Rowe Special Credit (Westbrook Maine) Took advantage of a first time buyer with little or no credit. Westbrook, Maine

I went in with my son to purchase his first car after graduating from  Job Corps. He has little credit when we went in, so we thought that this place would be a good option. After we filled out the credit app we were told that they would qualify him for just under $ 5000. They showed us the vehicle, we took it for a test drive. It was a little rough on the ride, but we figured this was because it had been sitting, for god only knows how long. After buying this car it went to their mechanic almost on a regular basis. They had put a sticker on this car and the windshield wipers had rubber hanging off of them, we had to purchase a new pair right off. Then, driving it we realized it  would shake pretty badly if you went over 60 mph...It again went to the mechanic needing an alignment. Lights were coming on that shouldn't have, always something.

Well, things went quiet for a bit...then one day he leaves for work, starts his car and...you guessed it, a problem. It was making loud clanking noises, coming from the motor. He missed that day of work, we took it to my mechanic. The engine was gone...ONLY 5 months after purchase! I called the dealership and told them that the car was at my mechanics in NH, they told me I had to drive it back to Westbrook Maine. I told him, the mechanic said that the motor could go anywhere from 2 hours to 2 weeks and highly recommended we not drive it! The dealership was so upset over this, I was told they had to discus the matter of how it would be repaired and where and then get back to me. They did, telling me that they then had to talk to their mechanic and see what he would charge to do it...this was after my mechanic gave them his price. I must tell you, they took there time during this whole process, meanwhile my son had no way to work. I get the call that they have agreed to pay for my mechanic to do the work...They said they would contact him and let him know to proceed.

I called the Mechanic, he said he was waiting on something they said they would fax, he gave me a time frame in which the car would be ready. I waited, it wasn't bad...was about a week, maybe a bit more. So, the time is up, I call the mecanic to see if I can get the car, he tells me that it hasn't been fixed and that he hasn't done anything with it. I was so angry! He said that they never sent him the paperwork that they said they would send...so he didn't proceed. Upon contacting Rowe to ask them why the hell they were dragging their feet they told me that they never said that to my mechanic, they told him to go ahead and fix it. So then I need payment for it to be fixed...Rowe wouldn't fax it or send it overnight or try to speed this up in any way. So, In order for my son to be able to work again and continue making his payments...I drove all the way from Raymond NH to Westbrook Maine...almost 2 hours of driving ( each way ), AND I'M DISABLED!

I picked up a check from what was obviously a very upset manager at Rowe (because they had to replace the motor)

To make a long story short they were upset with my mechanic because they told him just to put a 30 day warranty on the replacement motor...my mechanic was upset saying that he gives 6 month warranties and that the 30 days was a joke.

The car was finally fixed and ready to drive, after almost 4 weeks!!!

 Rowe dragged their feet so much during the process, it should have been done quicker.  The the phone calls come in, they're telling me that my son is almost a month behind in payments. I told them this was not his fault, he had no car to get to work. They said that this wasn't their problem. I said it was your problem, you sold him a car that has had problems since day 1. So now, we are paying $100. a week....$75. for the car payment and $25 to the over due amount. I keep track of my receipts, my son is or should be $275 behind now....however the receptionist decides to tell me that he still owes $306. I informed her of the mistake and she told me that it's interest. Interest?? We were never informed of interest on the car payments...on the car price in total yes...but not on the payments.

Also, when my son is even a day late we get calls from Tom over at Rowe Credit telling my son that they are going to repo his car! Really? After all the crap we have gone through....because we deicded to trust you on a young man buying his first car??

DO NOT go to these people. They add in their own rules as they go...and if things don't go their way or fast enough they threaten you.They sell cars that shouldn't even have stickers on them. Oh and the motor? We found out that it died because the fan on the car wasn't working. The mechanic said it doesn't look like it had worked in quite some time. This makes me question the ability of the mechanic that you have working on your cars Rowe!