A DISTRAUGHT motorist has lost her entire inheritance after shelling out $10,000 on a car she’s never seen.
And another driver said she was wasting hours bussing to work after paying for a vehicle that “broke down almost immediately.”
Tammie Skinner complained about her vehicle problems after claiming she lost her inheritance[/caption]
A receipt shared with ABC-affiliate WMAR-TV shows she paid $10,000 for her car[/caption]
Both Maryland women, Tammie Skinner and Debra Godsey, have aired their grievances against a used car dealership in Baltimore.
They claimed to ABC-affiliate WMAR-TV that they have lost thousands of dollars buying cars from Vehicle Veterans, a registered business in Maryland which offers a brokerage service.
They are among a “handful of customers” who have claimed the firm took advantage of them as they fight to recover their money, said WMAR.
A 2012 Chevrolet Traverse all-wheel drive LT delivered to Godsey broke down almost immediately, she said.
And a tearful Skinner, who lives in Calvert County, explained how she had spent $10,000 in March – with the inheritance money coming from her late mom, who died in 2023.
The broadcaster told viewers that “to this day, she has no car, no savings and no easy way to get to doctor’s appointments after being diagnosed with a life-altering disease.”
A tearful Skinner explained that she didn’t want to provide monthly payments, so had decided to pay the entire amount – in cash.
She added, “right now it is so hard even just to put food on the table.
“It’s a struggle; there’s 13 people in this house, and I cook, I clean daily.”
Meanwhile, Godsey said she remained optimistic that her vehicle purchase problems would be sorted out.
The Rosedale resident said she had bought a car as part of her ambitious hopes to build up a chauffeuring service.
Aptly named the “Chauffeuress,” she needed a vehicle on which to base her business as a driver.
A pal had recommended Vehicle Veterans, and so she paid them $2,800 for the Chevrolet.
Debra Godsey from Rosedale, Maryland, also complained about the firm[/caption]
She recalled falling in love with the car, saying, “When I went to see it, the spirit of God hit me and I danced around this vehicle.”
It has over 167,000 miles – along with several recalls and error codes.
Her had to be returned to the shop for repairs – which meant Godsey was back on the bus, traveling four hours a day.
She claimed that Vehicle Veterans had “ghosted” her.
However, she said she was positive that things would eventually work out, and maintained that while things weren’t “good right now, it doesn’t need to end like this.”
“There are still some things that have to be addressed,” she admitted.
How to spot add-on fees at the dealership
The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on dealerships that charge buyers unfairly.
However, as many transactions aren’t spotted due to electronically signed documents, many added-on fees aren’t spotted. Here’s how the agency says you can spot them.
- Demand a physical copy of the sales contract or invoice, and read it carefully. Customers aren’t required to pay for add-ons they don’t want, like nitrogen-filled tires, paint protectant, wheel and tire insurance, etc.
- Be sure you understand the total cost, not just the monthly. Make sure the total cost is in writing so you can get an idea of how other fees play into the monthly fee. If it’s different from what you originally agreed on, the dealer may be adding fees.
- Explore your options for financing. First, check with your bank, as they can give better rates on auto loans depending on your credit. Bring a hard copy of your preapproval notice to entice the dealer to meet or beat those terms.
- If you’ve been charged illegally, the FTC encourages you to report it.
Source: FTC
The station said it had tried contacting the business owner Michael Henry, “who didn’t respond to texts or calls.”
The U.S. Sun was also unable to contact the firm for comment.
A message on the firm’s website currently states “website expired, this account has expired.”
Henry’s cousin, Vernon, told the station earlier this month that he was trying to help clients.
He added, “I just feel so committed to people and doing what’s right.
“It happened under Vehicle Veterans, which I was a part of, so I plan on standing forefront and making sure that I can do whatever I can to make things right.”
