[X]
Write ReviewJump to 
11
Helpful
Votes
Votes
DaimlerChrysler Complaint - Lease return nighmare - lease return
Complaint
On June 29th, 2007 we returned our leased Dodge Caravan to our local Chrysler dealership. At this time the dealershhip inspected the vehicle with a fine tooth comb. The van did have a small dent in the rear quarter panel and we did point this out and covered the fiancial cost of repairing this damage. Besides this dent there was no other damage and the dealership signed us off of the Van. We then proceeded to sign a new lease on a new Van.
All seemd fine for five months, when we received a telephone call from Chrysler Canada Financial on Nov 28th 2007, asking us why we had not yet responded to the letter they had sent us and how did we plan on paying for the $7,000.00 worth of hail damage on the vehicle. I advised them we had received no such letter and more importantly that when we handed the Van in there was NO hail damage on the van. Well they insisted there was and that this matter was in the hands of Chrysler Credid Collections department! I again told this lady that we had never received any such letter and would she please fax a copy of this letter off to me asap.
Well that fax was never sent and it took a week of constant calling our delarship before we were able to get a response back from Chrysler Collections.
We did not have possession of the van for almost 5 months and therefor no care or control of the the van. I gather there was indeed a lot of hail dmage on the van which clearly happened once Chrylser took possession of the van.
What it all boiled down too was Chrysler Canada was not interested in follow the paper trail on this Van and arbitrarily decided that we, the leasors of the Van would pay for the damage.
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN YOU HAND BACK A LEASED VEHICLE...DO NOT TAKE THE DEALERSHIPS WORD FOR ANYTHING..TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR RETUREND VEHICLE AND HAVE THE DEALERSHIP SIGN OFF ON THOSE PICTURES.....
CHRYSLER IS INTERESTED IN ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY.....THE ALMIGHTY BUCK AT ANY COST AND TO HELL WITH THE CUSTOMER...UNLESS THAT CUSTOMER HASN'T YET MADE THE DEAL..THEN THEY CARE A WHOLE LOT..ONCE THE DEAL IS MADE....TO HECK WITH THEM!
All seemd fine for five months, when we received a telephone call from Chrysler Canada Financial on Nov 28th 2007, asking us why we had not yet responded to the letter they had sent us and how did we plan on paying for the $7,000.00 worth of hail damage on the vehicle. I advised them we had received no such letter and more importantly that when we handed the Van in there was NO hail damage on the van. Well they insisted there was and that this matter was in the hands of Chrysler Credid Collections department! I again told this lady that we had never received any such letter and would she please fax a copy of this letter off to me asap.
Well that fax was never sent and it took a week of constant calling our delarship before we were able to get a response back from Chrysler Collections.
We did not have possession of the van for almost 5 months and therefor no care or control of the the van. I gather there was indeed a lot of hail dmage on the van which clearly happened once Chrylser took possession of the van.
What it all boiled down too was Chrysler Canada was not interested in follow the paper trail on this Van and arbitrarily decided that we, the leasors of the Van would pay for the damage.
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN YOU HAND BACK A LEASED VEHICLE...DO NOT TAKE THE DEALERSHIPS WORD FOR ANYTHING..TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR RETUREND VEHICLE AND HAVE THE DEALERSHIP SIGN OFF ON THOSE PICTURES.....
CHRYSLER IS INTERESTED IN ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY.....THE ALMIGHTY BUCK AT ANY COST AND TO HELL WITH THE CUSTOMER...UNLESS THAT CUSTOMER HASN'T YET MADE THE DEAL..THEN THEY CARE A WHOLE LOT..ONCE THE DEAL IS MADE....TO HECK WITH THEM!
Comments:
Posted by moneybags on 2007-11-30:
You said the dealership signed you off on the car...do you still have your paperwork signing you off? If so, send the credit company a copy and threaten to sue them for their fraudulent actions. Check your credit report and if they have put a ding there, do go ahead and sue for fraud, harrassment and acting in bad faith. Stand your ground.
Posted by MRM on 2007-11-30:
Whew, I thought this was a complaint against Jeep. Thank you for the tips when you have to return the van back to the dealership.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-11-30:
Good advice moneybags!
MRM, you can now eat you donut in peace.
MRM, you can now eat you donut in peace.
Posted by MRM on 2007-11-30:
Yes, sir, I shall now eat another donut without worries.
Posted by Aerocave on 2007-12-01:
Normally, the dealership does not "inspect" the vehicle...the Manufacturers hire outside inspection companies to inspect lease turn ins. The dealership's only responsibility is to "ground" the vehicle (let GMAC, Honda Finance, etc know the vehicle has been turned in)...In fact, I instruct our salespeople to not discuss the condition of someone's lease turn in, so that when the "bill" comes, we are not held responsible...
Posted by DTrax on 2008-08-02:
I also have a Chrysler lease return nightmare. When trying to return my 2004 PT Cruiser the Chrysler person went through it with a fine tooth comb. I also had a few scratches on the bumpers, which although I think of them as normal ware and tear for a 4 year old vehicle, I thought they may make me pay for. They also want me to pay for or repair a single stain on the front seat, a slight buff mark on the hood, and they are trying to tell me there are cigarette burns on the passanger side although no one has ever smoked in the vehicle, ever!! Even though the vehicle is being returned with 10,000. kms less the the lease agreement they still expect it to be in SHOW ROOM condition 4 years later. I guess Chrysler is losing money because these cars are depreciating so fast that they can not get thier money back on the lease returns so they try to recoup it from lessors like us. My recomendation DO NOT LEASE A CHRYSLER PRODUCT. I will not buy one again either
Posted by Tuckeroo on 2009-12-02:
Same nightmare!! Has anyone had any luck resolving lease return issues?
Note: All comments are reviewed by a moderator before being published. Please be sure to read our guidelines before commenting.
Company Reps: Post your company response!
