When you leave your car parked on the street in the middle of the night, there is always a chance that someone will steal it. But those thoughts don’t cross people’s minds when they leave their cars with the dealership.
However, Knoxville, Tenn., resident Lindsey Thompson will be the first to warn you to be wary of your dealership. She and her fiancé, Larry Cole, have sold their 2005 Ford Taurus after taking it to Cherokee Auto Sales in North Knoxville for repairs.
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“I just want my money back or my car,” Thompson told ABC WATE 6 On Your Side.
Here’s what happened — and how you can protect yourself from the same thing.
What’s up?
Thompson and Cole bought a car from Cherokee Auto Sales Knoxville on June 21, 2023. They paid $6,000 for the car “as is” (without warranty) and another $955 for a service contract, which would cover repairs for the first 12 months, or the first 12,000 miles. , whichever comes first.
When the transmission went out five months later (in November), Cole immediately called Cherokee Auto Sales to fix it, as it was covered by the service contract. A tow truck came to pick up the car to take it back to the dealer for repairs.
Ten days later, on November 27, Cole and Thompson went to retrieve the car, only to find it “gone and sold.”
Cherokee Auto Sales didn’t give much of an answer as to why they did it. They said something vague about there being “a lot of miles in the warranty,” although Thompson has shown a service contract.
ABC WATE 6 tried to find out exactly what happened, but the dealer called the Knoxville Police Department when they arrived to ask about the strange situation.
Even Officer Josh Seder, the cop who showed up after Cherokee Auto Sales called the police on the news outlet, thought the situation looked fishy.
“It looks like you have the resources to make a good civil case,” Seder told the couple.
As of May 2024, the Tennnassee State Department still has Thompson listed as the owner of a Ford Taurus. Instead, he did everything he could to clear his name — and kill his credit. He spoke to a legal aid lawyer to see if there was any recourse.
According to the Bill of Sale from Cherokee Auto Sales and bank records, Thompson had invested $2,700 into the car.
Read more: Car insurance rates are rising in the US to a staggering $2,150/year – but you can be smarter. Here’s how you can save yourself up to $820 a year in minutes (it’s 100% free)
How to prevent this from happening to you
Thompson and Cole weren’t the only car owners to be defrauded. Pennsylvania-based truck parts retailer AmericanTrucks found that 35% of Americans have been scammed by mechanics — with car owners paying an average of $832 for fraud, according to a 2023 survey.
Those surveyed reported that making unnecessary repairs (50%), misdiagnosing problems (39%) and overcharging for parts and/or labor (35%) were among the most common scams encountered.
However, there are ways to protect yourself from these scammers.
Even though Thompson holds the service contract documents, he may request the documents when the tow truck comes to take the car to the dealership. Keeping a paper thread (or email) is important to protect yourself from scams.
“Be sure to get an estimate in writing before you agree to any work,” says Amy Nofziger, director of fraud victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network. “And if you don’t feel comfortable, that’s okay.”
Nofziger also recommends checking reviews of your dealer or mechanic before doing business with them, especially through the Better Business Bureau website. That way, you can see if others have reported bad behavior before trusting your property.
If you’re not a car enthusiast or are worried about taking your car in for repairs, Nofziger recommends bringing someone who knows to spot fraud.
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This article provides information only and should not be considered advice. This is provided without warranty of any kind.
