Not triathlon news.  Life story.

I recently took a career change, and OMFO, has it been an interesting ride.

I was offered, and accepted, a position as a finance guy for a used car dealer.  I figured my many years in banking would make this job easy.   I am good at banking, and loans are easy, since I know what I'm doing.   Looking at credit, determining if people can afford the loans, making sure I don't give cars to deadbeat who don't pay their bills.  I can do this in my sleep.

I was not quite prepared for what happens in an environment that is not as completely regulated as I have been involved in for a quarter century.

Day one.   I walk in, and get into it immediately.   The current Finance Manager is a disorganized mess.   Seriously.   There are files with private customer literally strewn over 55% of the floor.  I have not even provided my own W-4 info to the HR bimbo, and I'm already reviewing loan applications.   Twenty minutes into it, the sales manager calls me over, to review a client's credit report.   I assume it's a day one test.

No.

He really doesn't understand anything beyond credit score.   Understandable.  And he tells me the finance manager couldn't explain anything on this one.   Not quite so understandable, but, whatever.

Within 10 seconds, I see 5 charged off accounts, and 2 repos in the last 6 months.

I should sidetrack here to say, this is a used car dealer that guarantees credit for everyone, as long as there is a big enough down payment.  This is a client I would run away screaming from in my banking days.  And this guy isn't making any real down payment, so it's a no-go.

Two minutes later, I am the new Finance Manager.  Needless to say, I was a bit taken aback.   But pretty damned happy.

The next day, I observe as my day goes on.  Four buyers from the last week come in to pick up the cars that were supposedly already delivered.  None of them can pass inspections.  Engine light.  I constantly hear "Your car will be ready tomorrow."  I learn, as the day goes by, that clients have seven days to get a car inspected, or they can request their money back.  If the car is actually rejected.   The owners loophole however, is that they are backdating actual delivery date, and not releasing cars, until the eighth day.  Then it's the customer's problem.

As time goes on, I realize that the company is lying to everyone.   About Anything.

I keep doing what I do, and don't cross any lines.  I like to think I still have integrity.

One customer is unemployed.  The owner created a letter from a fictional company, saying what the customer's income should be, and signs it, with a fake name, to submit with loan paperwork.

The sales manager determined that we would see more profit if we used another bank for the loan.   He changed to loan paperwork to the new bank.   After the closing.  No, I did NOT sign off of that.

A lot more stories, I may or may not expand, but here are the chapter titles.

Boss' 19 year old son, tried to fight the sales manager, because he was too cowardly to tell customer car wasn't ready.   Son's sixteen year old girlfriend screaming at sales manager, telling him he's fired.

Gates locked overnight with a Kryptonite bike lock.  By somone that does not work there.   Hacksaw got us in that day.

Day one.  Owner can't open his new safe.   Gives ME the combination.  Quick glance, at least $15K.  Did I mention first day?

Completely unauthorized credit reports pulled.

Former finance manager may have been stealing (could be BS).   They say he was probably on heroin.  They also say they picked up a CVS drug test and told him to take it.  On the way to the bathroom, he paid the mechanic $20.00 to pee in the cup.   Double fail in judgement.   Mechanic first came in to boss IMMEDIATELY and told him he did it.   And, mechanic pissed hot.  Mechanic still works there.

Customer looking for down payment returned, being referred to the fired finance manager for the refund, on his personal phone, because, even though they have a receipt, they say he stole it and provided a fake receipt.  And it's her problem.

Lying to the banks about when cars were delivered, so that they get funding.

Boss' son coming back, apologizing to sales manager 3 days later.   Getting into a  fistfight with a customer's boyfriend in the parking lot 2 days later, because he manned up and told customer car wasn't ready.  Perhaps he could have been a bit more diplomatic.   Not the same customer as before, but might as well have been a clone situation.

Actually fixing a problem on a car after the sale, and then deducting the cost of the repair from the salesman's commission.

Bathroom. Well, actually a port-a-potty.  I think the air freshener was medicinal marijuana.

Selling warranties that the banks offer, but not documenting them on the bank paperwork.    And pocketing the fee.

Telling all customers they are getting oil/lube job before delivery of vehicles.  Bald faced lie.

Revolving door sales team.   Other than manager, longest tenure...2 weeks.

Taking down payments from 3 customers for the same vehicle, and then a race to see who comes in with the most  cash first.

Holy crap.   Seeing this all in writing, all in one place.   I gotta get the fuck out of there.




2 years later.

I fled that hell hole and saved my soul, dirty grey thing it may be, the day after I started this post.  First job I quit without it ending seasonally, or having another job lined up, in my life.

Six months later, those theives made the news for being scumbags.  They abused the hell out of a pizza delivery guy over a 9% tip.  It was on the news & internet and everything.

Funniest part, all footage and sound was from THEIR OWN security cameras, so someone thought they were going to look good in this.. I cannot imagine how.

M.southcoast.com/article/20150306/news/150309561

Reprehinsible.  And then only 2 months later again.

Www.Boston.com/news/local/Massachusetts/2015/01/14/
Wesport-car-dealership-messes-with-pizza-delivery-guy-feels-internet-wrath/zXO7rV6jreriD63xG0bj5L/story.HTML


If the links don't work' copy paste.  Or just search keywords used car dealer Westport pizza guy.  You'll see my old desk that I broke in the top right.  Under the poster of Tony Montoya, A/K/A Scarface.