PUBLICATION PHONE # 806.379.6222
Company Claims Amarillo Location to Rip Off Consumers Nationwide
Consumers send thousands - receive nothing
Amarillo, TX – December 3, 2010 - The BBB has issued an F rating to a company claiming to be located in Amarillo. The Internet based company is offering re-possessed vehicles at unusually low prices. BBB Amarillo has received six complaints from consumers across the country in the month of November.
The complainants state they have sent thousands of dollars to auto-mall-inc.com for the purchase of a vehicle but have not received the vehicle as promised. Consumers further allege they are not able to speak directly with the company.
BBB reports that auto-mall-inc.com has received over 1,240 inquiries in the past month. Typical inquires on an individual company range from 15-30 a month depending on the industry and the time of the year.
BBB investigations show that the phone number on the company’s website has a Houston area code. When called, a recording indicates that all operators are busy and the caller should get in touch with the company using online means only.
“An unusual amount of increased traffic to this report has caused us concern,” said Janna Kiehl, BBB CEO. Consumers have notified us of their concerns with this website’s claims of extremely low pricing on vehicles, their inability to complete their online transactions especially when asked to speak to a live operator and the claim that no credit cards are accepted as payment, only bank to wire transfers are accepted. Consumers have also contacted BBB Amarillo stating their concern after viewing the website.
“We are working with law enforcement including the Amarillo Police Department who has also fielded numerous calls pertaining to this website,” said Kiehl. “We want to do everything we can to protect consumers and businesses who are victims of these types of aggressive tactics.”
Consumers should be aware that Auto Mall in Amarillo is not related or otherwise affiliated with auto-mall-inc.com. The location indicated on the auto-mall-inc.com website is a former location of Auto Mall in Amarillo. However, Auto Mall in Amarillo has been out of business at this location for several years. The auto-mall-inc.com website does not belong to Auto Mall in Amarillo and the address given for auto-mall-inc.com on its website is not that of Auto Mall in Amarillo. “In fact an entirely different, unrelated business is at that address,” said Kiehl. “We believe the online company has ‘hijacked’ or stolen the location and name in order to appear legit.”
The F rating issued for auto-mall-inc.com applies to auto-mall-inc.com and not Auto Mall in Amarillo.
Click here to view the BBB Business Review on auto-mall-inc.com.
The following advice from BBB will help when shopping online for a vehicle:
· Search bbb.org for trustworthy businesses.
· Ask for a contract in writing and review it carefully before sending any money.
· All promises should be in writing and included in the contract.
· Pay with a credit card whenever possible.
· If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your common sense!
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