I was told I was getting a rate. I was never told it was an estimation and subject to change. I signed a contract on that rate. A week later I was called and said the rate went up…..5%!!! I went in and even expressed to Rod Sanderson that the rate was so high that I didn’t think I could afford the payments on the car. He said nothing.

I expressed this to a friend of mine who works at another dealership. I told her I was planning on re-financing the car once a dispute on my credit report was fixed. She told me the rate was so high that no bank would refinance the car for me. I then called a lawyer and he told me that they can’t raise a rate once you sign a contract.

I then called the GM, Mike Blalog, and he told me that the first rate was “an estimation”, and that if I didn’t like that rate, I could have given the car back before signing the new rate. Well, that would have been great if Mr. Sanderson had informed me of this when I told him I didn’t think I’d be able to afford the car with the new rate.

My lawyer friend then called Mr. Blalog and talked with him about the situation. Mr. Blalog assured him that all his employees stand by corporate protocol and that he was sure that Mr. Sanderson informed me of all of these things. He did not.

I understand that it was stupid on my part to sign more paperwork without going over it with a lawyer, but that does not excuse their bait-and-switch techniques. I feel betrayed, seeing that I’ve bought a new car from them in the past and paid it off in 3 years. I thought maybe I would have been treated honestly and fair since I was a loyal customer. I hate to have to resort to this, but I am going to have to report World Toyota to many different agencies, and tell everyone I know to stay far away from this dealership.