White Bear Lake Superstore Buick GMC — Local services in White Bear Lake

I purchased a used Denali July 11, 2023 and paid cash for the vehicle and the extended warranty and other options spending a significant amount of money. On the day of the transaction I was asked to fill out a form for identification purposes so they could verify my identity. The check was from a local bank as well. The form said Credit Application. I questioned this and I was told the form just stayed in the file in case of an audit so they could show they verified my identity. I was assured my credit would not be pulled and there was no box checked stating there was any financing requested. I put my name social security and identified I was a homeowner. No financial information was given. I received a letter from Equifax stating my financing was denied showing my credit score and that there was a hard pull done on my credit July 11, 2023. I did not request financing and paid in full yet I now have had 6 points deducted from my credit score and a notation stating I was denied credit I never applied for. I tried to talk with Molly Sievert the identified GM and she said it was their policy to do this. I said that they did not have my permission to pull my credit, I was told they would not and the form clearly identifies that I was not applying for financing. My request was that the inquiry was removed. Molly promised me she would take care of it this past Monday, instead I received an email from their vendor who pulls the credit 700CREDIT who stated the inquiry will stay and refused to remove it and since then 700Credit and Molly Sievert has ignored my emails and has not responded to me at all. I have the emails where she stated she would remove it. It is very simple for them to remove the inquiry but they will not. I did not apply for financing and this is a deceptive practice and a huge slap in the face after spending nearly $100K at their dealership. I am self-employed and my score and this denial of financing noted on my credit is very damaging. The vehicle is amazing and all other aspects of the transaction and experiences were absolutely wonderful. However I could have purchased a vehicle anywhere. This unfortunately caused me harm and I was deceived and violated BEWARE!! There must be a kickback somewhere for pulling hard inquiries. A soft inquiry with no notes or reducing my score would have been something I could tolerate but still I have a right to know and agree to it rather than be deceived.

Unfortunately after posting my review an Owner I have never spoken to or had one conversation with responds to my review calling me a liar and telling me they did everything correctly. I have filed a complaint with the FTC and the BBB and have shown the original "credit application" to them where no box is checked for financing and I provided the documents that shows my story and recollection of events are true. I paid for my vehicle in full with a check. Why on earth would I apply for financing??? Common sense and the documentation that exists shows that what I have said is true. If you are not financing and have the funds to pay for a vehicle in full, take your business elsewhere if you do not want this store to pull a hard credit check and impact your credit score and then note that your financing is denied that you didn't even request. If personal information was not on it I would upload the pictures and the emails from Molly Sievert that states she will remove the inquiry and apologized but then shoved me off to 700Credit and then told me that is who I would communicate with moving forward. All is want is the inquiry removed as I was not applying for credit. A soft pull is what is appropriate when a consumer is not applying for credit or financing. Charlie G. you were not a part of the conversations or the process. As I said until this happened I did have a premium experience. Everything I have said is true.

The only way to move forward is to remove the inquiry from my credit and fix the damage that was done...

I highly recommend you review your finance numbers thoroughly before signing any papers....We are from IL and bought a vehicle from WBLS in 8/16. After declining the extended warranty, the FM Molly seemed immediately cold while we were closing our sale. Despite our exc credit, the only financing available was at 8.29%. and because of this high rate, we did our best to keep the title, taxes and reg OFF the loan, to no avail. Not sure why, but nonetheless , instead of sending the appropriate amounts to SOS (title & Reg) and Il- Dept of Rev ( Sales Tax) as they said was their policy, they sent ONE check, paid to the order of "Secretary of State" for the whole amount, and mailed it to US (21) days later. Not only were the taxes to be sent to Dept of Rev, but even the amount that she calculated for the title and reg were inaccurate. We immediately tried to call them to address these errors, and we were continually told that Molly, the FM was out of the office. We tried to reach her 3 times to resolve the documentation errors but NEVER ONCE did she return our calls. Ultimately, we contacted the DMV, who told us that because the numbers that the finance dept at WBLS calculated were so off, the best bet would be to contact the dealership, tell them to VOID the original check they assigned to "SOS" and have them reassign a check to US directly, so the correct amounts could be paid. WBLS will NOT do this. They want US to FEDEX back their wrongly-assigned (already VOIDED) check, then research and report the correct amounts needed so they can re-assign appropriate checks once it is received. So obviously, while we play their game, we will continue to avoid getting immediately placed in voicemail while we try to get anyone there to even appear to care or feel remorseful for this inconvenience that they have unjustly bestowed on us,. Meanwhile, we have our fingers crossed that we don't get pulled over for the expired plates due to their negligence. This is the worst CS we have ever experienced by a dealership.

