BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - A Bryan woman is thanking two men for coming to her rescue after she was left without a working vehicle she had just purchased from a Houston dealership.
Cynthia Brown thought she found the vehicle of her dreams; a 2016 Buick SUV with 55,000 miles for only $12,000. However, her dream quickly turned into a nightmare as soon as she drove off the lot.
After she left the dealership, the check engine light came on and she soon learned she was in need of a new engine.
WEB EXTRA: CLICK HERE FOR IMPORTANT TIPS ON HOW TO BUY A USED CAR
“Given the situation that she had just bought the car, I could tell from visiting with her that she was in a lot of trouble and she needed some help,” said Jeremy Smith, Manager with Christian Brothers Automotive on Boonville Road in Bryan.
“She had the wisdom to check the dipstick and found sludge on it. Unfortunately, the salesman lied to her, saying that it was only because the car had been sitting on the lot a long time. He wiped it off, put it back in, and told her everything was fine. She took it to Christian Brothers Automotive in Bryan who did some diagnostic work and found the engine oil had never been changed,” said Blake Jennings, founder of OnRamp.
“The car looked great on the outside but had a ruined engine on the inside,” he continued.
“Now all of her savings were spent and she was left with a practically worthless vehicle. To make matters worse, the dealership never signed the paperwork they gave her, meaning she did not technically own the car even though they had all her money,” said Jennings, who helped fix the paperwork issue. But the engine was still shot and the dealership refused to fix it.
OnRamp is a local non-profit that helps individuals and families in the Brazos Valley find, purchase, and maintain reliable vehicles. Together OnRamp, Christian Brothers Auto, and Doggett Auto Parts all worked together to fix Brown’s engine and put a brand new set of tires on the vehicle.
“We try to be a light in the community and minister to folks, our customers, and anybody who needs that type of ministry, we try to provide that,” said Smith.
KBTX did reach out to the dealership in Houston who sold the vehicle, but they did not respond to our messages.
Now Jennings Smith are both wanting to warn other used car buyers.
“When you go to buy a used car, you need to realize that there are people who will try to take advantage of you,” said Jennings.
Since On Ramp’s inception in 2017, they have donated reliable vehicles to 46 client families, including 59 adults and 86 kids.
On Ramp and Christian Brothers Automotive suggest a few ways to make sure you don’t fall victim to a scammer:
- -Research the seller
- -Pay for a pre-purchase inspection for an independent certified mechanic
- -Inspect and test drive the car
- -Run a vehicle identification number (VIN) check and car history report
- -Ensure that all paperwork is correct before paying
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Local non-profit, auto shop together help woman scammed out of $12,000 - KBTX
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