ComplaintsforSpecialty Auto, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  01/11/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  In mid-September 2023 ********************* and I negotiated a $16,200 purchase price for a 2013 ***** automobile, model XC70 that his Specialty Auto company advertised at $16,600 and we shook hands on that deal. I told him then that I wanted to buy it promptly so that I could take it on vacation. A few days later, when I phoned to schedule the closing (only a couple days before I was to leave) he reneged on the discounted price and insisted on the original $16,600. Having made firm plans to travel, I purchased the ***** on September 23, 2023, under protest. ******* calculated the cost of registration and taxes at $1,137.50 and I also paid him that amount. We also agreed to have the car inspected by a mechanic we both knew and trusted. When I returned from vacation, ******* authorized him to replace a broken motor mount and an improperly installed heat shield (cost $531.94). The mechanic also advised at that time that the engine consumed excessive amounts of engine oil. On or about October 3, 2023, I reported to ******* that the car had used two quarts in in about **** miles during my vacation. He first asserted that consumption of a quart every 400 miles was acceptable, but soon agreed to my returning the car for a refund.******* insisted that we needed to wait for the title to be available to execute the refund transaction. On his advice, I phoned the ************************** and requested expedited issuance of the title. Between that agreement to return the ***** and the arrival of the title in the mail, I phoned ******* twice, weeks apart. I was concerned about the long delay in obtaining the title. He said on both calls only that you could not accept a return without the title. He never mentioned any fees for mileage, cleaning, or anything else prior to the mail delivery of the title.The title arrived around November 3rd and I phoned ******* again to schedule the return transaction. During that call and for the first time, he said that he would not refund all of the purchase price. He also told me that he had miscalculated the tax amount due and so had paid the taxes and registration from his own funds. He returned my original check for $1,137.50 to cover tax and fees and told me that I must seek a tax abatement from the Commonwealth. ******* insisted over my objections that he would deduct fees of $500 for the mileage that I had driven while in possession of the car, and $170 to clean the car. In addition to objecting to those unilaterally imposed new fees, I requested a proper accounting. he sent me a text: $16600us $500 repair,Minus$1157 *** paid by me.Minus $170 detail minus $500 Miles comes out to $15273On November 4, 2023. I returned the ***** and accepted your check for $15,273 only under express protest of your deduction of $670 in unauthorized fees. You gave me that check, but none of the other papers required to apply for the abatement. I pursued you by phone, text, and letter for weeks to obtain those records. You insisted that you could not provide the routine sales and tax records that the ********** of ******* required. I subsequently applied for the tax abatement without all the records and eventually the Commonwealth approved an abatement. I never agreed to your deduction of $500 for Miles that I had driven the ***** or the $170 cleaning fee. Nothing in the sales contract provided for such fees. You had never mentioned that you would apply such charges, neither at the time of sale or during the month-long wait for the title. I might have left the car parked had I known.This defective ***** cost me a lot of money because it was delivered in September with two serious safety concerns; a broken motor mount and an odd radial ply tire that did not match the other three, and an engine that burned oil. You reimbursed me for the motor mount, but I paid $$203.99 for a matching tire and $24.75 for installation. The mechanic also installed a towing hitch for me prior to my discovery of the excessive oil consumption and other problems. I paid ****** for the towing installation and later another $118.80 to remove the trailer hitch prior to returning the vehicle. ******* represented throughout the sale that the ***** was a low-mileage ******** car in exceptionally good condition. I believed those misrepresented facts about the *****s excellent condition justified its premium price. Because it was not in good condition, I had to return it and you extracted $670 in improper fees, plus I paid $228.74 to replace the mismatched and unsafe tire, and $267.30 to install and remove the hitch. Had the vehicle been in excellent, saleable, and safe condition as you represented, I would not have incurred any of these expenses. ******* should reimburse me $1166.04 for the improper fees and for the additional expenses that I incurred because, in fact, the ***** was not in sound, saleable, and safe condition. Instead, the engine was worn to the point of unacceptable oil use, a motor mount was broken, and the radial tires on the all-wheel-drive vehicle were mismatched.

  Customer response

  01/22/2024

  I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint. 

• Initial Complaint

  11/02/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On October 5th 2021 I gave *************************** a cash deposit of $100 dollars for a 2006 ***** xc70. After weeks of being told the vehicle is still not ready for me to pick it up. I cancelled the transaction. ****** said he would send me back my deposit. after 2 weeks I still had not received the money. I called again on October 26th. ****** said he forgot. still after another week I have not received my deposit back.

  Customer response

  11/14/2021

  I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint.

  

  Business response

  12/06/2021

  Consumer was refunded prior to receiving BBB complaint.

  Customer response

  12/06/2021

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's
  response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does satisfy my issues.I was refunded the payment. It was after I filed the complaint though.
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  *****************************

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