Whats up crew? Been here a couple weeks and so far using the search answered alot of my questions but Im left with one. I thought my starter went out so I dropped it off at the Ford dealer (not the used car lot I bought it from) for warranty replace and its not it. Turns out when I bought the car, they installed a GPS to disable the car if I dont pay for it at the used car lot? My first payment is'nt even due for another week? So I call the used lot and they said they will send a mechanic out to Ford to fix it for me for free but states I'm still responsible to pay the tow bill and the $80 shop fee for Fords labor... I haven't even had the car for a month, no electronics installed, not even tint yet and their making me pay for THEIR bs mechanics horrible wiring job.. What do you think is fair? Any tips or things I should know? I have an extended warranty I tied in with the car loan too? Would insurance reimburse afterwards?

Ummm, that sounds illegal to me... Serious privacy issues if a used car dealer is tracking you with a GPS they put on your personal property without your consent.

Wow, ask the dealership if they recently read the book '1984'. Doesn't sound right to me.

This is getting to be common practice for risky credit customers. I bet this arrangement is part of your loan agreement that you signed, read the fine print.

This is getting to be common practice for risky credit customers. I bet this arrangement is part of your loan agreement that you signed, read the fine print.

Yea Im only 21 and dont have credit so without a co-signer I agreed to this GPS thing, knew about it the whole time.. All this is understood.. I just wanna know why "I" would be responsible to pay for their low quality install. I agreed to disable the car if for some reason I didn't pay but I've got the papers in front of me and nowhere does it state I have to front for repairs/maintenance? Im lost

Was this one of those corner lot "buy here, pay here" dealerships? If so, they're known to have tracking devices installed, and can shut the car off if your payments aren't made in time. Like said above, this is usually for high risk customers.

To answer your question, I would fight it to the death with the used car company. If your contract shows the due date, and they disabled your car, then they are in the wrong. I'd go in there and talk one on one with a manager, and express just how pissed off you are.

Mark

If you knew about the GPS and the ability to have the car shut off, why would you bring the car to the dealership to replace a starter?

Wow, ask the dealership if they recently read the book '1984'. Doesn't sound right to me.

hahaha

Yea Im only 21 and dont have credit so without a co-signer I agreed to this GPS thing, knew about it the whole time.. All this is understood.. I just wanna know why "I" would be responsible to pay for their low quality install. I agreed to disable the car if for some reason I didn't pay but I've got the papers in front of me and nowhere does it state I have to front for repairs/maintenance? Im lost

even if they disclosed this in the sales agreement, its still wrong...IMHO

Yea Im only 21 and dont have credit so without a co-signer I agreed to this GPS thing, knew about it the whole time.. All this is understood.. I just wanna know why "I" would be responsible to pay for their low quality install. I agreed to disable the car if for some reason I didn't pay but I've got the papers in front of me and nowhere does it state I have to front for repairs/maintenance? Im lost

With no credit this is a starting point and not uncommon. Everyone has to start somewhere.

If it is a faulty installation of the GPS equipment then you need to point that out to the dealer you bought the car from.

wow I've never heard of that. Pretty smart idea though I guess.

even if they disclosed this in the sales agreement, its still wrong...IMHO

You always have the option to not sign for the loan and the loan requirements and shop else where.

I guess what you have to figure out is what would it have cost had you gone back to the original lot you bought it from. If they'd have made you pay for towing to get to the lot that installed the GPS then I'd say you would have to pay. I don't know, tough call. I've never heard of this before...

Unfortunately, I think the mistake was towing it to Ford when you knew that the used car dealer had installed that device on it. Granted, most of us would have done the same thing: car doesn't start = take it to the shop. Especially, since you haven't missed any payments yet. It wouldn't hurt to complain and cause a stink at the lot where you're financing the car, but you have to realize that even though they mis-wired the device, they are fixing their mistake free of charge. In essence, they fixed what they screwed up. They didn't incur the additional charges, you did. Again, I don't want to sound like a jerk and I think this is a most unfortunate situation. But it's probably one of those live and learn lessons. These "we finance anyone" dealers are quite often cut-throat characters and you're going to have a tough time getting them to part with any of their bottom line. You don't have anything to lose by trying to recoup your expenses, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I would actually go in with the attitude that their screw-up caused this chain of events and you'd be satisfied to split the difference with them. Go with your gut feeling based on the relationship you have with this dealer. If you think you can get a full reimbursement, go for it. But I'm afraid that they'll be a tough nut to crack. Best of luck to you and let us know how it turns out.

Unfortunately, I think the mistake was towing it to Ford when you knew that the used car dealer had installed that device on it. Granted, most of us would have done the same thing: car doesn't start = take it to the shop. Especially, since you haven't missed any payments yet. It wouldn't hurt to complain and cause a stink at the lot where you're financing the car, but you have to realize that even though they mis-wired the device, they are fixing their mistake free of charge. In essence, they fixed what they screwed up. They didn't incur the additional charges, you did. Again, I don't want to sound like a jerk and I think this is a most unfortunate situation. But it's probably one of those live and learn lessons. These "we finance anyone" dealers are quite often cut-throat characters and you're going to have a tough time getting them to part with any of their bottom line. You don't have anything to lose by trying to recoup your expenses, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I would actually go in with the attitude that their screw-up caused this chain of events and you'd be satisfied to split the difference with them. Go with your gut feeling based on the relationship you have with this dealer. If you think you can get a full reimbursement, go for it. But I'm afraid that they'll be a tough nut to crack. Best of luck to you and let us know how it turns out.

+1 but if it does not state that the car must be returned to that dealership for any maintenance or anything like that I would bite the bullet, pay, and then file some sort of claim with a local magistrate ( if it is worth it ). I doubt the dealership would cover the fee but I also doubt its worth going into a lawsuit.

The one thing you do how ever have going for you is that you did not have any late payments or one even due at the time and if the dealer is acknowledging that this was do to bad wiring and not a accidental shut off with the unit then that gives you more but regardless even if it was shut off accidentally it should still make some difference.

Unfortunately, I think the mistake was towing it to Ford when you knew that the used car dealer had installed that device on it. Granted, most of us would have done the same thing: car doesn't start = take it to the shop. Especially, since you haven't missed any payments yet. It wouldn't hurt to complain and cause a stink at the lot where you're financing the car, but you have to realize that even though they mis-wired the device, they are fixing their mistake free of charge. In essence, they fixed what they screwed up. They didn't incur the additional charges, you did. Again, I don't want to sound like a jerk and I think this is a most unfortunate situation. But it's probably one of those live and learn lessons. These "we finance anyone" dealers are quite often cut-throat characters and you're going to have a tough time getting them to part with any of their bottom line. You don't have anything to lose by trying to recoup your expenses, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I would actually go in with the attitude that their screw-up caused this chain of events and you'd be satisfied to split the difference with them. Go with your gut feeling based on the relationship you have with this dealer. If you think you can get a full reimbursement, go for it. But I'm afraid that they'll be a tough nut to crack. Best of luck to you and let us know how it turns out.

Wow guys thanks for your thoughts! By the time I got back to read this I took care of it.. Ended up going with the "live and learn" option as you say. We split the cost down the middle and cut me a check for the difference right there. All is well and in still good relation with the dealer and used car lot.. Thanks guys!

tell them they can have the car back and go elsewhere to get a car. Doesnt sound like the kind of place you want to do business with anyway.