Used car dealers lead Oregon consumer complaints
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Used-car dealers top the list of Oregon businesses receiving the most consumer complaints filed with the state.
The Oregon Department of Justice received 11,625 consumer complaints in 2012, according to the Statesman Journal.
Complaints about telemarketers accounted for the largest share, but only about one-third of those complaints were about Oregon-based businesses.
More than one-third of the used-car dealer complaints centered on failure to disclose previous damage. Consumers also complained about failure to provide a title and about cars that did not meet Department of Environmental Quality emission standards.
Many complaints about used-car dealers could be avoided if consumers would have vehicles inspected by a mechanic before they buy them, said Dan Nicholson, president of the Oregon Independent Automobile Dealer Association.
"You do your best to try to keep your customers happy," the Redmond car dealer said. "But there's many times where customers' expectations are a little high. If you're selling a car with a hundred thousand miles on it, there may be some things wrong with the car."
Others high on the complaints list were video rental stores, timeshare resellers, magazine subscription services and hair, nail and skin care services.
Hollywood Video, which has been out of business for three years, accounted for all but two of the complaints about video rental companies. Collection agencies still are aggressively trying to collect on old rental accounts.
Universal Timeshare Sales Associates of Beaverton accounted for almost 90 percent of the complaints against timeshare resellers. Timeshare resellers offer to sell and market vacation properties or timeshares.
"Usually the company is contacting people and saying they have ready buyers," said Kyle Kavas, Oregon public relations manager for the Better Business Bureau. "They collect a fee but they never submit any paperwork or contract."
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Information from: Statesman Journal.
Im just now seeing this but you guys act like you were forced into contracts with shady dealers. If you don't want to get 'screwed' over than save up and pay cash somewhere else. Loopholes? All companies have one somewhere.
Kiefer Mazda also BAD NEWS and lies! They cold my a car that they PROMISED wasn't a previous rental, I would have likely still bought it but the fact they LIED really got to me.
Lithia In Eugene screwed my family over BIG time. We bought an Expedition that has had REPEATED problems and even issues that have put my family in danger. They were rude and wouldn't make things right like the said. They told me to take it to Roseburg to have it fixed adn Roseburg Lithia laughed at me. Never again will I buy from Lithia!
I would trust the dealerships in Roseburg over dealers in the big city any day. You just have to do your research prior to purchasing and not make an impulse buy, and you should be fine. After all, most dealers want you to come back for your next purchase.
Best car advice I have ever been given is to get a pre-approved loan through your own local credit union before even looking for a car.....and then head out of douglas county to avoid issues. We had a GREAT experience with Hertz Used Auto in Eugene, with a trade in and my vehicle is still going strong.
I purchased a pickup from Sea Breeze in Florence and made it to HOO DOO and the motor blew up
Bought a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix from Fenton Motors, 30 days after the purchase the motor blew up and all they said was that's too bad!!
Bought a car from pro car here in Roseburg.... Had to argue with them to put ties in it that would hold air, charge AC, hook up brights ( yes thats right they never even checked to see if the brights worked... ), and just a bundle of other things that a used car for as much as they were asking should have had checked. They also approved everything and I had the car a whole weekend and they called me and said I needed a cosigner all the sudden... I was livid. I went straight to my own bank and had to work out my own financing.. Just seems super unprofessional to let a car leave the lot assuming its approved when its not yet. Even though it all got worked out I will not go back.
Lacey Leppo
Do not go to roseburg community cars!
Haley Begley this article made me think of u!!!!
Oh yes I have. Am driving it right now. Have spent more in repairs that I paid for the car in the first place. Blown head gasket, fuel pump, etc. etc. had to have it towed twice when out of town taking a patient to OHSU for cancer treatment. Found a good mechanic who did some work on it for me, and told me to get rid of it, as it will cont. to money me to death. Sure enough last week, another $100. bill. Sad when you are limited with funds anyway, and they promise you it is a great vehicle, and will give many years of use. I don't plan to ever buy from a dealer again.
We have bought 1 Honda Pilot used from a used car lot and paid $10,000. less (Kelly blue book value) than what is was actually worth! We have had to for 5 years now and have not had 1 problem with it! It was an amazing find and purchase! Maybe it is because we bought it in Georgia! :)
Yep. Luckily, we had the money to fix it. Cost us $600 but its fine now.
Where not to go in Douglas county cause I'm looking for another van
Lithia screwed me when i traded my car in for a used truck. They sold my car without the co signers signing ofd on the car and still owe me about 1500 they wont call me back and gave me a complimentary undercoating and charged it to my loan. I will never buy from them again and i suggest the same for others as well.
Keifer & Roseburg Auto both have extreme dishonesty problems! Both with used cars & new ones...and trade ins are another story. Don't let anyone tell you paying cash for a new car saves you problems either because Brads will call you three weeks later & tell you that if you don't pay them a few thousand more than they will repo the vehicle. I say buy direct from the manufacturer if possible, that's what I am going to try the next time I buy one.
Yes I have.....can anyone guess from where. They are notorious for ripping people off here in roseburg
Yes, and i had to contact the BBB, Attorney General, and found his bond company in Texas and gave them a call too. I finally got what i paid for but it took some time and many phone calls.. And if anyone wants to know where NOT to go, ask me...
Frankly I'm shocked , are you telling me that used car dealers are not 100 percent honest!!!!
Charlee Tikkanen
i had to get a lawyer to fight keifer mazda due to there lying. And I won.
I bought a vehicle with a warranty. Dealer didn't fill out the paperwork correctly and almost cost us $1,200 to fix
Solution: never do business with used car dealerships. They are 100% con artists.