ComplaintsforPublic Automotive Group

• Initial Complaint

  08/27/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I am paying about 690$ a month for a ******* accent gls have had since last November is when I first got it have had problems with it ever since I got it have put about 2000$ in repairs by myself no help from public automotive I am wanting to get out the vehicle or atleast get my down payment back which was 1500$ I cannot afford to keep repairing a car Im paying almost 700$ a month for on top of not even reporting my payments to the credit bureau LITERALLY NO POINT IN HAVING THIS VEHICLE

• Initial Complaint

  08/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Public automotive sold me car last year on a Friday october 6 2023 i drove off the lot made it home which b is about a hour and 25 minute drive soon as i turned off it would not come back on i contacted public automotive that saturday morning no one wanted to help they kept hanging up in my face and calling me names over the phone told me to bring the car back and park it but they was not giving me my down payment back ok fast forward to Monday it took me 5 hours to finally get someone on the phone and they were so rude and very racist they sent a tow truck told me not b to contact them again and that they will contact me if the car could be fixed didnt tell me for a whole 8 days they supposely had it towed and fixed but i ended coming out of pocket to fix it myself and since then more problem has arose and im unable to financially fix it so im basically treating a car up by driving it unfixed but i have no other choice then they harass you weekly for a carnote but i was told they no longer sell cars they just take payments is this possible how can u not sell cars anymore but still take payments im afraid something bad is going to happen soon so im reaching out for help

• Initial Complaint

  05/31/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Once again Public Auto groups strikes again. The unprofessional staff and the ethics of this company are ridiculous. I called to have a payment moved to the following week because I have no bank access due to ****** a new card because of a fraud attempt and the supervisor of the Waco payment center tells me well we need at least $75 . Mind you this is also after me calling because my car was shut up WITH A CURRENT ACCOUNT!! So i simply explain to her that I have no way of doing that due to the situation. She says well can you use a different card Im like maam if I had another dont you think I would use it ? They refuse to help me and I am ready to be done with them !! I want my loan transferred to a different company as well they are horrible

• Initial Complaint

  05/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I Ty'Quorian **** went to Public Automotive on October the 14th 2023 to purchase a vehicle. Public Automotive placed me in a vehicle under contract with warranty. Currently they are taking out of my pay check weekly. However the car is dangerous it has electrical problems and has a burning smell. Car often cuts off while driving brakes and steering wheel lock up and I have no way possible to stop the vehicle. When this problem started the first day I went to the car lot. Only to find out they closed down with out letting anyone as a customer know. Called the number only to be told they where closed down and that I needed to find my own mechanic to take it to for repairs. Said that there only open for taking payments only. Which since the date I have received the car been paying weekly ******

• Initial Complaint

  05/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I bought my 2016 ****** versa in January 2024 and the very next day the car had mechanical issues. I took it back up there so either they could fix it or put me in something else or give me my money back and they refused to do any of those thing saying that it was sold as is and I signed a contract and they sent me on my way I have been slowly fixing these things myself but the car is still messing up to this day. I also work at a school and only get paid once a month but they insist I pay once a week I have always paid early or in time never late but this past Friday I missed the payment (as its due on Fridays) and Saturday morning I got up and was trying to go to store and they had already locked my car up from starting. Less than 24 hours from when payment was due they are very rude everytime I have had to call them since day one of having the car and offer no help or assistance on anything very unprofessionalI also asked for a copy of my contract and they said they would email it to me but when I received the email the attachment was password encrypted and I have never received the password so that I may retrieve the copy of my contract.

• Initial Complaint

  02/21/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Public automotive refuse to register my vehicle but demands a payment every week although they claim they are no longer in business

• Initial Complaint

  02/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Other than the obvious fact that this company sells LEMONS, has the rudest customer service & most incompetent staff I have EVER ENCOUNTERED??I requested a copy of my contract to my email. I finally received ******* is under password protected encryption. No password was ever given to me.My car broke down 2 weeks after I bought it. They kept in the shop & gave me the runaround for over a month. Continuous vehicle issues & awful customer service. I hope this place shuts down & soon. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

• Initial Complaint

  01/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I bought a ******************* 2016 and in three weeks it broke down they didn't give me my money back I put ****.down was paying my car note every week I was driving and all.if a sudden I saw smoke from my tail pipe I immediately pulled over and git out the car I was so scared that how bad it was smoking and I ran cause it was about to catch fire I was nervous and in fear of my life I called for help and the fire truck came I called them them the say they they said call during Monday I called they said they couldn't help me theyndidnt put me in another car or anything I would like to take further action

