In this first-person narrative, our client, Eugenia Willis, shares her experience when a GM Dealership refused her initial efforts to restore critical features missing under contract when purchasing a vehicle. Read to learn about her disrespectful ordeal when seeking fairness, and how Principal Attorney Tina M. Patterson stepped in to ensure Mrs. Willis and her family received the justice denied to them.
“Attorney Patterson is very well attentive to detail, extremely meticulous and knows how to help clients deal with the daunting legal system. She stands her ground and refuses for her clients to be taken advantage of under any circumstances, and I am eternally grateful for her help.”
“December 27, 2021.
What should have been a day of total enjoyment, fulfillment, and upgrade was the beginning of a disastrous time for me. I went into a major dealership, Suburban Buick GMC in Ferndale Michigan, to return a lease and gain a new contract for another lease vehicle a GMC Terrain 2022.
Prior to picking up the vehicle I clearly explained to the salesman exactly what I wanted the vehicle to be equipped with, specifically including heated seating, to comfort my mom, who has a terminal illness, when I transport her to doctors’ appointments. However, when I arrived it was a totally different vehicle than what we had discussed prior to picking up. I raised this issue with the salesman, who stated he’d take a look into it after completing the paperwork. I also informed him that the vehicle’s heated seating wasn’t working, and he advised me to drive the vehicle for a few days and turn it in for servicing repairs if the problem continued.
To my shock, shortly after the sale, I was informed by OnStar that I didn’t have a semi-conductor chip in the car, which would arrive in approximately six months. I then stated that I wasn’t made aware of this prior to my lease purchase, and I was devastated. I immediately called the salesman of Suburban, who stated that he made mention of it to me, but I insisted that I was not made aware of the non-chip vehicle being sold. He transferred me to the leasing agent, who also incorrectly stated that he made me aware before signing.
I was then transferred to the sales manager, who told me he would try and revoke my lease to return my 2019 vehicle back to me, which was my initial trade-in vehicle in superb condition. I was told that he would call me the next day after speaking with his manager, but I heard nothing! I went to another GMC dealer and explained to them what transpired and was informed that I should have been given paperwork to sign along with the option to purchase without a chip, or the vehicle shouldn’t have been leased. Also, I learned that the vehicle being without the chip was the reason I had no heated seats. I was again blown away. I then called corporate and spoke with the General Manager Ali Ahmed hoping to receive an appropriate conversation and resolution…. Well absolutely NOT!
I explained to him the entire situation, and he stated that he could not revoke my lease, as he already had a buyer for my 2019 vehicle. I told him I wanted another vehicle with heated seats because I was paying for luxury that I did not have, and that I received what I believed to be a fraudulent sale. He again stated there’s nothing he could do. I stated I’m going to speak with an attorney his response was ‘Good, then I don’t have to deal with you. I can be nice or nice nasty whatever you like!’ It was totally rude, unacceptable and unprofessional, and not at all the response I was looking for from a general manager of a GMC dealership.
After this disrespect, I was left to seek counsel. I reached out to Attorney Tina Patterson of Patterson Justice Counsel, PLLC. After hearing my story, she was moved with much compassion and concern, and Attorney Patterson dove right in to make certain I would receive justice for fully being taken advantage of on several levels after many sleepless and stressful nights, months of driving in the bitter cold of winter with my sick mom and daughter, and continuing to pay my car note on time while deliberating back and forth with the Suburban GMC corporate office.
Attorney Patterson never left my side. I’m ecstatic and very pleased to say that on April 29, 2022, I picked up a brand new vehicle, with the heated seating I needed, built specifically for me- a 2022 Buick Enclave Avenir! Attorney Patterson got justice for me and my 80 year old mother!
Attorney Patterson is very well attentive to detail, extremely meticulous and knows how to help clients deal with the daunting legal system. She stands her ground and refuses for her clients to be taken advantage of under any circumstances, and I am eternally grateful for her help.”
