Autobarn Volkswagen - AUTOBARN VW DEALERSHIP RIPOFF Evanston Illinois

To my suprise, the exployees or ex-employees are still not telling you all the real story.

First my credit was not marginal, I was told it was 690 the day I purchased the vehicle.  If my credit was poor, how would I be offered the LOWEST finance rate offered by VW on the spot? , and signed contracts by everyone involved. Second, this ex-employee states he "made the decision to call me and tell me that the point was going up due to the bank's approval" - Sorry folks - they are lying again, NO phone call was ever placed to me, in their underhanded way of doing business, they gave a NEW contract to a person who's name was not on the first contract, registration or title and told them to deliver it to me, then they sent a third contract via Fedex, I had so many contract from them it was hilarous.  Who wouldn't stop payment on a check with all of this drama going on?  After all of their underhanded dealings, attempts at new deals, 3 seperate contracts - all of a sudden the bank just happens to approve the first deal??????????  This ex-employee must be the God of Finance to have that much pull to get a loan that was denied approved. I did not mention anything good they did because they did nothing good, the vehicle would have been sold to anyone else who walked in the door that day with all the features described by this so called ex-employee.

Trust me folks, they are lying again, trying to save face, if anyone wants the name of my salesman who was mortified by the actions of Jason Buchanan and his finance department, please rebut and I will contact you.  I actually saved ALL of his apologetic voice mails, I will be happy to play them for anyone, right Michael?

Two final words - STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It all started when we explained to Beverly Seagro that her credit score was below average, low 600's if my memory serves me correct. When the deal was submitted to the bank, the approval came back 1 point higher than what we contracted Beverly at. Most importantly, all consumers, including Beverly, sign a Finance Rider that explains that at point of delivery her vehicle purchase transaction was not final and is contingent upon final bank approval. So we spot delivered the vehicle, as most dealerships do. This happened on a weekend, so we could not call the bank to attempt to justify a point lower per our initial contract rate. I made the decision to call Beverly and tell her that the point was going up due to the bank's approval. Not only did Beverly stop payment on her down payment, illegal by the way, but she insisted that we deliver the rate she was initially promised. The problem here is that the rate was already a special subvented incentived rate from the manufacturer, so there was no way another bank could compete to help us out. In interest of showing some good merit, I offered to discount her warranty to help compensate for the interest rate increase. Well after Beverly became very uncooperative and stopped payment on her down payment check, all deals were off the table. We had no idea if she was going to pay us the money or not.
Nonetheless in the meantime, the bank approved the original contract which Beverly signed and we delivered the initial 1% interest rate lower as she was promised. At the end of the day, she never got the discount on the warranty, but she didn't have to pay a higher interest rate either. She wanted us to discount the vehicle some more, discount the warranty, and was complaining that we gave the paperwork to her husband. I do agree that it's a bad experience anytime a bank approves a loan at a higher than contracted rate, but when you have marginal credit that's the world you created and live in. Beverly didn't mention anything about the good things we did, like recondition all the alloy wheels, reconditioned the interior leather, free rubber upgraded monster mats, and ultimately the delivered B Tier interest rate when she was really a C Tier call. I understand she was upset, but you cannot force the dealership to deliver an interest rate when they are at the mercy of the banks. The Autobarn Evanson is one of the best dealerships to do business with. I don't like car salesman, but that's what I was at The Autobarn Evanston because of our down to earch sales approach.

This dealership continues its harrassment:
On Monday, March 9, 2009 as promised and agreed upon on Saturday, March 7, 2009 with Jason Buchanan my husband went to the dealership with a check in the amount of $1500. Since the accounting department was not in on Saturday to write me the $350 check this dealership owes me, Jason and I both agreed on Saturday, March 7th, 2009 my husband would bring a check to the dealership on Monday, March 9, 2009. My husband went to this dealership on Monday, March 9th, 2009 to give them the deposit check in the amount of $1500, and pick up the check for $350 that was promised to me. When he showed up, they refused to take the check, even though on Saturday, March 7th I specifically asked Jason if he wanted a money order, he declined and said my check would be fine. The reason Jason and I agreed upon delivery of the check on Monday is because his accounting department was not in on Saturday, therefore I would bring the check in on Monday, March 9th and his accounting department would be in the office, and able to write me a check as promised. Now the general manager of the dealership got involved. Jason and the general manager told my husband "we cannot take your check, you stopped payment on the first one". I emailed Jason immediately with the following:

Jason:
Again, more lies. You specificially told me on Saturday I did not need to bring a money order even though I asked you and told you I would. You told me to bring my check, and your accounting office would write me a check. We show up with the check, you won't take it! More missed hours, more lies and more for my complaint files, please - keep it up.


His reply to my email above:

-
From: Jason Buchanan
Subject: RE: Autobarn Touareg
To: B
Date: Monday, March 9, 2009, 6:22 PM

Hi B,
Per our conversation, you stopped payment on your original check, so how can you expect us to accept another personal check from you? As of right now, you owe The Autobarn VW of Evanston $1,150.00. You did not feel comfortable just paying the $1,150.00, which is why we will collect the original $1,500.00, and issue a credit back to you for your lease turn-in fee of $350.00 to Volkswagen.
Please advise as to what your intentions are on fulfilling your end of the contractual agreement $1,150.00 down payment outstanding.
Thank you,
Jason Buchanan
VW Sales Manager
Autobarn Evanston
847-866-7600

My reply to the above email:


Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 4:26 PM
To: Jason Buchanan
Subject: RE: Autobarn Touareg

From: B
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 5:51 PM
To: Jason Buchanan
Subject: RE: Autobarn Touareg



Jason-
Per the email from you copied below, I can expect you to accept another check from me because you clearly stated in your repsonse to my email on March 4, 2009 (see below) to bring a check and you would accept it When we spoke on Saturday and I offered you a money order you declined and said I should bring a check. John brought the check on Monday, March 9th, and you would not accept it.

Moreover, the $1500 that you spoke of was in the original contrart. I do not understand why you are bring up the point about the $1,150 again. John was there today as promised with a check for $1500 that you would not accept. I think it would be in your best interest to focus more on the unprofessionalism of you dealership instead of my stopping payment. I have made 2 attempts to make this right and you keep denying my payment, after I do only what you instructed me to. I will have John come by with payment as soon as possible, now you are not only interfering with my career and workday with this circus, but also his, this is shameful.
B

This is a copy of an email I received from Jason on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 where he clearly states to bring "another Check". Now it's Monday, March 9 and all of a sudden he forgot and is declining to take my check?

This is the email from Jason on March 4 clearly telling me to bring another check!


--- On Wed, 3/4/09, Jason Buchanan wrote:

From: Jason Buchanan
Subject: Autobarn Touareg
To: b
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 4:09 PM

Hi B

Ok sounds good. Please bring another check for your down payment, as we have been notified that you stopped payment on the last down payment check.

Thank you,
-Jason Buchanan
VW Sales Manager

Below is the final email conversation of Monday, March 9, 2009:

B,
I did send this email, but it was sent prior to your reprisal. We would accept the personal check, but the refund of $350.00 will have to be sent out after your personal check clears. We will print it out on a WE OWE document, and you could expect payment with 5-7 business days.

Thank you,
Jason Buchanan
VW Sales Manager

847-866-7600


Reprisal - what? that is a very strong accusation. Nowhere, in any of my documented communication with does Jason state anything, anywhere that remotely resembles the above comment until Monday, March 9, 2009. This dealership continues to make things up as we go along.