Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/13/2023

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I purchased a 2013 *** X5M from City Auto Sales LLC in December 2020. I was assured it had a clear and clean title (I have screen shots of the conversation). The motor had a catastrophic failure and required replacement 11 months after purchase. Due to this, I renewed my registration on line and did not see a notation, which stated the title was branded as "mileage not actual." Once I discovered this I immediately contacted the dealer, Feb of 2023. I met in person with the office and business manger and provided all the documentation I had. I then received a copy of the title from the bank along with the *** disclosure statement. The *** statement did not have any box checked for the status of the mileage. (other documents show actual mileage) The dealer had a notarized copy of the document, also without any box checked. The one the dealer sent to the ******************* (which I got a copy of) had the "mileage not actual" box checked. So, it is clear that AFTER the document was signed by me and notarized, the dealership changed the form and then submitted it to WA state as if true and correct. Due to this fraud, the vehicle is worth a fraction of it original value AND I would never have purchased the vehicle in the first place had I been made aware of this. Due to the dealers dishonesty, the total injury to me is $61,804.78.(inclusions cost of the vehicle) I attempted in good faith over the last several months to deal with the dealer but they have stopped talking to me at the direction of the owner, ******** per the last email from the Business Manager ****. I have sought a reasonable resolution to this issue and now have been ignored by the business. This will be the next step in trying to continue to correct this in good faith. ******** has been provided with all the supporting documentation for this issue and I can also provide it to BBB. I also have a much more detailed write up of the issue but it would not fit in this space.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/11/2024

  More Information...TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
  
  
  IN REFERENCE TO THE 2013 *** X5, THERE WAS A MISTAKE MADE ON THE PAPERWORK THAT CREATED AN ISSUE WITH THE ***** THAT IS FIXABLE. WE SPOKE WITH ******* ABOUT THE MISTAKE AND OUR INTENTIONS TO CORRECT ANY CLERICAL OR PAPERWORK ERRORS. WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE ****** DEALER INVESTIGATOR AND EXPLAINED THE ENTIRETY OF THE SITUATION INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE *** OR ***ES THAT WERE OR WEREN'T CHECKED ON THE ODOMETER STATEMENT AND EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD DONE TO SELF CREATE THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER INVESTIGATOR AGREED THAT IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO CORRECT THE PAPERWORK TO ENSURE A CLEAN *****. HE ALSO WAS SURPRISED AT THE LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT ******* WAS REQUESTING FROM US TO RESOLVE SUCH AN ISSUE. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT ******* IS SEEKING IS OVER 3X THE AMOUNT HE ACTUALLY PAID FOR THE VEHICLE, WHICH IN OUR POSITION FEELS MORE LIKE A MONEY GRAB THEN JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE THE ***** IS CLEAN ON THE VEHICLE HE PURCHASED.  WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CORRECTING ALL PAPERWORK NEEDED TO ENSURE A CLEAN ***** AS WAS REPRESENTED AND AS ******* EXPECTED. 
  
  
  THANK YOU!

  *********; 

  General Manager

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/24/2024

   
  Complaint: 21004483
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  The monetary amount I have requested is only the actual dollars I have out of pocket due directly and only attributable to, City Auto Sales LLCs dishonesty. Had this truly been a clerical error as they continue to try and push, then why wasnt I called between 12/3/20 and 2/22/23 and made aware of the issue? No matter how much they try and push this narrative out, there is absolutely zero reasonable excuse or legally protected reason for changing a signed and notarized document. Period.
  
  At no time did City Auto Sales LLC ever contact me about a title issue or anything else in regards to this problem. Even after I contacted them once I discovered their dishonesty, they still tried to sweep the issue under the rug hoping I would go away.
  
  The last communication I received from City Auto Sales LLC was due to me continually contacting City Auto Sales LLC and forcing a response from them. This is verbatim the last communication from City Auto Sales LLC to me:
  *******, 
  The owner said he'd take over from the last time we were talking and asked me to not deal with this issue any more, including emailing you. I figured he or another representative of his had reached out to you. Hopefully you're able to resolve this issue one way or another. Best of luck to you!
  **** (Strange how **** is the one who responded to this complaint)
  
  I never received any other communications until I filed a BBB and other consumer protection complaints. Its interesting to me City Auto Sales LLC only responded to my BBB complaint after I reached out to other consumer protection groups. I am sure City Auto LLC only gave their story of accidentally messing up paperwork to whomever they spoke with as a dealer investigator and that person is unaware of the fraud committed by City Auto Sales LLC by changing a signed and notarized document. City Auto Sales LLC then presented that document as true and correct to **************** DOL which branded the title.
  
  I would have suffered zero financial loss if City Auto Sales LLC was honest and forthright about the title issue because I would never have purchased the vehicle. The title issue is clear to see when looking at the title and reported mileage City Auto Saless LLC had in their possession and never transferred to the dealership. Unfortunately,City Auto Sales LLC was not honest and I suffered direct financial loss due only to their actions.
  
  My request is more than reasonable. I am not asking for anything other than the actual monetary loss I suffered. I am asking nothing for the pain, suffering, and mental stress City Auto LLCs actions have caused me.  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******