Overhaulin'

what can i do if a car dealership is trying to scam my parents?

My parents bought a vehicle from a buy here pay here lot, and they've tried to scam extra money from my parents twice. The first time they sent a letter and a copy of the contract that had been modified (by scratching out numbers and re-writing them), and the second, when my parents only owed 50 or so dollars, they mailed the check in, and it was sent back with a letter and another modified contract that stated they owed 500. I have the original contract plus all receipts for payments and all letters that have been sent.

Public Comments

1. You contact and attorney and sue them out of business.
2. First dont send them any more money. Notify the Better Business Bureau.
3. take copies to the dealer, tell him to fix it or you're going to court- also threaten to report him to the Better Business Beaura for bad business practices... you can fill this out online at BBB.gov ... they can ask the dealer if he wants to make it right, in order to keep a good rating with the bbb
4. Copy the original and take it in. Contact an attorney if needed or even a local news station, some local stations have people who specifically deal with this and they do it free of charge. Contact the Attorney General and file a complaint and the Better Business Bureau. If you can't go to the place send a copy of the original with the final payment, send it certified and require them to sign. Those are a few ideas.
5. Go to court. Terms may not be unilaterally changed. Also, you can get punitive damages (bad faith by car dealer). Go find a lawyer, most lawyers give free consultations, they'll tell you what you can expect to get out of the situation based on the facts.
6. Sue them because some people try to turn the tables so you should sue them before and have the original document of the contract
7. Call the police and turn the dealer in for loan Sharking, it is against the law, scare the crap out of the assholes, if you have the contract you have proof of a scam, get the police involved now, the jerks I wish they would try that crap with my Mother, Good luck and God bless
8. Tell them to take a hike. As long as your documents are original copies and have not been tampered with, you are OK
9. Sue them in small claims court.
10. Don't sue them. That costs money. Report them to the police, because what they are doing is a crime. That is attempted fraud, a criminal, not civil matter.
11. Any holographic changes (those scratched-out and rewritten numbers) in a contract must be initialed by all the contracting parties and copies of that contract must be provided for all parties. If your folks have the original contract as well as the two modified copies that you speak of, take all three documents to the nearest copy machine, get copies then get the copies notarized and go to the local court with them. The dealership is operating illegally according to your recount of the incident. EDIT: One of the other posters said to take the contract copies to the dealership .DO NOT DO THAT!!!!!!!!! Go instead to an attorney or to the District Attorney's office with all your paperwork. Notify the BBB as well. If there is a business 'troubleshooter' in your area, a local radio, tv, or newspaper personality, also contact that person with all that has happened. That dealership is shady if it is operating as you have described.