Word of Warning for the Charlotte, NC Area

[FriedCheese2006]

I ordered a new XLT Maverick back in February through Capital Ford of Charlotte. They agreed on doing X-Plan. Five months later, the truck was delivered. I requested the final price to get a check cut which listed a $800 document fee. Then a back and forth email thread ensued as they would not budge. The guy just kept saying that everyone pays the fee (said he even paid the fee using D plan...). I even contacted the support line for X-Plan (who offered to clarify for the dealer) to triple check. The dealer refused (the discussion was with the sales manager) saying they "checked with the owner and corporate lawyers" and then flipped to "we don't have to accept X-Plan at all." (which is true). So, now I'm stuck having wasted 5 months waiting for this truck to come in just to start back over. During this escapade, my dad ordered a Maverick through another dealer that's about 45 minutes from me a month after I did using X-Plan with $150 dealer fee and got the truck a month earlier than my order came in. I'm sure that's in part because of options (he picked up a Lariat).

Sponsored

 

[prsncat]

Make sure you also submit your dealership warning via the following Google Form. I created a dealership recommendations and warnings list open to MTC members to review before deciding to place their order. @Sarah Davis of Long McArthur Ford continues to maintain it.

Please help your fellow MTC members by adding these details via the Google Form here.

 

[Storm Ranger]

Very sorry Capital Ford would do something like this after waiting 5 months. Some dealers just work to suck every dime they can from customers!

 

[TheShark]

That's crap, Leith Ford in Wendell did X-plan no problems on my Mav.
I'd certainly tell them to go pound sand.

 

[FriedCheese2006]

I'm honestly not sure what the deal is. I find it hard to believe that they are hurting for sales bad enough to make a big deal out of $650. I don't think I would've had such a negative response if it wasn't for the sales manager being so hostile and belligerent about it. He didn't for once think about entertaining a discussion on it.

When I asked about the $800 doc fee, his initial response was:

We do not have a Doc Fee. Everyone pays the admin fee. I did 3 times with D-plan.

So, I sent over a screenshot of the X-Plan agreement that shows that they cannot charge an admin fee. He responds with copying half of a sentence from the agreement:

In states that permitted more than $75 or $100 and also required that all customers be charged the same amount

and saying that they "have" to charge all customers the same amount. The problem is that the full section is:

24. Can I be charged a “document fee” (doc fee) by my dealer?

Yes. Dealers will be permitted to assess up to $100 in documentary fees on each delivery to an eligible purchaser under the terms of the Plan, unless otherwise provided by state or local laws or regulation. Each dealer is responsible for complying with applicable laws or regulations. What if I am in a state that allows the dealer to charge more than $100? Unless otherwise provided by state or local laws or regulation: In states where dealers are not permitted to charge as much as $100 for doc fees, dealers would be capped at the lesser amount as provided by the state. In states that permitted more than $100, dealers would be permitted to charge the Plan customer $100. In states that permitted more than $100 and also required that all customers be charged the same amount, dealers may charge the Plan customer $100 and indicate any additional fees have been paid by Ford Motor Company or Lincoln Motor Company as part of the AXZD-Plan Program dealer reimbursement on the buyer's order. How does this change the $275 administration fee? There is no change. The $275 administration fee covers costs of managing the New Vehicle Purchase Program.

In NC, the law is that any dealer fees are at the discretion of the dealer per sale. Meaning the sentence he quoted isn't even applicable. I replied to his email showing this and providing a link to the NC law. I'd also called the hotline to make sure I wasn't missing something and they confirmed that I was right and offered to talk to the dealer about it if someone would just call.

30 minutes later, the guy calls me and is immediately scrambling to excuse why I had to pay the fee. He tried to tell me it said that everyone has to pay the same amount again. I refuted restating the line from the agreement. Then he says that my last email made his point because of the "dealer discretion" part....except that was from the state law and not the X-Plan agreement. That's when he flipped to "I don't even have to offer X-Plan." At that point, my mind was made up that I wasn't folding and told him I'd just order through another dealer and hung up.

The part of the matter that bothers me the most...this truck is for my kid and his spoiled arse. Long story short, he lives with his mom about 2 hours away so I wanted to put him in something that I wouldn't have to worry about breakdowns. The plan is to get him the truck and pickup the ESP and maintenance plans from Zeigler. I ordered in February with his birthday being in September so it'd get here ahead of time...now it'll likely be a few months after.

 

[Art Vandelay]

So are they allowing the X Plan pricing for you but not the limit on the Doc fee? That's kind of odd to me because the doc fee is part of the X Plan agreement with Ford so I'm surprised that Ford doesn't care about it.

