DEL.ICIO.USUpdated: 6:49 p.m. September 25, 2008
Bill Heard customers get no answers from state
Auto dealer’s customers report cars locked in closed shops, missing down payments
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs said its phones rang constantly Thursday with questions about Chevrolet auto seller Bill Heard Enterprises, which closed all its dealerships a day earlier.
Some customers said they had cars locked in the repair bays at one of Bill Heard’s shops. Others said they have extended warranties with the Columbus-based auto dealer. And some said they gave the company a check for a down payment on a car — but can’t trace either the money or the automobile.
Jason Getz / jgetz@ajc.com
Bill Heard closed its 14 dealerships, putting 2,700 people out of work.
LOCAL BILL HEARD LOCATIONS:
Buford
4490 South Lee Street
Buford, GA 30518
800-388-6343
Kennesaw
950 Barrett Pkwy,
Kennesaw, GA 30144
678-269-6409
Tom Jumper Chevrolet
7200 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30328
888-467-7403
Union City
4310 Jonesboro Road
Union City, GA 30291
Phone: 888-674-5224
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Bill Cloud, a spokesman for the Consumer Affairs agency who summarized the conversations, said he has no idea what to tell them.
“They would love an easy answer to ‘What are you going to do?’” he said Thursday afternoon. “But the best thing I can tell them is, ‘I don’t know.’”
Alan Ulman, a spokesman for the company, said a small staff remained at some of the dealerships “doing the things that are necessary to close those businesses.” He said customers who have questions — such as how to get a car from the repair bay — can call the local dealerships or call the company’s headquarters.
Web sites for the individual dealerships gave no instructions about the situation, but Ulman said customers can submit questions via the sites.
Bill Heard Enterprises has four dealerships in metro Atlanta and nine in six other states — Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas. The company closed its Scottsdale, Ariz., dealership on Sept. 12.
The shutdown put 2,700 people out of work. It is unclear how many of those jobs were in metro Atlanta.
Luis Priegos, who had worked at Bill Heard for six years detailing cars, said he was let go about 2 p.m. Wednesday.
“They said, ‘Everybody go.’ “
Priegos, who has a wife and four kids, asked whether he would be paid for 30 hours owed. “The boss says, ‘Maybe no pay.’ “
Jeff Lamas worked at the Buford dealership for nine months before the shutdown. The gates there were locked. A guard was stationed and only a few visitors were allowed in.
“I was lucky to even get my paycheck,” Lamas said as he drove out.
A lone serviceman at the Kennesaw location packed up his belongings, but there were no customers around and no signs notifying them about what had happened with the company.
At its Union City location Thursday morning, the gate was locked but customers with cars in for service were being allowed to retrieve them.
Transport trucks were already removing new vehicles from the lot.
The company said Wednesday that rising fuel prices, a slowdown in sales of heavy trucks and sport utility vehicles and problems in the banking sector piled up to “create a business environment in which the company simply did not have the resources needed to continue to operate.”
It also was hurt by GMAC Financial Services’ decision last month to discontinue credit for new inventory for some of Bill Heard’s dealerships. It cited concerns about financial losses at the company.
The company had not filed for bankruptcy as of late Thursday afternoon, according to an online search of public records. Ulman said he could not comment on whether the company was planning to do so.
The company has had several battles with the consumer affairs office, which has been investigating it since 2003.
Last year, the office filed a lawsuit that accused the company of engaging in a 16-year pattern of deceptive sales pitches.
When asked about the allegations, Ulman cited a statement the company had released last month.
“We have consistently stated that we have policies and procedures in place that require and enable legal, ethical and fair business practices including advertising and finance,” the statement says. “We deny the allegations, will continue to work constructively with the Office of Consumer Affairs.”
With tough times hitting all dealerships lately, one rival Chevy dealer sought to lure displaced customers.
Luis Rivera, a service adviser for Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, passed out fliers to anyone driving up to the Buford Heard dealership in a Chevrolet. The fliers had a phone number and Mapquest directions for Hendrick’s store 14 miles away.
“The customers got to go somehwere, Why can’t they come to us? We’re trying to get everybody at least in the door,” Rivera said.
