Bait and Switch

On October 24, 1999 My wife and I stopped to look at a 1999 ford expedition located on the lot of Diamond Motors. They offered us to take it for a test drive which we did only to find the fuel was below empty so we didn't go very far down the road. Not getting a true feeling of the vehicle when we returned to the dealership we asked if we could try it overnight and we would pay for the fuel.They agreed but first they would have to do a credit check on us and we would have to sign an insurance paper to protect them in case anything happened to the vehicle and leave a deposit to insure we return the vehicle.We agreed and left a $1245.00 deposit and signed the insurance paper.The owner and salesperson said that we could finish the paperwork tommorow if we decide to purchase the vehicle. That night we took the vehicle up to our daughters to give it a good try out since we never drove a suv before. We found the truck was to big and used to much fuel so the next morning at 8:30 a.m. I called Diamond Motors to inform them we did not like the vehicle and would be returning it at noon after my doctors appointment. We arrived at the dealership at 12:30 to return the vehicle and the owners reaction was--You can't return it --You own it!! We were astonished to say the lease and said --"No we don't--we only tried it out. And the owner said "you should read what you sign--You signed the bill of sale and I want my money!!We had not applied for a loan for the vehicle so we didn't think we owned it. Although the paper we signed was a bill of sale which we didn't know because he had other papers on top of it when we signed.We contacted a lawyer and he said he had us though however unethical it was.That meant we owed the price that he inserted on the bill of sale sheet $31995 plus the deposit of $1245. Needless to say we were sick over it. Our lawyer said not to sign anymore papers and return the vehicle back to the dealership--so we did. The next day we recieved a phone call from the owner of the dealership threatening us with his lawyer and could demand his money the next day or court action would be the next step.My wife was talking to him and crying and he said I don't care how much you cry we owed him the money and he was going to get it. A couple dys later we recieved a regestered letter from Diamond motors stating that he was going to charge us $25 a day storage fee if we didn't get our vehicle off his lot.I have contacted the Better Business Bureau and they only sent my letter back and told me to get a lawyer. I contacted the Attorney Generals Office. The refused to talk to me. We can't even sell this vehicle for $27500. We have never regestered this vehicle and don't intend to. Since all this has happened I found another person this company has tried this on and told the BBB and the attorney General this but to no avail.This person hurt us real bad and I never felt so alone. No one will help us. One reason I guess is because he donates $100 to the police and fire departments on every sale of a vehicle at certain times of the year plus other fringe benefits.It seems like the rich get away with anything in this country. I don't know what these government offices are for. It certainly isn't to help the little guy.God Bless you for what you are doing. You certainly have guts. I see on tv that the BBB doesn't like you because your doing their job. Too bad I say. This country need more people like you. Thank you. Phillip Webber OH! Diamond Motors address is 160 Farmington Rd Rochester New Hampshire 03867