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Frustrated with the dealer

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Hoosiermama, May 20, 2013.

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  1. Hoosiermama

    Hoosiermama Junior Member

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    Well, as much as I love my Black Cherry Pearl Prius, it may be going back to the dealership. It's been 38 days (purchased on 4/10) and I still don't have a title, nor any information where the title is. The dealership has returned very few phone calls, now that they have my money. State law says that they must provide a title within 21 days. After 21 days I can send a letter demanding the title, and if I don't receive it within 10 days, I am due a full refund plus expenses, including insurance costs.

    I've called at least 7-8 times, and only spoken to a real live person three times. The first time I spoke to a person (after leaving three unreturned voicemails with Finance), the manager sent me a new paper plate. That's now due to expire.

    Finally, last Friday, I again reached a real person (again after numerous unreturned voicemails). The finance guy claimed his voicemail must be broken because he never got a voicemail from me. Uh huh....He said he'd call me back with the status of the title in 30 minutes. I'm still waiting for that phone call. I did call back at 4:00 and got a customer relations rep, who informed me that if I want answers, I need to call earlier than 4:00 on a Friday, because everyone had gone home by then. That was pretty much the last straw.

    I delivered the letter on Saturday and had the Finance Manager sign for delivery. I am done talking. I am done calling. Either I get the title within (now eight) days, or I will be at the dealership demanding a refund. My license plates expire in a matter of weeks, and I don't want to wait any more. I also wrote to Toyota Financial over the weekend asking for an extended payment and why. I am not making a payment on a vehicle I can't title in my name.

    It will be interesting to see if I get a phone call today. If I do, it's going to voicemail.

    Sorry for the long vent...
     
    #1 Hoosiermama, May 20, 2013
  2. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    Sorry for your pain.
    Dealers can be a very frustrating experience.
    I do hope they will get you your title soon. The Prius is a great vehicle, don't let his sour you on the brand, just the dealer.
    I am sure there are plenty of other Toyota dealers nearby that would be happy to treat you well.
     
    #2 Zythryn, May 20, 2013
  3. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    I wonder if the dealer is having problems with Toyota Financial with your loan? That's the only thing I can think of that would be holding things up. Has your financing been secured and you received paperwork/letter from Toyota (not the paperwork signed at dealer) documenting the details of your loan?

    Also, depending on the state you live, most likely you won't receive the title if you have a loan. The title will reside at the loan company until it's paid off.
     
    #3 jhinsc, May 20, 2013
  4. LNCHBOX

    LNCHBOX Junior Member

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    Why are you expecting the title to the vehicle if you are making payments? You get the title after you've paid the vehicle off. Unless I'm somehow missing something in your OP, I don't really understand what your problem is.
     
    #4 LNCHBOX, May 20, 2013
  5. Hoosiermama

    Hoosiermama Junior Member

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    My terminology may be wrong...I am expecting paperwork from the dealership that I can take to the BMV to get my plates transferred. I believe (but may be wrong) that it's a title that shows that it's financed through Toyota Financial. It's been a long time since we've financed a car (with 0%, why not, I thought), so my terminology may be wrong. Regardless, it's paperwork that the dealer is supposed to send to me within 21 days, so that I can plate the car. To date, I don't have it, they don't know where it is (or can't/won't tell me).

    Financing was approved with no issues. The first payment is due Friday. I just can't get the plates transferred to the new car without the paperwork. It's been a long time since we've financed a car (with 0%, why not, I thought).
     
    #5 Hoosiermama, May 20, 2013
  6. rekniht01

    rekniht01 Junior Member

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    Curious. Our dealer was able to transfer the plates before we left with the Prius. Maybe it's different in TN then wherever you are. We never needed a temp plate.
     
    #6 rekniht01, May 20, 2013
  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Doesn't the dealer send all of the information directly to your BMV (DMV here)? I didn't have to do anything on my last two cars. The DMV sent my new plates and registration within a month or so.
     
    #7 F8L, May 20, 2013
  8. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Same here in CA. Every state has its own rules, I guess.