— Staff writers John Hollis and Kay Powell contributed to this article.
Comments
By Just a salesperson
Sep 25, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
I was just a sales person at bill heard.
I averaged mostly 5 to 6 hundred a week.Sometimes only 100 just enough gas to go to work and maybe buy lunch once a week.I met a lot of people,helped a lot of people get a car no one ealse would sell them.I worked 12 hrs most days in 90's or below freezing 6 days and some 7 days a week.I came to work it was the only thing I had.I loved my little cube,thats where I ate lunch every day and sold cars. I loved selling cars. I loved talking to people.I loved walking the lot.I loved the people I worked with.I loved the new cars.I loved the corvettes,I loved to drive them.....now I have nonething...I'm too old and no one is going to hire me. Thank you Bill Heard and Mike Raines for letting me work...for a while.
By gerald
Sep 25, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
Lets go back to the horse and buggy. Much simpler times then !
By Mark
Sep 25, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD PLACE TO BUY A CHEVROLET OR HAVE YOUR CURRENT CHEVROLET SERVICED, DAYS CHEVROLET IN ACWORTH HAS ALWAYS TREATED THEIR CUSTOMERS IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY AND WILL ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING. FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED IN COBB COUNTY SINCE 1959.
By awm
Sep 25, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this
Stay on topic, I sure like your way of thinking, some people do not understand that people from the islands have life much easier, they are happier with simpler things, less bills, less stress. And by the way they pay cash for most things, they don't have or need credit like we do.
By Need 2 Know Basis
Sep 25, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
This is to Brian:
Are you a manager of a Bill Heard dealership? If not, then you are not the scumbag that we are talking about.
There are some honest dealerships out there. It's nothing wrong with making a profit, but you have to do it in the right way. Sorry but BH did not.
By kd
Sep 25, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
Bill Heard in Buford sold me a car that when I went to pick up after taking a day off work, did not have. Then had to fight to get my deposit back. Hardy Chev in G'ville rocks Have bought 3 cars in 4 years there
By Speechless
Sep 25, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
Despite the fact that some believe the company was deceptive, there were genuinely honest people working at Bill Heard Chevrolet that lost their jobs with lack of warning. I personally worked in the Customer Service Department for quite some time and would do anything I could to solve the problem or help the customer in any way I possible. Some people need to have respect for the people who were honestly working for a paycheck because they have no other option. They worked there only because the job was a paycheck, and with the economy the way it is now, that is all you can ask for. I am currently going to school and got criticized for working at Bill Heard, but this job has helped me get through. I find it saddening that people are stating that they are glad this happened. How would that affect you if someone declared that you deserve to lose your job if you had no part in the alleged "deceptive acts". Do honest workers "deserve" to lose their jobs? So step back and think about everyone you may be bashing, because it may come back and bit you in the *** too.
In a way, I feel that consumers need to be more informed with how to buy. If you are buying a vehicle, know what you are signing for instead of blaming the "corrupt employees" for trying to make money (like any other business in the country-especially car dealerships). If you sign for it, it's your responsibility. Don't blame someone else for your lack of knowledge in the first place.
By bri
Sep 25, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
to all of you who dont think it was the economy, i will tell you it was.i worked for the service dept of tom jumper and the pressure was on us to keep the doors open because of very slow sales that had nothing to do with screwing people over in the hey day 600-700 cars per month to selling 50-75 and banks tighting up loan criteria. one other thing to get this economy going every one is going to have to spend money.
By Need 2 Know Basis
Sep 25, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
I live where the main headquarters is at. Columbus, Georgia. I was shocked and couldn't believe how they did their employees. It doesn't make any sense of how cruel someone could be. I feel bad for the employees. I don't understand it, they knew ahead of time that they were going through financial problems. Selfishness and greed destroys the soul. I wonder if he cleaned out his mansion like his employees cleaned out their offices. It's just completely sad and ridiculous. What a damn disappointment.
By Mark Christian
Sep 25, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Rick Hendrick Chevrolet service department at 3277 Satellite Blvd. Duluth, Ga. will be happy to take of any service needs of the Bill Heard customers.
Call us at 678-957-5330
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