What is Cash for Clunkers (C.A.R.S.) Doing for YOU?

[Charles Gallaer]

@ Travis, the rejection reasons can be quite interesting to say the least. We sold a vehicle that has a base MSRP of $41000 but with options totaled over $46000. We submitted the claim and it was rejected because the sale price exceeded $45K. No where in the rules is sales price mentioned, only base MSRP. After a very long wait on the hotline, our employee that submits CARS claims had to explain to the NHTSA rep that base MSRP and sale price are two entirely different things. They then asked for a scan of the window sticker to prove the vehicle had the base MSRP that we stated. Luckily our manufacturer provides us with the ability to retrieve pdf versions of the window stickers of vehicles in our inventory. We submitted that claim again and are waitinng for payment. Talk about making up the rules as you go!

 

[Ann]

Charles- I went back to read some of the recent posts and want to thank you for your recommendation on speaking with the General Manager. Of course I want this deal to go through. I wonder if my deal would or could be cancelled by the dealer when I continue to request they release the new car to me and that they take possession of my clunker? I also want to pay the remainder of what I would owe for the car. It's strange to me that a dealership doesn't want to accept my payment as well.

That part of the agreement that was created weeks after I committed to the car which states that the dealer can choose not to deal if I don't sign an agreement to pay the voucher value or return the car doesn't seem like it should be able to be applied but since a lot of things do not seem to be logical in all this, would I really be surprised?

I have done the math on what this dealership has at stake monetarily based on what they have told me. 5 approvals, no ultimate rejections, but resubmitting paperwork was involved, 27 total deals-somewhere around $115,000. I didn't subtract the approvals since I am assuming the money hasn't been paid yet. From there I have no idea if that is something a dealership should be able to handle financially.

Back to my initial question- can a deal be cancelled by a dealer a month later with paperwork submitted and a "pending approval" status?

 

[Charles Gallaer]

@ Ann, I'm not aware of a way to cancel a 'pending approval' claim. My understanding is that we can only modify a claim when it goes into a reject status in order to make corrections. I can check with my admin staff on Monday to get clarification on that and post more then. In the meantime, the dealership doesn't want to take the remainder of your money because that would consummate the sale and would leave them with no reason to hold your car. It would also start the clock ticking for them to submit payment to their bank prior to receiving the CARS rebate for the full amount of the vehicle if they finance their inventory. In the end, I believe that once you talk to the GM you should see some results. Have a great weekend and I will post on Monday after I find out about if a claim can be cancelled that's in a pending approval status.

 

[Susan Smith]

Now the car dealers know what it's like to be a physician. The problems they are describing are the same ones physicians have in dealing with Medicare, CHAMPUS, Medicaid and other government medical programs. I hope the car dealers recoup more then most physicians do from government sponsored programs.

 

[Help]

IS there any recourse for the consumer who is still waiting on their new car purchased over 5 weeks ago through C4C? This doesn't seem right. Herb Chambers in Massachusetts is one of the dealers that won't give out the new car. They want their money first. I would have never purchased from them had I known they would not go by the rules of the program. You would think they care more about customer service and their reputation, but they don't. Cheers to Ernie Boch for giving out the new cars like the rules said. Shame on you Herb Chambers!

 

[Help]

Disregard, NO Help needed, we are picking up our car tomorrow!!! :-D

 

[Ann]

Would you mind sharing what changed and how?

 

[losing patience]

Ann, if it makes you feel any better, we are in the same boat. We put a deposit on the new car on Aug. 4th, the dealer submitted paperwork on Aug. 6th and as of today, the dealer still won't release the car. They claim that they aren't waiting for the reimbursement, just the approval. They didn't want the clunker initially but had us drop it off on Aug. 15th. I didn't and still don't have much faith in their knowledge of the C4C process and have a feeling that the application will be rejected during the first review, which means that there's still a long wait ahead of us after they resubmit whatever they neglected to send initially. Luckily, we have two other cars that we can use, but it would be nice to get this whole process done with! >>edit -- We signed over the title to our clunker as well, so there's no turning back!

 

[Kim]

Anne,
Here is the update from our car purchase.
We picked up our car last night. Salesman treated us great, had a crud remark from another employee. Our pick up was not with out a few glitches but the were small and got worked out quickly. Hope your situation gets worked out soon.

 

[Patch W Adams]

This Program is designed to Destroy the Used Car Market so that eventually People will only have a Choice between a Government Made Smart car or a Government Made Smart car.

That is the only Reason for the Government to Demand the Destruction of the Used Cars and to restrict the Program to New Cars only. This will Drive up the Cost of Used Cars and Drive Used Car Dealers out of Business Faster. Eventually this will leave nothing on the Market but Battery Powered Government created/approved Vehicles. It's called Behavioral Economics.

This Program was a Test for a More Permanent Program later. Probably to be inserted into the Senate Bill for Cap and Trade. It is all about the Smart Grid.

The Government wants you to have to Drive a Plug in Electric Vehicle so that it has to Plug into the Smart Grid. This will give them the Power to track your movements, TAx you by the Mile and in Conjunction with Cap and Trade, allow them to restrict your CO2 Output.

If you don't know what the Smart Grid is...you better soon. Some of it is going on Line Next Year...

As far as not getting paid and why it seems so confusing, that is obvious. It's called Thinning the Herd.

The Goverment is hoping some of you guys that are Not Government Run, will go out of Business when they tell you that you are not getting paid. That is so that there are fewer choices and down the Road the Public will only be able to Choose from a
Government Created Smart Car...Or a Government Created Smart Car...

Wake up...You are Helping in your Own Destruction. They are using your Greed against you....