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FosterSan
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What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? Connecticut:
I need some legal advice in reference to this matter. I am certain it's been said before , but here goes: (LONG POST)
I was discharged from a Chapter 7 Bk in October, 2003. I filed BK because of circumstances beyond my control forced me to. Anyway, I wanted to reestablish my credit, so the opportunity came up to do that by purchasing a used car at New Millenium Motors, an offshoot of a larger automotive dealership (Stephens Automotive). I purchased a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan with a warranty of 90 days/3000 miles. New Millenium financed me for $5K with $1,600 down. Almost immediately we experienced problems. We took it back a week later, due to a short in the left signal light column. Then we experienced (and still have) a problem with the power steering (none) and when the car's temperature goes to normal after driving it for 30 minutes, it shuts down. You literally have to start it up again. When it shuts down, it disables the cruise control function, etc. If this happens on the highway, the car doesn't shut down, it jolts and disables the cruise control function. Took it back to the dealer & they claim they couldn't duplicate the problem. In the meantime, we took the car into a reputable shop to have the oil, brake fluid, etc. changed. When the mechanic ran diagnostic tests via their computerized system, he informed us that their is a factory recall on the clockspring mechanism on the car & why didn't we get it fixed? He said that's why the airbag light doesn't go off after startup. I called Chrysler & sure enough, the clockspring had to be replaced. Took it to a Dodge Dealership & they fixed it for no charge. I mentioned the problem with the car to the mechanic & was told to bring it in. He performed computerized tests on the car & said the transmission was in need of severe work, which would cost $3K! The car's total price was $7K. It was not worth it, so I took it back to the dealer & gave them a copy of both the local and the Dodge mechanic's report, which mirrored one another. Of couse now the car is out of warranty. The dealer took it to their mechanic and he replaced the radiator for the temperature problem, thinking it would be solved. The car still stalls. It didn't work!
Because of this strain, the brakes have now worn down (we only drove 13K miles since we had the car). Took it to Firestone who gave me an estimate of $800 to fix the brakes and $700 to fix the power steering. I have had enough. I can't afford an attorney and I can't get Legal Aid attorney because of my income. I am filing a complaint with our local DMV. DMV states you have to give the dealer the opportunity to correct the problem. I have taken it back & forth to the dealer with no satisfaction.
I was there just yesterday (brought the car in last Thursday & they STILL didn't look at it). I threatened a suit. I previously had written them a letter to fix the problem. They propose looking at it one last time, and if the repairs are going to be more than what the payoff amount is on the loan ($3700], then they will give me another car. BUT, I will still have to pay an additional downpayment. BTW: I learned that they are not reporting my payments to the credit bureau
Where should I go with this? Is there an attorney that would be willing to work for me & charge a reasonable price? DMV (the bureaucracy it is) will take a long time, while I am without a car, and guess what? No loaner car either!
WHY are these crooks allowed to prey on people who want to get their life back together & nothing is being done about it?
I need some legal advice in reference to this matter. I am certain it's been said before , but here goes: (LONG POST)
I was discharged from a Chapter 7 Bk in October, 2003. I filed BK because of circumstances beyond my control forced me to. Anyway, I wanted to reestablish my credit, so the opportunity came up to do that by purchasing a used car at New Millenium Motors, an offshoot of a larger automotive dealership (Stephens Automotive). I purchased a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan with a warranty of 90 days/3000 miles. New Millenium financed me for $5K with $1,600 down. Almost immediately we experienced problems. We took it back a week later, due to a short in the left signal light column. Then we experienced (and still have) a problem with the power steering (none) and when the car's temperature goes to normal after driving it for 30 minutes, it shuts down. You literally have to start it up again. When it shuts down, it disables the cruise control function, etc. If this happens on the highway, the car doesn't shut down, it jolts and disables the cruise control function. Took it back to the dealer & they claim they couldn't duplicate the problem. In the meantime, we took the car into a reputable shop to have the oil, brake fluid, etc. changed. When the mechanic ran diagnostic tests via their computerized system, he informed us that their is a factory recall on the clockspring mechanism on the car & why didn't we get it fixed? He said that's why the airbag light doesn't go off after startup. I called Chrysler & sure enough, the clockspring had to be replaced. Took it to a Dodge Dealership & they fixed it for no charge. I mentioned the problem with the car to the mechanic & was told to bring it in. He performed computerized tests on the car & said the transmission was in need of severe work, which would cost $3K! The car's total price was $7K. It was not worth it, so I took it back to the dealer & gave them a copy of both the local and the Dodge mechanic's report, which mirrored one another. Of couse now the car is out of warranty. The dealer took it to their mechanic and he replaced the radiator for the temperature problem, thinking it would be solved. The car still stalls. It didn't work!
Because of this strain, the brakes have now worn down (we only drove 13K miles since we had the car). Took it to Firestone who gave me an estimate of $800 to fix the brakes and $700 to fix the power steering. I have had enough. I can't afford an attorney and I can't get Legal Aid attorney because of my income. I am filing a complaint with our local DMV. DMV states you have to give the dealer the opportunity to correct the problem. I have taken it back & forth to the dealer with no satisfaction.
I was there just yesterday (brought the car in last Thursday & they STILL didn't look at it). I threatened a suit. I previously had written them a letter to fix the problem. They propose looking at it one last time, and if the repairs are going to be more than what the payoff amount is on the loan ($3700], then they will give me another car. BUT, I will still have to pay an additional downpayment. BTW: I learned that they are not reporting my payments to the credit bureau
Where should I go with this? Is there an attorney that would be willing to work for me & charge a reasonable price? DMV (the bureaucracy it is) will take a long time, while I am without a car, and guess what? No loaner car either!
WHY are these crooks allowed to prey on people who want to get their life back together & nothing is being done about it?