Although AIC Kia of Manassas and/or A C Auto (they use both names and are the same dealer) say that they are a auto dealership, that is really only a half truth. This supposed dealership is really nothing more that a financing mill for poor or bad credit situations. They will tell you whatever it takes, even straight up lie to get you to come into the office to be processed for an auto loan. Do not believe what they tell you! They have a really slick gimmick utilizing online and telecommunication techniques. This is how it went down for me:

I was online looking for someone to help us with a loan due to bad credit. We filled out a few Applications and were contacted by Sara Evans @ 240-520-0793.
"She had some exciting good news for me" and that I should call back a.s.a.p., so I did just that and spoke to a Shannon (she didn't give her last name). Shannon explained that I had been approved for a vehicle loan, that I could pick out any model out of their 3000 cars AND that I had been approved for 100% financing up to $28, 000.00. Shannon said that this offer of finance was only good for 48 hrs, and that she needed to schedule an appointment, right away, to meet with loan counselor Sara Evans in Manassas, VA. Shannon even sent me a confirmation email outlining what I needed to bring to my appointment. The appointment was scheduled at AC Auto aka AIC Kia of Manassas as they were contracted with this dealer only.

All this seemed way too easy for someone who has bad credit and a repo. So I decided to start asking questions. Shannon told me that I had been approved under a special program. Shannon said not to worry that this was "Special Financing" and that bad credit and a repo didn't matter. Shannon went on to say that it was a simple matter of going in, picking out my car and signing the paperwork. Because I was already approved the process would be minimal.

At this point I'm still thinking all of this should be a huge red flag as it sounded too good to be true . I couldn't understand how anyone would lend $28, 000.00 to someone with bad credit. It didnt make sense. It was like they were "dangling a carrot" so to speak. But their come-ons posted on their web site along with their reassurance on the phone made it still sound like they were providing the type of service I needed.

So I jumped online and read the reviews about them. I found alleged FRAUD associated with these particular companies. I read about Bait & Switch tactics, telling folks they were approved and getting there and saying they were not, telling folks that they had 100% financing only to get there and find they needed money down and a co-signer, etc. After reading about all the misfortunes caused by these people, that "dangling carrot" still made me decide to go ahead and jump through the hoops and see if what I read on the internet was true. After all I still needed a car, right? There were a few good review so I said.. ok

So I made the appointment with Sara Evans. She called me to verify my information. I asked her a lot of questions too and told her what I had read about their company. If this was some sort of a scam that I didn't want to waste their time and especially didn't want my time wasted either. I explained that my drive to AIC Kia/AC Auto was a solid 3hrs through road construction and asked if there was another dealer that I could use that was closer. She said that she only worked with this dealer. I found this kind of strange too. Don't most finance companies work with a broad range of dealers?

Sara went on, telling me that indeed I had been approved as described by Shannon and that I just needed to pick out my car. She said that even if they didn't have the car I wanted on the lot, that they had a "holding lot" that would have what I wanted and if that didn't work they could get a car from a surrounding dealer to suit my needs. She went even further, to say that she was confident that I would "drive away that night" with my selection. Still "dangling the carrot". I was still skeptical But I went forward with the process.

Before leaving for my appointment I called Sarah one last time and asked her again about what I had read on the internet about their company. I got a song and dance about "how everyone is willing to post bad experiences on the web but no one seems to post good experiences, and that they service hundreds of customers a month and they all cant be bad. That I really shouldn't worry I had been pre approved, just come and get my car.I also asked again about payments and she said I could pick my payment and term. I said this sounds really strange and she said that they understand my situation and eveything would be fine. Again "dangling the carrot".

So I made the hell-a-tious drive to Manassas, Va. in 3 solid hrs of bumper to bumper traffic. We were running late so we called Sarah and she never answered her phone. We actually got a bit turned around and called again and she still didn' answer.

We arrived on time at the AIC Kia of Manassas and A C Auto. If I had any hopes of getting a car before I got there they were quickly replaced with despair when we pulled into the dealership. WHAT A DUMP!!! (I'm not sure why Kia even allows their name on the building). So we drove around the small lot to see if we could get a look at the cars that Sarah Evans said she would have waiting for us when we arrived. Guess what, there were none. They had only a few cars on the lot. Not at all what I was lead to believe.

I walked up to the front door where we encountered a couple of employees smoking cigarettes, staring us down. No greeting what so ever, just was stared at. Got into the door and entered into office that was filthy dirty. It smelled bad. The combination of the filth and the state of the employees definately gives off a poor impression. Even if I could get a loan for $28, 000.00 why would I want to sign the paperwork there. It is truly disgusting, the stereotype of a sleazy used car lot and the worst place I have ever attempted to do business.

It was clear from the state of the office this was a loan mill of sorts. At the front entrance there is a table full of tablet type computers used for gathering their info. There were tables lined up one side of the room. There was one couple next to us filling out a form. Listening to the conversations between sales man and that couple one could tell there was quite a bit of confusion as to what the they were lead to believe and what was indeed really happening.

A salesman named Jarred came up to us and had us sit down. I told Jarred that I had a scheduled appointment with Sarah Evans and only wanted to talk to her (thats what she told us to tell the salesmen) . Jarred told me that it was very busy and Chris Walberg was the only loan processor there. At this point it is now 8:00 p.m. and my appt with Sara was at 7:00 and shes a no show. He handed me a computer tablet and asked me to fill out some information. I had been told by Sarah eariler that I would not have to fill out anything else. Jarred said if you don't fill this out Chris the finance guy wont talk to you. We ask Jarred why the tablet said they were going to pull our credit. He said nothing is based on paystubs and that we would be crazy to think that would ever happen. Sara had told us they would not pull credit and pay stubs were all they wanted. Its was one lie after another. Jarred actually told us that he hears this all of the time and has to deal with irate customers frequently. I was thinking to myself, if this happens a lot, why are you here?

I heard customers just like myself asking all the same question, wondering where Sara was and wondering why they drove all the way over there. When I told Jarred that I would not fill out anything until I saw some cars or spoke with Chris, he just said fine and I got up and walked out. Jarred could have cared less.

Since then no one has called, No one has returned calls and no one has cared. I really find it odd that in an economy such as this, if they really felt that I could have purchased a $28, 000.00 vehicle from them, that I was truly pre-approved, why did they let me leave? Why don't they call me? Don't they like commission? BECAUSE IT IS A SCAM, THAT'S WHY! There job is to get as many bad credit apps as possible to find the FEW that actually work for them.

We left. We drove 3 hours back home and here we are. I want to let everyone know whats going on. I don't want to see anyone fall for this scam. I'm guessing people do all of the time or they would be out of business.