I met two people at that point and time. They asked me standard questions about some things on my credit and I explained them. I also spoke with one of their managers over the phone to answer more questions. They spoke with their manager afterward and said they would still want the 1500 down. The salesman from Saturn had been in the room the whole time but then he walked out, I assume to advise of what was going on to his manager.

When the salesman walked out, the people from Metro asked me did I just absolutely have to have the car that I was looking at. I advised that while I did like the vehicle I was open to more options. They then told me that they had some options that I may be more interested in that I could get for my 1000 down. I told them I didnt see anything out there that I was interested in, but they stated that they had their own stock and if I could meet with them away from the dealership, they could go over some options with me.

I spoke with my mother at that point to get her opinion and she stated that we should see what else they had available. I told the saleman at Saturn that I was not going to be purchasing the vehicle through him and left the premises with my mother.

Once I left the premises I contacted Metro and they told me what they had available for me, one being a 2006 Jeep Liberty. I was very interested at that point and asked where I needed to meet them to take a look at the vehicle. They advised because they were in Plano and at that time I lived in Irving they could bring the vehicle and information to me. They told me what I would need to have ready for them to complete the transaction as they already had most of my info from when we were at Saturn. I felt that was a little unorthodox but given the distance, I didnt question any further.

I got the information that they needed ready as I was waiting for them to show up. They show up with the Jeep and I instantly fell in love. I test drve it around my neighborhood and checked everything out and was ready to complete the transaction.

I gave them the information that they asked for and gave them the downpayment which they gave me a receipt for and also gave me a buyers order that they advised I should carry until everything was switched over to my name. The vehicle had paper license plates and they advised that once they get the paperwork submitted, I would be receiving new tags and metal plates. They came back later in the week and I signed the paperwork going over my payment amounts, title transfer and all of that. They stated they would mail me a copy of the paperwork which to this day I have never received.

So a month or so goes by and I still have not received my plates and my temporary tags are getting set to expire. I contact them to advise of that and they get me new temporary tags. Time goes by and the newer set of tags are about to expire so yet again I call. At this point, they advise that they are having an issue getting the title from the original Leinholder but were working to resolve the issue and they would get new temp tags to me the next day. I get the tags and they contact me to advise if I had received them, so my assumption is all is well. This was all on May 5th, 2009. On the morning of May 6th, 2009, I walk outside with my son to take him to school and so that I could go to work only to find my car is not outside. I go back in and call the police who advise me by my VIN that the vehicle has been repossessed.

I call the company and leave a message that they need to call me back as soon as possible and what the situation was. My mom had to take my son to school and me to work. As I am of course late for work, I tell my boss what happened. While I am at work the finance company calls and stated they had no idea what had happened or who could have repossessed it and they were trying to locate the vehicle but that they would have me in a vehicle by the end of the day. I told them that my mom and I were coming to the office and they instantly stated not to do that as they were gonna be out looking for me another vehicle.

I leave work early that day and advsie my mom of what they told me. They then call and ask if I can receive emails from my phone because they have some vehicles they want me to look at. They start sending me emails and are working on finding me something comprable.

On Friday May 8th they find me another Jeep Liberty at Randall Noe in Terrell Texas. I drive to Terrell and drive the vehicle and started going over the paperwork when the salesman there hands me another credit application. I asked him why would I need to have another credit app on file if I am going with a private finance company and he had no answer. I fill it out and I meet with the finance guy there who then after several hours of being there says that because they are not too familiar with the finance comapany, they will need secure funds before they release the vehicle to me. Now mind you this is Mother's Day wknd and my family had a lot of things planned so I needed this issue resolved ASAP. I call my finance people and advise them of what I have told by Randall Noe. They said they would work to get the car released to me the following day.

By Saturday I am beyond frustrated and still had no good news coming. I called the finance company and advised them that I was tired of dealing with them and I wanted my money for my downpayment back ASAP. They call me back 10 mins later and advised that they were finalizing everything with Randall Noe. About an hour later I get a call from the salesman at Randall Noe who advised that I could come and pick up the car. I get to Terrell in a borrowed car as fast as I can!

When I get there the whole vibe felt weird. They were rushing me and moving me around too much. I meet with a totally different finance guy. He stated that the guy I had met with the night before was busy and they wanted to go ahead and get me taken care of.

As I am going over the paperwork, I notice that there are some things wrong, one being my address and my SSN was off. I told the guy who was really rushing me to sign, so he had print everything again with the right information. Now mind you they never asked to look at my SSN or anything to verify my address or drivers lisence number. I sign the correct paperwork and they hand me my keys. I walk out side and I hear someone ask for my name. I turn to answer that yes it was me and there is a Terrell police officer standing there. He tells me to place my hands behind my back as I am under arrest under suspicion of fraud and forgery!

I am placed in a squad car with this cop rambling on about how I gave a false SSN and told them not to run my credit and he was "on to me" and how much trouble I was in. I told him I had plenty of information to verify who I was including my SSN. He didnt seem to care.

I am taken into cutody and booked while he goes through my wallet to get my info to NOW verify who I am. Once he verifies my info and sees that I have dne nothing wrong but be naive, he states that he wont be charging me but I did have some tickets out and I need to pay those warrants before I could be released.

My family gets the money together to bail me out and I am realeased Monday evening. My grandmother had called my boss and explained the situation to her so thought everything was fine on that end. I walk in to work on Tuesday May 12th, 2009 and lost my job. So with out a job, I have to break my lease and move out of my apartment and move in with my grandmother.

I get a phone call on later that week from the vice president of Metropolitan Finance asking what he can do tohelp my situation. I told him at that point all I wanted was my money back because I didnt want anything else to do with them.

The vice presdent calls on Tuesday May 19th, 2009 to get my current address and he stated that he would be mailing a cashiers check for my downpayment back to me the following day. I still have not received that piece of mail and now they are refusing to return my phone calls.

From what I understand all of the dealerships they have worked with have not received any payments from them either.

I am a 30 year old single parent who is just trying to get what I feel I deserve which is my downpayment back. I could sue for my lost wages and the money it took to bail me out of jail, but I just really want the downpament so that I could get another vehicle.

Stephanie
Dallas, Texas
U.S.A.