I have a problem that has occured more than once with the local Mitsubishi dealer.
My 20 year old wife has no credit history so we thought that the Mitsu dealer might be a good place to look. They had gotten me financed for my first vehicle 4 years ago, so I thought it a good idea to go back to them. The problem is that my wife could not get approved for the Mitsu Lancer on their lot, and we had to bring the car that she picked out back a week later.
No big deal. we went somewhere else and go a better deal on a nicer car but i had to cosign.
anyway...we had traded in my hunting truck on the Lancer at the Mitsu dealer. When the deal fell though we brought the Lancer back and they gave me the keys to my truck. As soon as they handed me the key I told them one was not on the ring and I needed it. They proceded to tell me that I had never given it to them and asked why I was lying in the middle of their showroom. I just wrote it off in my minde and walked out to the truck.
As soon as I got near, I noticed that all of the stereo equipment was gone from inside of it. I immediately returned to the showroom and made them aware of the situation. They told me not to call the police and they would try harder to get my wife approved on the Lancer. When they could not get her financed I asked what they planed on doing about the missing key and stereo equipment. They told me that they would install better equipment than what was stolen and rekey the doors. I was fine with this and asked for all of my paperwork back. They could not find my registration and told me that I was "full of shit" and never gave it too them. Even when the sales man that we dealt with stood up for us, stating that he personally took it from the truck for the finance office to verify the VIN.
At this time I called the ssherriff. When the officer arrived he and the sales manager talked for a few minutes. The officer informed me that this was a civil matter and that there was nothing that he could do as there is a sign stating that they are not responsible for vehicles on the lot. This sign is located on the other side of the building, on a fence, behind a bush that they had to pull back to show me.
When I purchased my GMC truck from them back in '04 this same thing happened. I traded in a car with a stereo in it. By time I was finnished signing all the papers on the truck the car was locked up in the back and the keys had been puched under the owner's ofice door. They said no to worry and come back by tomarow and I could get all of my belongings out. When I returned the next day everything was gone.
Does a "Not Responsible" sign behind a bush give a dealer's employees the right to steal from the cars on the lot?
What can I do to get this situation under controll. They have been telling me for 3 weeks that they are going to rekey, replace the electronics, and replace the registration. Today the finally said that they are not going to put one cent into it and that I was out of luck.
What are my options, if any.
Thanks
Keith

