7 On Your Side: New Jersey dealership debacle for car buyers
UNION, New Jersey (WABC) -- It's simply one of the biggest dealership debacles we've ever seen -- It started about two weeks ago when a local dealership suddenly closed its doors.
It left behind scores of angry customers with expiring temporary license plates and five-figure bills for unpaid trade-ins.
Tina Kaiser and Emily Bakerman are both stuck on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars for cars they no longer own.
"We're not rich," Kaiser said. "We can't afford this."
She's an expecting mom with two little ones at home, and back in September, she and her husband bought a new Atlas at Volkswagen of Union and traded in her Dodge Durango.
She did what's called a "rollover loan," where the dealership pays off the remaining financing on the trade in -- in this case $26,804 -- rolling it into financing her new VW.
The dealership was supposed to pay off the financing deal immediately, but instead of paying, the dealership defaulted.
Making matters worse, Kaiser's temp plates expire in days. If the dealer doesn't send out permanent plates, it'll be illegal to drive her car. She'll be stuck financing two cars she can't drive.
Bakerman traded in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, rolling over her lease into a deal for a new Tiguan. She's on the hook for $24,936. But when she calls the dealer?
"I'm talking to air," she said. "There's nobody there."
Doors were locked at Volkswagen of Union, and the dealership's deserted. So where are their cars?
We researched the vehicle identification numbers and found Bakerman's Jeep Grand Cherokee for sale for $28,000 on Volkswagen of Union's website. Then we found Kaiser's Dodge Durango nearly 900 miles away outside Milwaukee at a Subaru dealership in Waukesha, Wisconsin. After our call, the dealership took the listing down.
Volkswagen of Union also left customers in the lurch whose cars were brought in for service week ago. Kariona Lam left her VW Bug about two weeks ago for service. and she says she hadn't been able to get it back.
We learned Carmine DeMaio ran Volkswagen of Union until recently. Other dealerships he ran included Norman Gale Buick, which also shutdown suddenly; and Lexus of Englewood, which filed for bankruptcy in October.
We tracked him down at Infiniti of Englewood.
He wasn't in when we visited, but after we left and made repeated calls, a dealership employee gave Lam her Beetle back.
As for the missing trade-ins? We contacted Kaiser and Bakerman's finance company, and after our calls, it agreed to discontinue collecting the combined debt of $51,740.88.
Volkswagen of America told us it's working with impacted customers who have financed vehicles with Volkswagen Credit, putting them in "protective status" to avoid collections. They also gave Kaiser and Bakerman two free months from financing.
DeMaio told us he's working with VW to help customers, but he's run into financial problems.
As for the permanent plate problem, after our calls, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission stepped up and is issuing new temp plates.
For help getting permanent plates through New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Business Licensing Services Bureau, call (609) 984-1122. If you send in proof of purchase and insurance, they will express mail out temp plates.
VW of America issued a statement, saying any customers having issues related to this matter should contact VW's Customer CARE team at (800) 822-8987. They will have a dedicated team working to assist these customers.
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