$500 Education Edge Rebate --- bad dealership?
carasage
Member Posts: 1
Hi All,
About 3 months ago I purchased a brand new 08 Lancer GTS CVT.
The I paid sticker price, with $500 loyalty, and $500 for my old galant trade in.
I refused to take the deal unless they took off the $690 to make my total a very round number.
They did...
Not until now i get a call from my Dealership requesting my college transcript... saying that it is required for the Education Edge Rebate...
They said they applied and if they do not receive my college transcript they will charge the outstanding $690 back on the my account..??
First of all they never mentioned such rebate cause it was not available at the time... and second can the dealership actually charge me back the discount?
I think this is foul play...
About 3 months ago I purchased a brand new 08 Lancer GTS CVT.
The I paid sticker price, with $500 loyalty, and $500 for my old galant trade in.
I refused to take the deal unless they took off the $690 to make my total a very round number.
They did...
Not until now i get a call from my Dealership requesting my college transcript... saying that it is required for the Education Edge Rebate...
They said they applied and if they do not receive my college transcript they will charge the outstanding $690 back on the my account..??
First of all they never mentioned such rebate cause it was not available at the time... and second can the dealership actually charge me back the discount?
I think this is foul play...
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
If they negotiated with you and knocked off the $690 as part the deal and they never stated anything about the graduation discount, then they are trying to swindle you. Some things to keep in mind:
1) The Graduation Discount offered through Mitsubishi, not the dealer, is only $500, so that kinda makes the $690 bogus. Strike one.
2) I would go to the dealer and demand to see the original financing contract you signed and see how they marked down the additional $690. If the Graduation Discount is no where to be found or stated, then there is strike two against the dealer.
3) I would contact Mitsubishi North America and ask their opinion on the matter. See if anyone else has reported them to Mitsu North America as well as ask any question about the the possibility of back charges. This could mean strike three.
4) Also check the local Better Business Bureau (BBB), or if you don't have a local BBB, contact the federal commerce group (not sure the exact name) and check on the reputation of the dealer. If need be, report them and let the BBB/Federal help you as a middle man to the dispute. Normally, businesses, especially dealerships, don't want investigations and information getting out that they may be considered a scam as it will kill business. They would rather pay $690 than loose thousands in future business.
5) If you find any or all of these things, be prepared to consult a local small claims lawyer to get their opinion. Also, contact the dealerships GM and let them know that you have investigated and are prepared to take the dealer to small claims court. Again, this is a last resort, but a dealer would rather pay $690 than risk the media catching wind and them losing future business.
Hope this helps.
Bill
They'd have a hard time getting the money from you on a done deal unless you financed through them. But the guy who replied about what you should do is spot on. I will add that you should do a dealer review on Edmunds Dealer rating thing they have. I really like knowing which dealerships are good and which to avoid.
Unfortunately your dealerships sounds a LOT like the one I used to deal with in Nashua NH.
Scammers to the core!
But that was so long ago I can't do a review on it. I hope you resolve your current problems.
Mitsubishi is not known for it's customer service in my area and that makes me very wary of buying another car from them even an EVO as I am afraid they will pull a stunt like this on me or worse try to void out my warranty.
They are also known for that. :sick:
I carry a copy of the law protecting those who wish to work on or mod their car. That way, if they try to pull the "oh you voided the warranty by doing X" I can pull out the paper, tell them to read the print, and then ask for the error codes their diagnostic equipment shows. That is the one good thing about the cars becoming more and more electronic. They have become very specific with error codes for what is going wrong. That way, the dealer can't pull this trick and get money and or replace something that is bogus. Personally, I have had good luck with the Mitsu dealers in Houston, TX as well as when I have had to contact Mitsu North America for anything.
Again, best of luck.
Bill
I don't suppose you'd happen to have a link handy to that copy of the law would you? Although I wonder if it would work in every state?
I do know that mitsubishi used to go to auto-x events and the like and photograph cars and refuse to do any warranty work on them as they were raced.
Kinda makes me shy away from Mitsu as a company going to that length, but then again they are deep in the red so apparently it backfired as they sell a lot less cars.
Some dealers are really decent and others are not. and it's not just the brand but the ethics level of the individual dealership.
I would like to know where I could get a copy of something like that for my State. I'd up in New England so Texas is a long ride.
Thanks for the info tho, it's a great idea.
The following link explains the warranty law known as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act that is a federal law, so it covers everyone in all U.S. states.
link title
As you can see from the link, it is sponsored and shown by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the same federal level group I was relaying the original poster too if he needed to report foul play/fraud.
As the wording says, as long as what you do does not directly contradict what is written in the warranty at the time of purchase, then they have to honor the terms of the warranty. For the most part, this generally means with most car manufacturers that as long as whatever you do to the car through an outside source such as a professional local mechanic does not directly cause the major problem that needs to be repaired, they have to honor the warranty and its terms to that affect. This federal law was created to assure and guarantee the rights of car owners to be able to take their cars to local mechanics for any basic service such as oil/filter changes as well as major services such as engine or transmission repair. Although, if you are still in your warranty, why would you take it anywhere but a dealer?
Finally, as to your comments about Mitsu going to rally events to take pictures to void warranties, I know that something along that lines use to happen several years ago before the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act really was applied. Now and days, I do not think it is as big of an issue as I know several people who own the new 2008 Lancer and have modded them with light changes already and have also drag/auto cross raced them without a single issue. Granted, these were amateur events, not professional ones, but the point is still valid. According to the law, what you do with the car is your business. As long as you do not directly violate the terms set forth in the manufacturer warranty, a Mitsu dealer has to honor it regardless of any mods or changes that are on it.
Hope this helps.
Bill
Well I was aware of the Mag-Moss Warranty Act. I have often found that most dealers in the past interpreted it in any way they saw fit. prior to it being in effect I had so many issues with Mitsubishi that I never even considered them until this year and that's about 20 years ago! The local Mitsu dealer wanted $300 for an oil change and said if i didn't get it it would void the warranty. I sold the car 2 weeks after that with 3-4K on it!
Times have changed but not all dealers are honest, some are very dishonest and that's what concerns me. I think amateur time trial events might be listed in the warranty as being unacceptable but most dealers would void the warranty if they could. subaru didn't but no idea if that's changed.
Hopefully all the dealers will now comply with the law without needing a lawyer.
Thanks for your help.