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My name is Gary Brier.My mother is Rhoda Lowitt. She leased a Toyota Camry 3 years ago through Ed Morse Dealership in Delray Beach,Fl. with Southeast Toyota Finance. Sales manager John Kirshner from Ed Morse told me we could bring in our leased car and trade up for a new one and they would make the remaining payments (3) on the lease and just turn in our car for the new one.The day before we returned the car.I had the car completely detailed inside and out.I also had a company called Paint Lux ,who does touch ups for leasing companies when cars are returned at the end of their lease. We inspected the car and he did the minor touch up we saw that was needed. The car looked immaculate. After talking with salesman Carmine Giuffrida, who was very professional and courteous ,we found a new 2013 Camry that my mother liked and we decided to lease.Before we signed the new lease agreement, I asked Carmine to please inspect the car we were returning to see if he thought we should have any concerns. He agreed to give his opinion and we went out to look at the car. He and I looked all around the car and he said we should not have any problem as the car looks great! At the same time ,I took pictures of the vehicle. We proceeded to negotiate a price to lease the new car and came up with an agreement. Carmine was even nice enough to transfer all the items we still had in the returned car to the new car and explained how everything in the car worked and helped me set up the phone as well.All was great and everyone was happy.The deal was done.

About 2 weeks went by and I received a bill in the mail from Southeast Toyota Finance as well as instructions for returning our old leased car.The bill was for the remaining payments and wear and tear damages for approximately 1800.00.

I called Southeast Toyota finance and they said that I now owed $986.87.

I asked why has the price owed now changed and what damages are you talking about? I was told the payments had been made by the dealership and so that money was deducted to only the damages.I was told to look at the back of the page of the inspection report for explanations and was told that there was a large dent in the roof that looked like a tree fell on it and it would take 16 hours to repair and 3 hours to paint totaling 695.00 and one of the 4 brand new tires had a small cut in the side and would have to be replaced at 110.00 and the front bumper needed to be repainted for 2.8 hours at 126.00. There were 3 people that looked over that car that didn't notice any damages,yet some inspector magically found damage.

I really don't know what happened between the time I dropped that car off and the time an inspector came,but none of us saw any damage,especially to the roof where I was told it looked like a tree fell on it.I'm sure one of us would have noticed that,especially the touch up guy who was there to find damage to repair so that he could make his living.

Even with those damages,I was still charged 986.87 and with those 3 items listed ,comes to 931.00.

After calling Carmine as well as Paint Lux owner Corey Gibson, no one could believe this was happening.I called the leasing company back to complain and they decide to credit back 98.87 to me after I already sent in the 986.87 they asked for as I did not need my 86 year old mother getting aggravated over this nonsense.They gave me a website address to look at the pictures of the car and after trying 4 times ,it would not open the page for me so I called back and the man I spoke with tried from his end to open it and he said it opened up for him.

He said he would fax me the pictures in about 30 minutes and I never received any faxes.

When the old car was returned and the new deal was made, that should have been all, not tell me 2 weeks later after the new deal has been done. We made the new deal on the premise of what we could give as money down and the monthly payment plan and to throw a bill at us for almost 1000.00 after we worked out what we could handle is just not right.

There is clearly a major glitch in your system and my mother is the unlucky reciprient

I guess I can expect another huge charge for so called wear and tear when we return the new lease in 3 years from now.

I can only tell you that I hope the money you just got for damages that weren't there when the car was returned by me is worth the thousands of dollars you will no longer make because you just lost a lifetime customer and you can be sure that my 86 year old mother will share her story with all her friends that are leasing cars as well.

Extremely dissatisfied !

Monetary Loss: $900.

Location: Tequesta, Florida

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Briley Oma

Sounds about right. This is why EVERYBODY in America hates car salesmen.

I'd rather be audited by the IRS than have to deal with a car salesman. I also have trouble with my Toyota lease. I paid extra for additional warranty coverage at the INSISTENCE of the salesman, only to fight with the service dept every time I try to use it.

No more Toyotas for me. Their people suck.

SETFCustomerExperience

Dear Mr. Ronnie Van Fleet,

I am sorry to hear about the experience you had. I would be happy to go over any questions or concerns that you may have. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

Thank you,

K. Perdue

Southeast Toyota Finance

1-800-267-0855 ext. 1107563

Guest

Almost the same exact thing happened to me over two years ago. The salesman in this case was Brian Casey from Cramer Toyota of Venice and he stated that there was nothing that he could do. It was Southeast Toyota and Dealership manager told me the same thing. They took zero responsibility.

My leased vehicle was beautiful (confirmed by salesman) when turned in and salesperson told me --come in early, forget remaining payments and no other costs, and drive away with new vehicle under new lease. A month later, I get a bill in the mail for over $400 for tires/dents/. I refused to pay this and they sent it to collections.

It is amazing that Toyota decided that my client for life status was not worth $400--I have purchased/leased four vehicles from Toyota and am now looking for another vehicle manufacturer to provide me with excellent vehicle with no rip-off artists.

Guest

Well, it's been quite a while now since I posted my complaint. Southeast Toyota Leasing called me to discuss what happened and said they would investigate the situation .Not only have I not heard back from them ,but they never even returned the 98.87 that they said they would give me back.

I hope that anyone planning to do business reads this first and does NOT do business with Southeast Toyota Leasing because they are thieves !!!

Have a nice day.

SETFCustomerExperience

Dear Mr. Brier,

I am sorry to hear about the experience you had. I would be happy to go over any questions or concerns that you may have. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

Thank you,

M. Davis

Southeast Toyota Finance

314-702-4206

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