ComplaintsforSmith Automotive Limited Liability Company

• Initial Complaint

  07/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased a vehicle and traded my vehicle in. At that time I put down as significant amount of cash on the purchase. It has been over 70 days now and I have not received a title and he will not get back with me. In the purchase agreement, I did pay the taxes title fee, etc. Upon delivery of the vehicle, there was a number of scratches on it throughout the body that was not mentioned in the purchase agreement as I purchased it out of state. The very next day after accepting the vehicle, it broke down and was in the shop for two weeks with a $2200 bill on top of a $500 car rental fee. After all that was taken care of, I realized I was driving on an expired temporary plate. I reached back to him to ask him where my title is he says Michigan is slow with their titling to give it time and he will give me another temporary plate. Now this temporary plate is getting ready to expire in 10 days so at that point it will be 90 days from date of purchase. Still no title work. At this point I would like to give the vehicle back and get my money back and purchase a vehicle in my own state. As Im not sure if this vehicle , even has a title at this point because he will not reach back to me with title information!

  Business response

  07/16/2024

  ************* purchased a 2020 Land Rover Velar from our lot. We drove the vehicle 3 hours to ***************** home at no additional cost. ************* drove the vehicle and said he liked it, he mentioned that there was scratches on the hood. ******* explained that's normal wear and tear. ************* agreed and said he would get the scratches repaired himself. ************* didn't mention his trade in was smoked in. Though smoke smells devalue the vehicle, we honored the price that was quoted. Soon after ************** reached out and said that the vehicle went into limp mode so we told him to take it to the closest Land Rover. The diagnosis wasn't covered under the warranty so I told him I would cover the cost of the repair which was over $2,000.  Land Rover said they would need his vehicle for a week. I reimbursed ************* for the renal vehicle which came to over $500.  ************** cancelled the warranty that we sold him.  During this whole transaction ************** was frustrated and would text rude things to ********************* and night.  ******* drove 3 hours to deliver the warranty and rental reimbursement cashier's checks to show our commitment to his satisfaction. Out of state title work takes ***** days. This time it took longer and he got frustrated and started sending  rude messages late into the night again.  ******* explained to him that frequently happens with out of state title work and that if his temporary plate expired that he would be issued another temporary plate so that he could drive his vehicle legally. During the waiting process we reached out to the bank to explain to them what was going on with the title work. After efforts to ease ****************** frustrations, he continued to send rude messages.  ************* got false information he claims came from the state of ******** which made the situation more complicated as ************** continued to be rude. We are fully committed to his satisfaction and will make sure that his temporary plate is still valid while we dig into the situation.

  Customer response

  07/17/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  According to law, a dealer in ******* only has 21 days to supply a title from date of purchase. Not only that I was driving two days on a expired temporary Indiana plate before he gave me a new one for 45 days. It has now been over 90 days And still no title work! And my second 45 day temporary plate is going to expire tomorrow the 18th. I would like a full complete refund at this point. I also made a claim with the attorney general office. Due to the fact that he may have committed fraud by selling the vehicle without a title.

  Customer response

  07/24/2024

  I drove for 2 days on the first expired temp plate. Pics attached. I filed a claim with the attorney general of Indiana and I also retained an attorney at this point. There is still no title.
  I just want a full refund at this point. I could not attach to my response on the Better Business Bureau.

  Business response

  07/24/2024

  Respectfully, the customer never rode on a expired temp plate. We also provided the customer with a temp plate that doesn't expire until 9/1/24. Sent the customer a copy of the title from when ************************************************* purchased it. We( Smith Automotive) did that to show ************** that we're working to get this resolved asap. 

  Customer response

  07/24/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  After I notified Mr. ********************** that I did not have a copy of the plate he sent me one. Which then took him two days to send me.. at this point it has been over 96 days since purchase. Three temporary plates later and still no title. According to Indiana law, he has broke many statues and may have committed misdemeanors. At this point, I would just like a full refund and return the vehicle. 

  Business response

  08/05/2024

  We are currently speaking with our legal counsel. We received a letter from ****************** lawyer, will reach out to his lawyer soon. 

  Customer response

  08/05/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  At this point still no title. Has been over 110 days since purchase.
  Had to retain an attorney which sent a demand letter for a full refund at this point. Waiting for a response.

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