ComplaintsforBill Walsh Honda

• Initial Complaint

  09/25/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  9/25/23 Went to dealership to inquire about purchase of a vehicle. Was told a _soft_ credit check would be done to determine what kind of finance might be available. Dealership immediately did a _hard_ credit check and caused me to lose points on my credit rating, which they also appear to have misrepresented to me in the process of detailing the requirements of purchasing a vehicle. I have a second witness to all these events.Complaint: deceptive business practices. Two occurrences.

  Business response

  09/27/2023

  Thank you for allowing us to respond to ***********************

  I had the opportunity to meet with our management team to review the complaint.

  ********************** visited our Honda store and explained to our staff that he hadn't had a job for 19 months and did not want to provide a co-signer.  We then explained that because of a lack of job experience and his insistence on not wanting a co-signer that we would need to take a credit application to see what we thought his likelihood of securing credit would be.  We took the credit application which ********************** signed acknowledging that we would be running  a credit bureau to determine if and what level of credit he could expect so we might match up a vehicle with his credit score based on our experience with our lenders.

  We then presented ********************** with the Risk Based Pricing score sheet to which he accused the staff of making up the credit score because it was lower than he indicated to us.  We explained to him that this is a standard credit report that is printed off for every guest requesting financing.  He refused to sign the Risk Based Pricing form.  We showed him his credit report and explained that we were not certain we could secure financing as there were only two very recent lines of credit history.  These were a $5,000 credit extension and another for $300.  We further explained that because he hadn't had any employment history for 19 months, didn't want to consider a co-signer, had only two lines of credit and that is score was in a difficult to finance score range that securing credit would prove to be difficult. 

  We fully explained that we needed to run a credit report in order to help him which is why he signed the credit application. We believe ********************** may not understand that a 'soft' credit check still involves running a credit bureau so we can understand a guest's credit situation and that a 'hard' credit check is when an application to a bank is submitted. 

  ********************** was abusive to the staff and management at the dealership and, later that day, on telephone calls to the manager and a separate call to the sales representative. 

  Thank youi

  Customer response

  09/28/2023

   
  Complaint: 20653515
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  The statements made are not accurate.  I _specifically_ asked if the inquiry was a hard or soft inquiry _before_ signing the application because I did not want to have my credit score diminished by an application I wasn't sure I even wanted to fill out.  The salesperson assured me in front of a witness that the credit check was a 'soft' credit check, and then proceeded to do exactly what he said he wouldn't.  He then again asked me to sign additional documents which I declined. Again in front of a witness. 

  To characterize any of these interactions as abusive is libelous, and I will be investigating pursuing legal action if these flagrantly false accusations are not retracted in full.  This dealership ran a hard credit check, negatively impacting my credit rating, in direct violation of what they verbally represented minutes before.  I want them to admit they misrepresented first the credit application transaction, and now the response to the complaint.  Nothing less will be acceptable.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Business response

  09/29/2023

  We would encourage ********************* to pursue whatever next course of action he prefers.  He is confused and it appears there is not a manner to enlighten his understanding of how credit inquiries and automotive shopping are facilitated.  All further correspondence should be forwarded to *********************, ***********************, ****************************************** in writing. 

  Customer response

  09/30/2023

   
  Complaint: 20653515
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  Hard versus soft credit inquiries are a perfectly clear concept, as is their would-be salesperson's misrepresentation of which was being done.  I'll be sure, should further action be necessary, per the business's request, to handle any further communication through our respective attorneys.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

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