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Saturn Complaint - Don't even THINK about dying if you own a Saturn - 2004 Saturn Ion2
2004 Saturn Ion2 - Complaint
ORLANDO, FL - ALL AIRPORTS (ORL), FLORIDA -- My mother passed away recently. I was her only child, so it was up to me to wind up her affairs. One thing I have to do is to dispose of her 2004 Saturn Ion. She died in the hospital and no one seemed to know what happened to her car keys.
I thought, no problem, I'll go to the dealer with the VIN and get a new key. No way, they told me. They flatly refused to make a new key unless the car's owner was "physically standing in front" of them. What was I supposed to do, bring in her ashes??
I called the Saturn customer service number and they backed up the dealer. It didn't matter to them that I had the death certificate in hand and that my mother died without a will.
So, in addition to the trauma I was already going through, I was getting jerked around by these pinheads. They should be ashamed.
And they probably wonder why no one wants their crappy cars and the crappy service that goes with them.
I thought, no problem, I'll go to the dealer with the VIN and get a new key. No way, they told me. They flatly refused to make a new key unless the car's owner was "physically standing in front" of them. What was I supposed to do, bring in her ashes??
I called the Saturn customer service number and they backed up the dealer. It didn't matter to them that I had the death certificate in hand and that my mother died without a will.
So, in addition to the trauma I was already going through, I was getting jerked around by these pinheads. They should be ashamed.
And they probably wonder why no one wants their crappy cars and the crappy service that goes with them.
Comments:
Posted by Starlord on 2009-06-19:
It is not just Saturn dealers. Every MVD has severely tightened up security procedures since an actress was murdered by a freak who paid three dollars to obtain her Driver's License information. When my wife''s former husband got killed by a drunk driver, he owned a Honda motorcycle. It was registered and titled in his name only, and she had a heck of a time trying to get the paperwork changed so she could dispose of it. While it does not help the OP, others can help make it easier on survivors if they take steps like having a second set of keys in a safe deposit box, or have paperwork in more than one person's name. It is very unusual that a person will know when they are going to pass away, so they can get articles disposed of first. BTW, a certified copy of the person's death certificate goes a long way to smoothing out this type of problem.
Posted by Soaring Consumer on 2009-06-19:
Did you bring proof that you were the executor of the estate as well? My condolences for your loss.
Posted by madconsumer on 2009-06-19:
we had to do the same with my mother's vehicle when she passed. all we did was show proof of death, and all went our way.
Posted by Soaring Consumer on 2009-06-19:
According to the review, the OP did have the death certificate in hand.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-06-19:
Sorry for your loss, you need a good estate lawyer. Been thru it with brother, mother, father, inlaws etc. that's the only way.
In his lifetime a guy needs a good
1. lawyer
2. dr
3. insurance man
All mine are younger than me and have been with me for over 40 yrs. Trust them like family. I will die before they do so I won't have to look for another one.
In his lifetime a guy needs a good
1. lawyer
2. dr
3. insurance man
All mine are younger than me and have been with me for over 40 yrs. Trust them like family. I will die before they do so I won't have to look for another one.
Posted by msnanny on 2009-06-20:
I understand that everybody has rules but what what they are putting you through is just crap. I hope you can work it out and I'm sorry for your loss.
Posted by MaggieMcT on 2009-06-20:
I understand you are upset, and this was a terrible time to have to deal with this. But, if they had made the key, and then it turned out you were some scammer who had gotten the death certificate illegitimately, they would have been liable for your mother's loss of the car. They weren't doing this just to jerk you around, they were doing it to protect themselves.
Posted by moneybags on 2009-06-20:
Call a local locksmith. Explain the situation and provide the proof. He should be able to help. However, some keys have chips that only the manufacturer can provide. You may have to write to the manufacturer, provide the proof a nd be prepared to pay about $100 to obtain a computer chip key. Been there......
Posted by tnchuck100 on 2009-06-20:
In many states if the estate is less than a certain amount ($70,000 in FL) you do not need a lawyer. You can file the probate papers yourself. Have the court appoint you as the executor of the estate. With that documentation in hand the dealer can honor your request.
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-06-20:
I'm sorry about your loss. When my mom died, I was the one who had to close all of her credit card accounts. Most of them, save Dillard's, were good about me showing my driver's license, her obituary and closing the account. Dillard's gave me crap, so I asked for a pair of scissors, cut the card in half in front of them and said, "The account is closed." I like the idea of the locksmith above. Good idea. Oh, and it's good advice to all of us to have a will.
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