Southern Auto Imports

Run the other way. This dealer is not honest, they will try to get all they can from you and give you a loan that is unfavorable. I went in on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 and applied for a loan for 10,4 try to get all they can from you and give you a loan that is unfavorable. I went in on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 and applied for a loan for 10,491 and although my credit score is 489 and 586, I was approved with 6,000 down and a payment of 258 per month for 54 months at 25%. However, I dabble in accounting and the numbers didn’t sound right to me so I did some research and found that for what I was borrowing I was being charged about 100 too much. Therefore, I decided to have my mom, whose credit is 610 and 616 apply for the loan, I know because we had just checked it prior to her applying. Mom called to find out the status of the loan and was told by Muhammed that she could “never qualify for that loan, all three of her scores are in the LOW 400s” and then he said it was her income. So, since I qualified for a loan, I asked if they could use me as the co-signer because my income is more than hers, but her credit is higher than mine. I was told that “because she didn’t qualify, I couldn’t co-sign.” I inquired as to who the loan I was approved for with (because I checked my credit and there was only one other lender that placed an inquiry on that day besides Southern Auto Imports and I spoke with them (Santander) and they denied my application) and he said “I believe it’s with Exeter.” I called Exeter and they had no record of my applying with them. This leaves me to believe that this “deal” was an inhouse finance. Muhammed went on to tell me about the “deal” they had for me and that it was final and at one point he said that a 1,800 warranty (that I did not ask for or want) had been added to my loan and quoted me a total of $12,100. But after I expressed that I didn’t ask for or want the warranty, he said “okay the warranty has been taken off and then quoted a HIGHER price of $12,500. Wait a minute!!! How can something be “taken off” and somehow the price goes up? Muhammed was very unprofessional in the manner in which he spoke with me and at one point he said “you people came in here on Wednesday…” among other things. He spoke to me like he had the only car I could get on his lot. Not to mention, after applying at this dealership, I was suddenly locked out of my own credit and was unable to apply for any other loan or even speak with Equifax because there was a “fraud alert” on my account (probably in an effort to ensure that my only option to obtain a vehicle was at their establishment). Needless to say, I was disappointed that we were lied to and treated in such a manner, but nevertheless dealt with it and resided to the fact that I couldn’t do business with this dealership. Mom and I went to another larger dealer, where she applied and was approved on the loan ALONE (within 20 minutes) for the same car/same year/same features and same mileage with Mom on the loan alone with less money down and better terms. So much all three of her scores being in the low 400s. I am positive that this violates all types of Fair Credit laws and I will be contacting the State of Georgia to file a formal complaint. If you’re going to purchase from these people, please do your due diligence and be prepared to walk away if you find the deal doesn’t suit you. you. More