 

[FriedCheese2006]

So are they allowing the X Plan pricing for you but not the limit on the Doc fee? That's kind of odd to me because the doc fee is part of the X Plan agreement with Ford so I'm surprised that Ford doesn't care about it.

That's pretty much it and the Ford rep said there's basically nothing they can do about it. I would think the only recourse would be to buy the truck, then hit them up after the fact about the dealer charging extra. I can only imagine what a nightmare that would be though and it would be dependent on making extra sure they fill out all the X-Plan paperwork.

 

[Johnkn]

I ordered a new XLT Maverick back in February through Capital Ford of Charlotte. They agreed on doing X-Plan. Five months later, the truck was delivered. I requested the final price to get a check cut which listed a $800 document fee. Then a back and forth email thread ensued as they would not budge. The guy just kept saying that everyone pays the fee (said he even paid the fee using D plan...). I even contacted the support line for X-Plan (who offered to clarify for the dealer) to triple check. The dealer refused (the discussion was with the sales manager) saying they "checked with the owner and corporate lawyers" and then flipped to "we don't have to accept X-Plan at all." (which is true). So, now I'm stuck having wasted 5 months waiting for this truck to come in just to start back over. During this escapade, my dad ordered a Maverick through another dealer that's about 45 minutes from me a month after I did using X-Plan with $150 dealer fee and got the truck a month earlier than my order came in. I'm sure that's in part because of options (he picked up a Lariat).

What fee was shown on the order/purchase agreement both you and the dealership signed at the time you placed the order?


.

 

[Scott Asheville]

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/new...ounces-cars-rule-fight-scams-vehicle-shopping

 

[Darnon]

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/new...ounces-cars-rule-fight-scams-vehicle-shopping

That has nothing to do with doc fees.

 

[Ranch]

I live in California and doc fees' are low here.

In California, the state with one of the lowest fees, you'll be charged no more than $85 for documentation fees.

Everyone should do their homework on doc fee's before their Maverick arrives at the dealership.

https://www.capitalone.com/cars/lea...-documentation-fees-and-whats-negotiable/1207

 

[Boosted]

Make sure you also submit your dealership warning via the following Google Form. I created a dealership recommendations and warnings list open to MTC members to review before deciding to place their order. @Sarah Davis of Long McArthur Ford continues to maintain it.

Please help your fellow MTC members by adding these details via the Google Form here.

Why report when the Dealer did nothing wrong or illegal. OP should have done his homework and got a complete quote with tax and fees. $800 is high but not in that market so you have to shop like the dad did.

 

[Boosted]

I ordered a new XLT Maverick back in February through Capital Ford of Charlotte. They agreed on doing X-Plan. Five months later, the truck was delivered. I requested the final price to get a check cut which listed a $800 document fee. Then a back and forth email thread ensued as they would not budge. The guy just kept saying that everyone pays the fee (said he even paid the fee using D plan...). I even contacted the support line for X-Plan (who offered to clarify for the dealer) to triple check. The dealer refused (the discussion was with the sales manager) saying they "checked with the owner and corporate lawyers" and then flipped to "we don't have to accept X-Plan at all." (which is true). So, now I'm stuck having wasted 5 months waiting for this truck to come in just to start back over. During this escapade, my dad ordered a Maverick through another dealer that's about 45 minutes from me a month after I did using X-Plan with $150 dealer fee and got the truck a month earlier than my order came in. I'm sure that's in part because of options (he picked up a Lariat).

Make sure you also submit your dealership warning via the following Google Form. I created a dealership recommendations and warnings list open to MTC members to review before deciding to place their order. @Sarah Davis of Long McArthur Ford continues to maintain it.

Please help your fellow MTC members by adding these details via the Google Form here.

Why report when the Dealer did nothing wrong or illegal. OP should have done his homework and got a complete quote with tax and fees. $800 is high but not in that market so you have to shop

 

[ABTremor]

When I was preparing to order my '23 Tremor I emailed the salesman at the dealership letting them know I was using X plan and verifying that they participated in the program. Fast forward 367 days later at delivery...
The new salesman (the original salesman left the employment of the dealership) tried telling me " we don't do X plan... until I opened my file folder and showed him my copy of the signed DORA, which showed the pricing and pulled out my phone and showed them the email chain.... after some discussion. I got my X plan deal and took the truck home.

I was disappointed to say the least that I even had to have the whole price "discussion" with them...

Is it legal to pull this crap? Probably yes. Is it morally correct? He** no. Will dealers continue these shenanigans? Again, yes.

Did they lose any future business, including service work? Another yes, at least from me they did.

Isn't that the whole point of X plan?? No dealer BS, just pay for the vehicle and go home happy.

Does FORD give a rats' a** about this behavior? Despite thier past public relations rhetoric regarding dealers behaving badly, they apparently don't.

Sponsored