A Pacific Beach couple said they feel taken advantage of after they say a dealership talked them into purchasing a car alarm installation for a car that already had one installed.
Sidney Chan and his fiance Samantha Luangviseth said they thought they were getting a good deal when they purchased their 2013 BMW 528-I from South County Buick GMC out of National City.
“It was a good car and we thought the price was fair,” Sidney said.
Sidney said when it came down to signing the contract, he and Samantha purchased some add-ons for the vehicle, including a protective paint coating and a car alarm.
Days later, when Samantha went back to the dealership to have the alarm installed, she said there was a problem.
“They couldn’t do it because the alarm was already installed by the manufacturer,” Samantha said.
The BMW already had a car alarm. Samantha said there was no need to pay $695 extra for another alarm. So, Samantha said she went back and talked to the South County Buick GMC Manager.
Local
“I asked them why did you sell me something that is already there? I just want a refund for that part, which is $695,” Samantha said.
Instead of getting a refund, Samantha said the dealership initially tried to sell her another add-on, an additional coating for her upholstery, which the couple didn't want.
The couple said the dealership told them they would return their money. The couple waited but the money never arrived.
In frustration, they contacted NBC 7 Responds.
NBC 7 Responds spoke with Paul McKenna, the owner of South County Buick GMC and he promised to look into the problem.
After weeks of going back and forth with the owner, Sidney and Samantha received a check in the mail for the full amount they had spent on the car alarm add-on.
McKenna told NBC 7 Responds the dealership was under the impression Sidney and Samantha didn’t want a refund but instead wanted that second add-on and that’s why the refund was delayed.
The couple said they wanted the refund money from the start.
