KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffLocal man buys car, but it won't drive off the lot

Local man buys car, but it won't drive off the lot

By CJ Cassidy - bio | email

SIKESTON, MO (KFVS) - A local man worries he got a lemon when he bought a car.

Justin Rapert, 26, says he bought the car from a title company in Sikeston after they promised him they would return his money if there was a problem.

Turns out, the car wouldn't start after money exchanged hands, and then Rapert says he was told all sales were final.

Now, he says he feels like he's been taken for a ride.

"How stupid am I? That's my thoughts. How stupid am I?" Rappert asked. "You can't trust people no more."

He adds he could kick himself for not getting his car checked out, before paying out $950 dollars for it.

"I thought it would get good gas mileage. It's a 2000 model, 2000 model Escort, I thought it would be nice."

He says employees with Title Cash of Missouri, in Sikeston, told him the car would not run without a battery, but then when he put a battery in it, it still did not start up.

"After three hours of messing with it, I finally went back in, and said 'I just bought this car.  You all know this. You all promised and promised me my money back. You all ain't gonna give it to me,'" Rapert said. "They said 'Nope all sales are final!'"

At last check the car was still sitting in the title company's lot because Rapert was not able to drive it away.

Employees with the title company refused to talk to Heartland News, but a Bill of Sale shows the car was sold "As Is."

"They said that after I went back in, they said all sales are final and it's sold as is."

So what can you do in a case like this?

"In Missouri the lemon laws don't cover used cars, they only cover new cars," said attorney Shawn McLain.

He adds that Rapert may have a case under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.

"Clearly there has been a mis-representation of fact, if this customer was told the car worked minus a battery; he put a battery in still doesn't work, there is absolutely something wrong with that situation," McLain said.

McLain also points out it would be up to Rapert to prove he bought a vehicle that did not live up to the standards he expected.

Rapert says he does not plan on backing down.

"The only reason I took her word for it was because I bought two other cars from her and they worked pretty good," he said.

McLain also says Rapert should probably get in touch with an attorney to decide what to do next.

He suggests you always get anything in writing, anytime you are dealing with a seller, and also says you should probably get an independent inspection done before you buy any car.

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