    Galaxy Nexus ? 2
     
    #8 MikeDee, May 20, 2013
  9. car compulsive

    car compulsive Active Member

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    I had a similar problem when I bought a car remotely in WA. The dealer said there was a software problem with the state's software that prevented them from printing a title. I called the WA DMV and they confirmed the problem. The dealer had to take the paperwork to one of the few DMV offices that printed instant titles in order to send it to me. The state also issued a letter explaining the problem in case I ran afoul of the deadline to title the car in MI before the penalty fee. IIRC, I received the title with about 1 day to spare.
     
    #9 car compulsive, May 20, 2013
  10. Hoosiermama

    Hoosiermama Junior Member

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    Here, the paperwork is supposed to be sent to me. I then take it and the registration from my old car to get the plates transferred to the new. I got a voicemail this morning that they have been in contact with Toyota...so we'll see what happens from here. At least I got a voicemail, which means they at least attempted to call me, so that's something new. I'm really more frustrated with the dealership and their lack of care at this point. Multiple calls with no return call doesn't equal good customer service to me.
     
    #10 Hoosiermama, May 20, 2013
  11. LNCHBOX

    LNCHBOX Junior Member

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    Your dealership doesn't do all that for you? Here, the dealer receives the plates and either mails them to us or we pick them up. No trip to the DMV necessary.

    ETA: Didn't read the rest of the comments. My bad.
     
    #11 LNCHBOX, May 20, 2013
  12. PLSPUSH

    PLSPUSH Active Member

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    In Oklahoma, the tiltle is sent to you after the purchase and it is up to you to get the tag.
     
    #12 PLSPUSH, May 20, 2013
  13. andreyco

    andreyco Member

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    Chiming in from CA

    Dealer did all the paperwork when I bought the car. Licence plates came in the mail within a couple of weeks with registration stickers and registration card. I don't get my title (pink slip) until the car is paid off. If I wanted vanity plates transferred to the car I would take my new plates and vanity plates to the DMV along with my registration card and probably fill out a form (no title/pink slip needed).
     
    #13 andreyco, May 20, 2013
    CaliforniaBear likes this.
  14. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    I have personal (vanity) plates. The financial guy forgot to get a check from me for the DMV to transfer the plates. After 60 days I received the pink slip but no registration. I called and they told me about the forgotten check problem. I pointed out that after spending $30K-ish with them maybe they could take care of the check. And they did. My new registration showed up a couple of weeks later so I could finally put on my plates.

    Then there is the story about the "Prius Expert" sales guy who said there are four models of the plug-in, Two, Three.... you get the idea. Fortunately after starting to walk out the door they found a real expert who was very helpful.
     
    #14 CaliforniaBear, May 20, 2013
  15. Wayward

    Wayward Member

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    Wow harder in some states.
    I get a little slip when I purchase my vehicle to show transfer of title I go down to the DMV, paid $5.00 to transfer my personalized plates to my new car.
    Old car was a 2012 hence the low cost.
    Whole process took fine minutes, sorry you are having so much trouble.
     
    #15 Wayward, May 20, 2013
  16. Hoosiermama

    Hoosiermama Junior Member

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    Apparently, the paper that hasn't been sent is the Certificate of Origination, according to the voicemail I received this morning. Maybe someone is swimming it over from Japan.;)
     
    #16 Hoosiermama, May 20, 2013
  17. LauraToyota

    LauraToyota New Member

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    work at a dealership. so sorry for all the mayhem. You do not need your title to register the vehicle and receive plates.
     
    #17 LauraToyota, May 20, 2013
  18. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    Really, I think you mean you do not have the title in hand.
    Otherwise one can steal a car and register it and get new plates.
    The OP said the dealer does not even send in the new owner information for the tiltle.

     
    #18 bedrock8x, May 20, 2013
  19. PLSPUSH

    PLSPUSH Active Member

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    in Oklahoma you do!
     
    #19 PLSPUSH, May 20, 2013
  20. Hoosiermama

    Hoosiermama Junior Member

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    In another follow-up, according to the dealership, the Certificate of Origination was sent to a dealership in Ohio. Supposedly it will be overnighted to my dealer, who will then send me all the paperwork I need to get my plates transferred and the car registered in my name. I again explained that my first payment is due on Friday, and I do not want to make a payment on a car that I can't register in my name.

    We shall see what happens. At this point, I don't believe them on much of anything...which is a shame, because we've purchased five cars from this automotive group.

    Wish me luck!
     
    #20 Hoosiermama, May 20, 2013
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