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

[Mindy]

YEAH! Just finished the last 1! Not an issue for me but I don't get that the government set a submission deadline..??? What's the logic?

 

[Steve (blog)]

I also have not gotten my new car. My deal was finished July 31st - clunker is still in my possession, my new car is in stock at the dealership, but they say they are waiting for "approval" first. Dealership says waiting for approval before giving the car away is OK, but not waiting for the money – they claim they are waiting for approval, not for the cash to come in. Called the hotline numerous times, called dept of transportation, and called NHTSA. Got differing answers from all as to if I should have my car…however, recently one hotline person told me that it is OK for the dealership to wait for approval. Said that waiting for approval isn’t the same as waiting for the money, which would be in violation if it was approved and they were waiting for money. Still don’t know what to do…approval by my estimation could take a few more weeks….I don’t get it – nobody knows if I should truly have my car or not and that includes the DOT, NHTSA, and even the clunker hotline employees themselves.

 

[Deb]

I finally got all of ours in also, yipee!?
Now I wait and wait and wait, will it be a reject or an approval, the suspense is killing me!!

 

[jj14268]

Steve, the rule clearly states that the "clunker" must be in the control of the dealership prior to them submitting the application. The dealer certifies this when they sign the summary of sale, and when they submit the application. The NHTSA has too many calls and too smal a staff to field the enormous number of questions. The NHTSA has already declaired on their website that:
the dealer must allow you to take delivery of the new car if it is in stock.
the dealer must "capture" the trade in before submitting for reimbursement. The latter part is fraud, so don't let the dealer make the rules. print it from the cars website, take it to the dealer, and kindly ask them to abide by the law before you report them to the nhtsa.

 

[Terry]

Ok I am in the same situation as Steve and many other people apparently where the dealer is refusing to hand over the car. We have done all the paperwork etc etc. We have the clunker in our possesion and we keep on telling them there breaking the law but they seem to not care and will not give us the vehicle because there waiting for the government money.We have reported them to the government(which said they would get back to you in two days it's two weeks later) to the gmc headquarters apparently they can't do anything about it just tell us the dealership is doing it wrong. At this point I don't know what else to do because I bet the government money will not come in for weeks and we have been waiting since early august... Advice?

 

[John Quinn]

Someone above said it well: consumers need to realize that Dealers are on their side in this -- long story short, we're all in the same boat. What I'm sure many customers don't understand is that it is entirely likely that many dealers cannot afford to turn-over the vehicle before they are paid. Not to get too lengthy, but those cars you see sitting on the lot are financed by a bank -- once a customer takes the car home, the dealer only has a week or so to actually pay for that car. That dealer very well may not have an extra $50,000 or $100,000 to give to the bank while he's waiting for reimbursement from Uncle Same. As far as the rules -- they were NEVER spelled-out until mid-way through this administrative fiasco -- so save your calls to the NHTSA, your lawyer, etc. So my advice to consumers? I know you're excited and want your car NOW, but give the dealer a break! Let's face it: you've received a hand-out from the government -- try to exercise a little patience!

 

[Steve (blog)]

True, but likewise many of us are still driving these "clunkers" that should already be on the dealer lot. We are guzzling gas left and right, and many of us (like myself) are driving clunkers that need/could use repair. If we are told we have the right to be in possession of our new vehicle, we want to excercise those rights. Especially considering the fact that we can be saving money on gas, avoid spending repair $$ on our vehicle that will eventually be salvaged, AND getting a little bonus cash from the salvage lot (after the $50 dealer) due to our clunker's true scrap value....

 

[John Quinn]

Steve, to be honest, your sense of "entitlement" here is a bit disturbing. You want to look a gift-horse in the mouth, well then I guess you're enitled. Good luck!

 

[Steve (blog)]

I'm sorry, but they are not playing by the rules anyway you look at it. If they were becoming concerned about not being able to front the $$ for following the rules (allowing customers to accept delivery), then they should have stopped accepting new applicants until it could be fronted, or dropped the clunker program altogether like other dealerships have. However, they chose to bend the rules in order to take advantage of the increased number of sales they would receive by continuing to participate.

 

[Deb]

Bravo to Mr. Quinn!!!!!!!