• Update: Today, my husband spoke to Kevin Shafer, the Finance Director. Kevin acknowledged the Google review left previously and made no effort to hide his displeasure with the contents, but still no apology and still no check - despite that they received the original check, shipped over night /FedEx per their instruction and it was confirmed as delivered 9/19/16. Our temporary registration was good for only 30 days, so as of 9/5/16, we could not legally drive this vehicle, but yet we were still required to pay the 1st installment on the loan, due 10/1. The car will sit in my driveway UNDRIVEABLE until we have the money they are holding of ours that was supposed to be released for sales tax, title and registration. I have contacted the IL - Dept of Rev, the MN Dept of Rev, the MN and IL ATTY Gen , and Auto Owners, the Surety bond co for Superstore Automotive, trying to get consumer assistance, files are pending but I am told that there will likely be a 6-8 week wait for the review. I cannot be without a vehicle for another 2 months! Kevin, you told my husband that you'd speak with Nikki and call back today (9/23). Nikki told us last Fri (9/16) she'd cut the new checks, just as soon as she got the original (inaccurate) check returned. FEDEX DELIVERY CONFIRMED 9/19. It's 4 minutes to 5pm on 9/23 and we still haven't heard from anyone. So why did you call? Solely to reprimand us for leaving this review? So now you are going to harass us? FYI, Our attorney has advised us NOT to accept any future calls, so anything further must be received in writing. I think you have our address. FOR THE LAST 18 DAYS (AND still COUNTING) WE HAVE HAD AN UNREGISTERED/ILLEGAL TO DRIVE, VEHICLE SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY THAT WE ARE STILL LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PAY FOR BECAUSE FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON WBLS REFUSES TO REMIT OUR MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USED TO PAY THE TAXES, TITLING AND REGISTRATION ON A VEHICLE WE BOUGHT FROM...

The last time I bought a new car, was 17 years ago. I bought a "mommy van". I had a 1 year old at the time. My kids are now 16 and 18 - and that van is tired... dance classes, gymnastics, t-ball, baseball, traveling teams, horseback riding lessons, horse shows, scout meetings, orchestra concerts, field trips, back and forth to school 5 times a week - at least once a day for 15 years. Now that they are both driving themselves... it was time for mom to get a new vehicle. It was a huge decision for our family - and took us a few years to finally pull the trigger. We ended up deciding on a GMC Canyon with the diesel engine and the SLT package. The truck is beautiful - not huge - big enough to tow 7,700 lbs - a trailer, a couple of horses, a couple of teenagers, and a whole lotta gear; but small enough to fit into the garage.

We did a lot of research, and ended up visiting 2 dealerships in person and dozens online. Each dealership only has 1 or 2 of the diesel Canyons with the SLT package and a long bed. White Bear Lake had the truck with all but 2 things we wanted - and those were cosmetic, so I called. Tim Garrick answered the phone and was very knowledgeable about the vehicle, professional, low key and friendly. I told him we'd come look at the car that evening. When we arrived he had the truck ready and waiting for us. He knew a lot about the product line but also he'd done his homework and knew the specifics of this vehicle. His preparation was very respectful of our time.

It was the last day of the month. We wanted the truck, but it's a pricey sticker. He asked us what would make us feel good about doing the deal - I gave him a ballpark - and although he was able to get us in that range, once you add taxes, fees, warranties, covers, etc. it just ended up being a bit too much. He told us that new incentives come out on the 1st, so if tomorrow brought more options he'd let us know. He called about 1:00 the next afternoon, excited to tell us what he could offer with the new GMC incentives for November. We drove out that evening and bought the truck.

Tim (Sales), Charlie (GM), and Jeff (Financing) were all exceptionally professional, helpful, friendly, patient and willing to do what was needed to get the deal done. It was a very big decision for our family - and they were all aware and respectful of this. Tim and team were able to make this deal happen and make us comfortable with this incredible investment.

Thanks Tim! Thanks Charlie! Thanks Jeff! We'll see you soon for installation of our accessories on what my husband calls our new...