Here is the kick in the teeth, it can take between 45 to 90 days to resolve. I may see that money until June. JUNE??!!!. So I am giving the bank and Directv a short term loan and I get NOTHING for it. Now for some good news, I have an appointment next week to open my new account with a local bank finally. Both my wife and I are changing banks. I may have to get one more direct deposit with the old bank before the new one kicks in. I can't close the old account until I get my money back.
Now as for our van. A refresher for all. We purchased a Oldsmobile mini van in 2012 so we could move back to MN. Paid $5,000. fast forward to last month, it started to make noises in the engine. before we could get it fixed the engine blew. We had no transportation. Son Andrew saved money and he purchased a 99 Mercury Sable for his use and ours for a short time. Yesterday his Federal tax refund arrived. We contacted the garage and stopped by to set up the engine replacement. They give us a quote covering all necessary parts, bells and whistles. 30 min later the garage calls us and tells us the engine they found is not fully completed. it will require an additional 10 hrs labor on top of the quote that they gave us. Now we are looking at a $5, 000.00 engine repair on a van we paid $5, 000.00 for. Well you all know I maybe a little slow at some things but NO WAY in you know where are we paying that kind of money.
So we start talking about options. We look for another mini van, and not paying more then $3,000.00. That was the amount we thought would get us back on the road.
Ladies and Gentleman may I present our "NEW" used mini van......
a 2002 Pontiac Montana. 168,000 miles and its clean as a fresh bathed 14 month old grandson. Very little rust. Total purchase price $2,800.00 yep you read right. We found the original sticker from 2002. it was $22,000.00 brand new. It has all the bells and whistles, including On Star. Well again I'm a little smarter then Yogi Bear and a park full of picnic baskets. I will not pay for On Star. The car is so clean, they detailed it inside and out. shampooed the carpets changed the oil and looks like they even tossed on new Goodyear Tires. The engine was even stream cleaned. That looks like it just came off the show room floor.
We found only two problems so far. the clock on the radio doesn't light up, but radio works. SO we buy a small clock, problem solved. problem #2 we they detailed the van, they pulled the rear seats out, and shampooed the carpet. They replaced the seats wrong. Right side on left, left side on right and the seat belts don't line up. I think even the very back seats maybe the same way. No sweat, to take out and get them back the right way.
The car dealer has good standing in the community. They sell new cars, used cars, trucks run the school buses for the school system and they have coach buses that take tour groups around the country. So I knew we got a good deal. They asked me if they could give me a free car wash, pass as I thought it would freeze up into a block of ice. LOL. I can get a free wash anytime I want but it will be too cold for the next week.
So my friends that puts you up to date with us. Now we will scrap the Oldsmobile after I swap out a few items. Winter can't make up its mind. Please Boston send the snow back to us here in MN. our snowmobile owners are crying.
Stay Safe, Keep Vigilant..................Rob
15 comments:
Congratulations on the car and commiserations on the bank. I'm surprised more stuff like that doesn't happen or maybe it does and no one notices(?) I ordered a set of 3 DVDs from a solar energy company one time and they finally only sent one. Turned out a lot of mad folks had the same complaint, to which the company said they never said they were going to send 3 DVDs. My bank was no help. I thought that since I paid with a credit card that I could stop payment if there was a problem. My bank said since I actually ordered the item, they could only ask for the money back. If the company refused (which of course they did) then there was nothing more they could do. My respect for my bank plummeted that day. I hope you have a better resolution than I did.
When my debit card info was stolen a couple years ago (No, turns out I was NOT in France charging thousands on my debit card!) my bank came through wonderfully. I was notified by the company that handles the debit cards (Visa) before I had a clue what was going on. Called the bank the following morning, my checking account had been cleaned out, but they faxed the documents to me, I filled them out and faxed them back, the money was all back in my account in just over a week, with no damage to my credit score. I have no idea why an unauthorized charge would be such a long drawn-out hassle, both from your bank and from DirectTv. Definitely time to dump the bank.
Nice looking minivan! Congrats!
What were they pricing you a brand new factory engine with a 10 year warranty? I have seen BMW engines replaced for half that amount. Did you trade the old hulk in? Something doesn't add up right there but at least ya got a new vehicle though :)
Gratz.
Glad to hear that your transportation problems have been resolved. Should make life a bit easier for you. Wish you could have the same outcome with the bank. I have been lucky. My bank is a small, neighborhood bank that has been helpful. I wanted to put one of my kids on my accounts for emergency situations. Not only did the bank tell me what I needed to do, but because I was housebound, they sent two employees to my apartment with all of the paperwork. I will stick with the small, hometown bank.
Congrats on the "new" van - some bargains can still be found, although that misbegotten Cash for Clunkers program destroyed a lot of the used car market. And FWIW, we could use some snow, too.
South Carolina would love some of that snow too! the new ride does look like it is new, former owners took really good care of it..Congrats.
+1 to PP-- what happened to the oldsmoblie???
Rob - i didn't even read your post, i will come back to it - but just wanted you to go and check Harry Flashman's most recent post....i think that you'll love it!
much love to you and yours buddy! your friend,
kymber
I can understand the mistake by the bank, but the attitude of the employees, seems well its not my money, why should I can. If they are treating me like this I feel sorry for all the others.
When we moved back to Mn and got settled in to our place in Cokato, I noticed many folks (mature) still writing checks. I thought get with the times. It was I who didn't understand they are smarter then me.
The Oldsmobile was a rental car for a few years before we ended up with it I think we are the 3 owner. But the moter may have been damage back when it was a rental. I guess will will never know.
I have learned a lesson, never use a bank that the government recommended. As users we can't add money to the account, just withdraw from more like a one way ATM Still undecided on Wells Fargo or the little town bank.
Padre, even the guys at the garage said that program was a waste. I think in time it will come out that the auto makers wanted the used cars destroyed so more people would buy new.
Oh PP I forgot we still have the Oldsmobile. There is an issue with the tittle. My son in Fla has it as we moved back a week after we bought it When he set us the FLA plates he forgot to send the tittle, and now has misplaced it. It will take some time to replace.
Oh it will be taken way better care the the last. i am all over the kids about leaving trash in it. It will get a oil change in 3 months. The van is very clean, as it was waxed and detailed inside. We still have the Oldsmobile for now. Its not worth anything unless I can find a back yard mechanic who wants it for the body, no rust.
The Montana is a year newer then the Oldsmobile and it looks like it was made yesterday. Just minor rust underside that will be cleaned up and coated with a rubber coating in the spring.
ms kymber thanks for kind of stopping by. I know you are really popular and may not have time for us little people, but don't worry PP and Vicki are keeping me in line.
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