AN IRATE driver has claimed to have lost $8,000 and her unusable BMW after it sat in her driveway for three months.
The Philadelphia woman has launched a lawsuit which accuses an auto dealership of selling cars without a title.
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Erika Hester, of North Philadelphia, told 6ABC that she had bought a 2016 BMW last year from Auto Emporium, in Hudson County.
She had spotted the vehicle while checking online adverts.
Hester said it appealed as it was the “kind of car that I wanted for the price that I could afford.”
However, she alleged that the dealership failed to give her the title for the BMW.
So, she couldn’t get it registered.
As a result of the problem, Hester said she “couldn’t drive it, it just sat in the driveway for three months.”
She wants the emporium to return her $8,000, as she “needs that money to put a down payment on another vehicle.”
Hester accused the dealership of being “unfair” as she is forced to using Uber to visit stores and “get around” – with money spent on the ride hailing service quickly “adding up.”
Another problem is that as she “works at night, I had to take Uber every night to get to work.”
Hester told the broadcaster she had filed a lawsuit as the financial loss, coupled with the lack of a car, has impacted her daily life.
The dealership has been accused of not refunding down payments, according to 6ABC.
Hugh Webb, of Brooklyn, told the station he has also had problems with the emporium.
He and his girlfriend are seeking the return of a $2,000 down payment on a BMW.
Webb alleged that Auto Emporium did not provide a title.
The NYPD ended up towing the vehicle away for unregistered plates.
He called the dealership, but, he alleged, it told him “to pay for it and get it towed back to Jersey City… we were like, ‘no that’s going to cost us money. We don’t have that money.'”
Webb told the station that when he threatened to take the dealership to court over his claims, it effectively told him to go ahead and lodge a lawsuit.
So he did, and received a $5,000 judgment from a judge last October when the dealer’s boss did not appear in court.
Hester’s lawsuit has yet to be considered by a judge.
Dealership Tips
Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:
- 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
- 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
- 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
- 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
6ABC reported that it visited the emporium, and spoke to a staff member who allegedly confirmed that “banks are taking vehicles back.”
A spokesman for the dealership advised the reporter to send questions to its attorney.
The broadcaster claimed it had found another customer suing Auto Emporium.
It added that the case “is still unresolved.
“The New Jersey Office of Attorney General told us its Consumer Affairs Division has a half dozen complaints on Auto Emporium but couldn’t comment if there is an active investigation.”
The U.S. Sun has contacted the emporium for comment.