DRIVE TIME - MONTCLAIR & RIVERSIDE - BAIT AND SWITCH TACTICS, ENDLESS DEMANDS, AND UTTER DISREGARD FOR CUSTOMER TIME
Let me preface this by saying that my experience with Drive Time in both Montclair and Riverside has been nothing short of a complete and utter disaster. As someone with less-than-perfect credit, I approached Drive Time with cautious optimism, understanding their business model of providing vehicle financing for individuals in such situations. However, what I encountered was a bait-and-switch scheme, endless and unreasonable demands, and a shocking disregard for my time and documentation.
Despite being pre-approved online with zero down payment, I was subjected to an exhaustive and frankly insulting process. I willingly provided every single document requested, including detailed bank statements, official Articles of Incorporation for my business, the Statement of Information filed with the state, and my government-issued EIN. I jumped through every hoop, operating in good faith that I was moving towards securing a vehicle.
To add insult to injury, I was then made to waste hours of my time driving three different vehicles and conducting thorough end-to-end inspections on each. This entire process felt designed to invest my time and energy, making it harder to walk away.
Then came the kicker. After all the time wasted and documents provided, and even after I had placed a $500 hold on a vehicle I liked, they had the nerve to continue crying and requiring even more information. This was after I had already surrendered a mountain of official documentation! Today alone, they wasted an additional two hours of my precious time, bringing the total time squandered to a staggering six hours in pursuit of a vehicle.
It became painfully clear that there was no end in sight to their unreasonable demands. I was just waiting for them to conjure up yet another arbitrary requirement, likely another unexpected financial burden. This entire ordeal felt like a deliberate tactic to string me along.
And let's not forget their demand for a "signature verification card" from my bank. As I stated before, I contacted multiple major banks – Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and my own bank, US Bank – and was explicitly told that no such "signature verification card" exists for customers. The only document they could provide was a verification of ownership letter, which I promptly obtained, along with all the original business documents to further prove my legitimacy. Despite providing this and being prepared to pay the initially unmentioned $2,000, Drive Time in Riverside flatly stated that it was a "no-go" without this mythical document.
The final straw was their rude and dismissive attitude, acting as if they didn't need my business. In my life, I have never experienced such anguish and despair simply trying to purchase a vehicle. Yes, my credit may not be perfect, but they explicitly stated it wouldn't be an issue.
To anyone even considering Drive Time, I implore you: RUN, don't walk, to a different dealership. Drive Time in Montclair and Riverside are masters of the bait-and-switch, experts at wasting your time, and clearly operate with a profound lack of respect for their customers. You will save yourself countless hours, immense frustration, and a considerable amount of anguish by taking your business elsewhere. Drive Time is nothing but a colossal waste of your time.
