I’ll try to keep the story short. I will also disclose the dealership once some of you have guessed (someone suggested I keep it private until you guys guess just for fun).
Got my new lease and went to this Kia dealership to sell my current lease for the positive equity. I went about a month ago and they were fine offering me Carvana’s price (highest offer), but I was unable to sell at that moment. Talked to this one lady and explained I want to sell and turn in my lease and explained to her I already have a new lease and didn’t want to turn in my car because I know it has positive equity and I want a check for it and not to roll it into the new lease. Gave her both keys (mistake… next time only giving one), my ID, title, etc. Another person who is the Sales Manager came and told me it’ll be a few minutes. Another person came (unsure of title) and asked to see my buyout price. This will be important because they NEVER ask for my buyout price when I turn in a lease.
Few moments later the sales manager came and said that my lease is terminated and to have a nice day. I explained to him that I wanted to SELL the car for the positive equity and I never wanted to just terminate the lease. He was kind of laughing in a “oh crap” way and said he couldn’t really do anything (interesting huh?). He then said he would see what he can do and never apologized.
Keep in mind, I NEVER agreed or even signed for this. He even gave me the vehicle return receipt paper showing his signature and not mine. On the bottom in bold it says “IMPORTANT: The lessee must sign this report and receive a copy of this paper”
Long story short, they explained that it’s “legally” theirs (not sure how because I never signed?) and I’d have to wait till Tuesday for them to call Kia and unwind the ground. I told them they have to do this or give me 100% of what Carvana offered, which they said it’s not worth that much and offered me less. I asked them how would I get home and the guy said “idk man… uber I guess?”. I told another manager who I was talking at the moment because the sales manager and other lady I was talking to magically disappeared, that the sales manager has to write and sign saying they guarantee that they’ll undo this and I even asked them to pay for uber since no one was available to drive me home. He declined on the letter and said everyone was busy. Later, someone was, again, “magically” available and took me home.
Again, after you guys guess which dealership this is, I will post which location. I rather wait until everything is done just in case I have to sue the ever living crap out of them for what they illegally did.
Just some advice because I am sure you will need to get a lawyer involved, but start taking note of who you talked to, when, and what order. Go on their website and see if they have a “meet the team” section if you need names or go on DealerRater and see if there is any info there. I would also call the local police and see if you can make a report to have it on record. Not that it will get you far, but better to have something than nothing.
Just post the dealer. There is no need to drag anyone else’s name through the mud when they did nothing wrong.
I already had them write their names down. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the person’s name who asked about my buyout price. Regardless, I have the important people’s names.
For the police, I thought of calling because it’s technically an unlawful seizure of my car. The only reason why I didn’t, is because I had my new lease so I wouldn’t be stuck. However, this would probably count as a civil thing so there’s little they could do.
Correct, but they’re only open mon-fri and this happened Saturday. Today is a holiday so I’d have to call tomorrow after work since I have no breaks unfortunately.
EDIT: I also have to ask how my lease will work since it was technically up on Monday, but I had extended and already paid for this month.
Going into a dealer is for executing a transaction that you have already agreed to terms on, nothing else. Rookie mistake. Now it will come down to what you can prove.
You expected a Kia Motors store to not be a sleazy dump with the lowest grade of human scum sitting at desks, nourishing their dead souls with foul instant coffee?
I disagree on that since people come in and out all the time not going through with any terms agreed upon. Also, it’s impossible for them to appraise a car without having to go into a dealership and them physically looking into it.
Congratulations, you have just identified the difference between people who know what they’re doing and those who don’t or don’t care. You made a strategy error, the dealer took advantage of you (again, you were sitting. in. a. Kia. store.), and now you’re hailing a taxi.
Next time, come here and ask for advice before you leave home.
Probably true, but when you e-mail a copy of your police report to the dealer and Kia American (from what I can tell, they do allow you to send a message to them through the website), it lets them know that you’re not just going to go away quietly…
Perhaps it might do something. I still feel they’d tell me it is a civil matter since the person never threatened or held me at gunpoint (me willingly giving them the keys). But I can look into it if they can’t unground my lease for some reason.
Yes, but you also asked for the keys and car back, right? And there is literally no documentation anywhere that you actually meant to trade in your car for the new lease, right?
I mean, if you give me your child willingly for babysitting but then I don’t give back your child back to you when you come to pick them up…
Disclaimer: I am not an attorney or a law-enforcement official.
