KANSAS CITY, Mo -- The Internet has become a powerful tool for frustrated consumers but Chad Franklin Suzuki customers are reaching out to each other beyond the blogoshpere. Chad Franklin customers have been calling for action and also posting their stories online. Now their voices are being heard more than just in a forum.
For months, Chad Franklin customers have spoken online posting their stories on the
KCTalk Forum. KCTalk administrator Frank Arena said, "Most people like to post on forums because they want anonymity." There are lines and lines of posts from customers using screen names online, but their shared frustration is driving the customers to line up their Suzuki's outside and meet the person behind the post face to face.
Customer Barbara Handy said, "I'm glad to know that there's other people out there, too, who are having the same problem. I'm not just out in space myself."
Customer Jeff Howards said, "Instead of having hundreds of people out there on their own we are able to get together here and actually become a support group and an action group to help each other share information."
More than two dozen people got together to share their stories in person. Many tell the same story of driving a car for a small payment or nothing at all, only to find themselves questioning whether what Chad Franklin offered was a deal or no deal. Howards said, "The more we work together the more visible we are. The more attention we can draw to the problem and work toward a solution."
Many customers are finding the best solution is court. Three lawsuits have been filed. Two seek class action status in Kansas and Missouri State Courts. Now, Chad Franklin is trying to get the Missouri case moved to Federal Court which has different rules than State Court. In State Court, you don't need a unanimous verdict but in Federal Court you do. It is the first of many legal maneuvers that attorneys are trying to explain to customers who are simply trying to figure out what step to take next.
Handy said, "It's still is something I struggle with. It's at the back of my head everyday. What am I going to do about this car payment? It's coming up. It's coming up. It's coming up. It's going to destroy your credit."
Chad Franklin and his representatives were invited to the meeting by KCTalk, but nobody presented themself at the meeting. But Chad Franklin has responded to the Courts. He denies most of the allegations and adds that as many as one thousand people may be part of this class.
Congressman Sam Graves has written a letter asking the U.S. Department of Justice to get involved. Graves said, "I have asked the Justice Department to provide any and all assistance requested by the Attorneys General of Missouri and Kansas to investigate if any laws have been broken. This matter should be thoroughly investigated and if any laws have been broken the guilty parties should be punished."
Investigations continue in Missouri and Kansas along with the Call for Action investigation.
