My name is William D. Conley Jr., mailing address 1712 Stadium Drive, Bluefield WV 24701. Phone number 304-325-7613. I am writing to you of a case of Discrimination against me by Ramey Chevrolet, Rt. 19 and 460, Princeton WV 24740. Phone number 304-425-2134. In September of 2007 I leased a vehicle through this dealership, I was made aware that in the contract I was able to return the vehicle before the lease expired. On 19 May 2009 I went to look at a vehicle at the dealership after I had been called and informed by the sales person, Christopher, that I was approved for financing. When I arrived I began talking and notified the sales team that I had a military disability and was also a veteran. From that point things began to change. My finance approval conveniently disappeared and I was told I needed special financing. I was asked about my leased vehicle, I told them it was an Autotrakk lease and was told by the staff all I had to do was bring the vehicle in on Friday, 22 May and turn it in. I felt at this time as if I was being discriminated against because so much had changed since the phone call notifying me that I had been approved.

I did not buy the vehicle because of the need of this special financing, I felt wronged since the Toyota Financial Service had already approved me and it seemed to be lost at the dealership and I was going to have to go through their personal financing. I did not notice anyone else who was not disabled or a veteran having the same problem.

I went to another dealer and had no problem getting a vehicle financed, contrary to what Ramey Chevrolet stated. I returned to the dealership on 22 May as I was told by the staff to return my vehicle. According to the contract I could return the vehicle with a $250 return fee. I was told by Anita Clark and Jim the sales manager that I could not do such a thing and I had to stay in the lease for three years. I wore a veteran hat that day and the staff was fully aware of my status and injuries.

No one at the dealership made any attempt to understand the issue I brought up. Having been lied to twice about the car by two staff members understandably upset me, I was then told a third lie by Anita Clark when she told me to take the car back to the dealership I bought it from because they did Autotrakk as well. I went to this dealer and was told they never had this program. I was lied to to simply get me out of her office. The Sales Manager Jim was extremely rude. For other customers without disabilities he would work through to find them financing I was told, yet with me he simply stated I should have used my common sense and understood the contract. This was a direct insult to me as I have a brain injury from the service and have had a long recovery period. I had a witness to every statement made to me, my mother was present at every single event, and she was not listened to either. I was simply pushed aside and expected to pay this bill even though I had been given verbal and written contractual obligations that I could return this vehicle prior to the lease ending.

I feel as if the dealership deliberately took advantage of my disability and veteran status for their own gain and now will not respond to me and what is supposed to be done to the fact they are discriminating against me based on my disability and veteran status. I feel as if the company is making me an indentured servant of them to pay a bill that I should not have to pay based on contractual obligations. No one even made an attempt to look at the contract, a step that is done and I have seen if I had been wealthier, not disabled, or not a veteran. I am writing to your organization to investigate this practice because it primarily affects low income, disabled and minority individuals and the dealership is preying on them.


Sincerely,

William Conley