Ga. man left stranded after he says dealer’s GPS device prevented his car from starting

Starter interrupt devices are used by dealerships to guarantee payments for auto loans. CBS46 Better Call Harry Investigation found Georgia doesn’t regulate this like other states.
STORY: bit.ly/3JC8d86
SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you don't miss any videos:
/ cbs46atlanta
Connecting Atlanta and Getting Results - one story at a time! Check out www.cbs46.com/
FOLLOW US for more!
Like CBS46 News on Facebook: bit.ly/3FilQrq
Follow CBS46 News on Twitter: bit.ly/3mrMPrJ
Follow CBS46 News Instagram: bit.ly/2YqyDr1
Follow CBS46 News Tik Tok: bit.ly/3FfXEpF

[@MrProwlr1]

They wouldn’t pay till it hit the news 🤬. Shame on those people. I sure won’t buy there

[@pbrstreetgang73]

I hope this man contacts the state attorney general. This should be criminal if the man paid off his car

[@TheRobWay1]

Great report ! Those devices should be disclosed both verbally and in writing.

[@MNDashcam]

Carhop installs these. I'm a tow truck driver. Iv towed cars for this exact reason. Carhop sucks for this! Shut down a guy's car over $30 behind. I called them and bitched them out and made them turn his car back on. Didn't charge him anything and dropped his car back down.

[@user-kd6wq5fp7m]

They should face prosecution for this

[@CanadianSmoke]

Profit is far more important than integrity. It takes a television reporter to make things right... how disappointing.

[@amzarnacht6710]

As a roadside service tech I run into this

[@MegTelevised]

People can’t never do the right thing without someone watching over them

[@willywill2064]

US Auto is off of my list...........thank you.

[@farouk7336]

As a Georgia native and Atlanta resident I can tell you the state of Georgia has some of the worst laws in the Country for protecting consumers when purchasing used vehicles. In the state of Georgia it is truly buyer beware. You don’t have much consumer protection when purchasing used vehicles in the state of Georgia. There is a used car lot every mile or two in the City. Used car dealers know all they have to do is put the car on the lot, once you drive away in it the problems are now yours. In GA Buyer beware is what my attorney once told me.

[@tbrowwnn]

Georgia needs to get it together. They have the worst laws when it comes to protecting the consumers. Ridiculous

[@kaniala5]

I had a similar experience in California. A truck was in our shop for the same thing. It was a fleet vehicle a client bought for his maintenance crew. They took lunch, and when they got in the truck it wouldn't start.

[@bamagrl26]

That's why when I buy a car, I ask if there is some sort of tracking device on the car. I purchased a 2011 Lexus IS250, and luckily, it was removed prior to purchasing the vehicle. Because I had purchased a vehicle from Carmax in 2011, I had a personal mechanic who checked it out before I purchased it, and he removed it shortly after I bought it. Carmax left it on saying that it was disabled since I paid cash, a bunch of BS.

[@bwortham565]

I know a friend who was stranded who had to spend the night in her car overnight because that device was turned on and couldn't start her car which was very dangerous. I would never buy a car from a car dealership that does that you never know the circumstances they just want that money they don't care about you.

[@isaac198428]

Newer cars now have over the air updates and some features can be activated by a dealership. Talk about being connected and tracked. Turns out, even when you're doing everything right you can still get screwed.

[@MrProwlr1]

I hate car dealerships. They are all ripoffs, I’m glad I’m at a point where I can buy from an individual and not a rip lot.

[@hellcatredeye-g6582]

I’m a mechanic here in Atlanta I have a whole box of them …. Anytime my customers purchase cars I always suggest for them to let me remove them to prevent this from happening .they don’t turn off when the car is running they just don’t let your car start back up. It’s just cheaper for the car dealer to leave it in the vehicle than it is to remove it

[@garygerard4290]

'a change in direction:

[@GeorgiaWhisper]

US Aito Sales has done this to many people.

[@vanwrinkle-01]

My neighbour had one of those in his pickup. Dealer never took it out when the neighbour bought (and paid cash) for the truck. It shut the truck down about 400 miles from home during a snow storm. He had to have the truck towed home and then the dealer wanted to charge him for removing the unit. The judge awarded him $1000 over and above his costs. There are laws here in Canada as well and the dealer was so crooked that when he dies they'll have to screw him into the ground. That's also why I never buy a used car from a dealership. Got hosed once and said never again. I've always had good luck buying cars privately.