  Customer response

  01/08/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Regards,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  12/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  . Ive had my car since February and the people at the ********** have been amazing ..But whomever works at the payment center just ruined my experience So yall have had my car 2 weeks Friday : you call me and tell me its done but now the battery dead so youll have it towed to the lot so I can come Saturday and switch it out because the shop is closed on weekends. Saturday: I call to arrange a time and the car isnt there it was left at the shop . ?? (not what we discussed ) Said to come Wednesday Today is Wednesday: I call to get the address to the shop so I can come switch the battery and the girl that answer the phone said we were told to shut all our shops down until further notice So you just gonna have to wait .EXCUSE ME ??.Now yall supervisor calls me back and says well you can pay 251 for a battery here but you cant come and switch out ya own battery or you can pay to have the car towed to your house . Both options over 200 . Tells me they arent towing my car just cause I dont wanna buy the battery from them (NEVER ASKED FOR A TOW BTW) says it would have never been towed to the lot because I would of paid for it and her service guy wouldnt have said anything different.. OH BUT HE DID Im not paying 251 for a battery that has a warranty and can be switched out and Im not paying over 300 to have it towed , 194 for the initial ************ still want your car payment Friday .. ************ person should have held up his end of the deal . TF ?! But now its my problem??Both the supervisor & the other lady were VERY RUDE ! I tried to keep my cool on numerous occasions and they just kept going . Now the lot Into says PERMANENTLY CLOSED and I dont have my car

• Initial Complaint

  11/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased a 2014 ********** Passat on Friday 11/10/2023 from the ******** location. The salesperson ****** told us during the test drive that the struts had been replaced recently. The first night the brake light came on and there was a scrubbing noise while driving. There was also a noise when the air was on and the noise lingered when you turned the air off. The next morning we reported these issues to ****** and that the sunroof did not work. She said to bring the car in for repairs. We told her that I was out of town working and would let her know when I am back in town. The next day the scrubbing noise was louder. After 3 days the struts started making a noise and then every day a new issue occurred. The temperature gauge light came on and the check engine light came on. These issues were reported and request to turn the car in and cancel the sale. Was told by ********* in service that a mutual release could be requested at dealership. Received call from dealership on 11/22/2023 and requested mutual release and was advised to bring car in but a voluntary repossession will report on my credit. I asked how and why when it has been less than two weeks and the issues with the car started on the first day. How can you force someone to remain liable for a car that had all these issues on the first day? You sold a car that you did not thoroughly check and ensure was ready to be sold. Legally the sale should be cancelled and I should receive a refund. ***** who stated he is the manager at the Longview location said no and to bring the car in so they can look at it but there will not be a refund. I asked for corporate information and he refused and told me to call back the same local number and I will get routed. I told him that is not true and he again said there is no corporate number. I called the payment center number on the website and spoke with ******. I told her everything that had happened and she said she can connect me with ****. I left a message.

  Business response

  12/04/2023

  *************************** purchased a used vehicle from Public Automotive Group on November 10,2023.  After the purchase the customer contacted us letting us know the check engine light came on and there was a rubbing noise coming from the driver front wheel.  The customer also said there was an issue with the sunroof.  Our service department discussed the diagnostic times regarding the mechanical issues and discussed the sunroof was not a covered repaired.  We asked the customer to bring the vehicle in for us to have the unit looked at.  The customer did not bring the unit in to be looked at and continued driving with the issues stated above.  The vehicle was finally available to us on November 27, 2023.  The vehicle was brought to a third-party vendor for diagnostics.  It was determined the vehicle needed a turbo v band clamp and one trans mount that needed to be replaced.  Public Automotive Group paid for these repairs.
  

  The customer did agree to the purchase of a used vehicle that is sold as-is.  After purchasing, Public Automotive Group offers our Protection Plan that agrees to pay half of the repairs for certain issues.  However, in this situation,Public Automotive Group paid for the repairs relating to the mechanical issues taking into consideration the date of sale in comparison to the repairs.  Our service department is currently trying to assist the customer, but the customer has not picked up the vehicle after the repairs were completed on November 29, 2023.

  Customer response

  12/05/2023

  Complaint: 20905744
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  there are more issues wrong with the car than what they agreed to repair. When they were notified the first week of additional problems with the car the option was given to return the car pick out a different vehicle. Once the vehicle was received and they have seen everything then it changed to repairs have been made but only the two repairs and no other options. If something else comes up mechanically contact them for assistance. That is not acceptable when the first day there are problems and you only agree to repair certain issues. This makes me feel like I will get the car back and in a day or two a light will pop back on or something else will happen. They can not assure me this car is in a condition to be sold regardless of as is. The as is problems should be advised to the buyer. I work out of town and that is the only reason it took so long to return the car. It took them until after Thanksgiving to agree to tow the car because I said I wasnt comfortable driving it that far to the location. I do not agree with their response because they are leaving out important details that were discussed about the condition of the car and returning it with cancelling the contract. When they called me and asked about picking up the car I told them I do not want the car and why and requested again to be refunded. I could understand fully but on the first night multiple lights and noises and notifying them the next morning should let them know this was not a good sale. It has still been less than 30 days and the car has been unable to drive for 2 weeks. If this is how this company operates this needs to be posted in view so people know what they are getting into and I was not properly advised of any of this. I feel I deserve a refund. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***************************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