bought car - Fiat - on March 28, 2013. Signed necessary papers…

Hello,

While your rendition of events (and the fact that the salesperson wouldn't show you the contract) is indeed fishy so you should have someone look at the actual rates and you should be speaking directly with Chrysler Financial (if they're the lender) to obtain proof of what the ACTUAL financed value is and the TOTAL cost of financing.

The lender will gladly provide you all this because its their loan now and - if there are problems with how that loan was originated - they will actually want to cover themselves also.

If it turns out that the salesperson used the incorrect sales price (the $25K rather than $21K financed value) then get everything from the lender in writing and

1. Get a hold of Fiat Customer Service. Once you're speak to them tell them about the issue and request to be put in touch with the District and Regional Sales managers (these are the folks who oversee the dealers from Corporate's standpoint) -- from a purely legal standpoint head office may be limited in how much direct action they can take on your particular contract but a dealer that routinely engages in practices like this can damage the brand reputation (and generally a franchise agreement will have buried deep into it a clause that permits Corporate to suspend, if not terminate, the franchise for such actions) -- more than a few shady operators have lost their franchise when enough customers have complained (and proven) that they've been taken. You should also get the name (and if possible contact info) for the "Dealer Principal" for that dealership.

2. Contact the dealership directly and request to speak with the "Dealer Principal" (that's the owner). You may be directed to the General Manager but you should insist to speak with the Dealer Principal or the dealership's lawyers. Once you have that information I would get in touch with a local civil lawyer and have them draft up a demand letter outlining the problem and demanding the loan be rectified or you be compensated for the difference (including taxes and future interest on the higher amount). I would not write this letter on your own because you're more likely to compromise your legal position if, and when, this actually gets in front of a judge.

If you can't resolve this problem with the dealership (knowing that head office will be leaning and raising some uncomfortable questions about it as well) then court will be your only option. Given the difference involved here you may well be beyond the Small Claims limitation (because we're looking at about $4K direct difference, plus the extra tax and the interest over the term of the loan).

Regards XXXXX XXXXX wishes..