http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091105/ap_on_bi_ge/us_cash_for_clunkers

A SINGLE dealer did more than 1,400 C4C sales!!!

on the highway “THE MERC” got a consistent 26 MPG and was like a sofa on wheels; but at 19+ years old with a bad transmission it was time to say adieu. The C4C program was indeed very timely.

Sam,

I went from a Crown Victoria to a Pontiac G5 2-door (it’s a re-badged Chevy Cobalt)…so I know what you are saying!

I must be driving too much. I think we got our cars about the same time, and I already have 4200 miles!

2009 Ford Focus S w/672 miles

time to do the math…sure is tempting

“the agency has *crossed the finish line* for paying back eligible and complete dealer submissions…”

But the story is titled “CASH FOR CLUNKERS PAYOUT ***NEARLY*** COMPLETE”.

So has everyone been paid or not???

With final dealer payments being processed under the enormously successful CARS program, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that the agency has crossed the finish line for paying back eligible and complete dealer submissions.

“This is the final curtain call for a program that took the entire nation by storm and succeeded beyond expectations,” said Secretary LaHood. “There can be no doubt that this program drummed up more business, for more people, in more places, at a time when our economy needed help the most.”

With the $3 billion provided by Congress to run the CARS program, consumers turned in gas guzzlers and bought nearly 700,000 more fuel efficient vehicles in fewer than 30 days. In August alone, retail sales rose by 2.7 percent, due in large part to a notable 10.6 percent boost in sales by auto dealers.

Ford and General Motors recently announced production increases for both the third and fourth quarters as a result of the demand generated by the program. Honda also said it will be increasing production at its U.S. plants in East Liberty and Marysville, Ohio and in Lincoln, Alabama.

In addition, the program provides good news for the environment, a 60 percent improvement in fuel economy between the trade-in and new cars purchased.

“When the federal government and the private sector team up to take bold action, the American public reaps the rewards,” said Secretary LaHood. “Working together, we have delivered on our promise to improve the environment, create jobs and get this struggling economy back on its feet, not to mention the millions of dollars the CARS program generated in local and state sales tax revenue to help cash-strapped states.”

To date, 98 percent of CARS program rebates totaling $2,799,077,000 have been approved for payment under the program. All applications for rebates have been reviewed at least once, and all eligible and complete applications have been approved for payment. The agency will continue to work directly with dealers to help them correct and complete the remaining two percent of submitted applications.

The government reached this milestone in payment of valid submissions just 90 days after the law creating this program was enacted, 60 days after issuing its rule setting the requirements for the program and 30 days after closing the program due to exhaustion of funds.

Requested Voucher Dollar Amount by State:

State Amount Requested
Paid or Ready for Payment
Percentage

Alaska
$4,846,000
$4,738,500
98%

Alabama
$30,805,000
$30,087,000
98%

Arkansas
$23,092,000
$22,491,500
97%

Arizona
$38,852,500
$38,001,000
98%

California
$323,450,500
$315,726,500
98%

Colorado
$37,082,500
$36,099,500
97%

Connecticut
$38,814,000
$38,283,500
99%

District of Columbia
$67,500
$67,500
100%

Delaware
$11,197,500
$10,951,000
98%

Florida
$144,668,000
$141,561,500
98%

Georgia
$69,673,500
$67,534,000
97%

Guam
$654,500
$616,000
94%

Hawaii
$7,224,500
$7,180,000
99%

Iowa
$37,395,500
$37,040,000
99%

Idaho
$11,550,000
$11,402,500
99%

Illinois
$142,413,500
$139,028,000
98%

Indiana
$65,383,000
$64,399,000
98%

Kansas
$31,239,500
$30,753,000
98%

Kentucky
$37,477,000
$36,988,500
99%

Louisiana
$33,059,500
$32,270,500
98%

Massachusetts
$64,248,000
$62,678,000
98%

Maryland
$74,453,000
$73,392,500
99%

Maine
$16,513,000
$16,212,500
98%

Michigan
$130,695,000
$129,370,500
99%

Minnesota
$72,538,000
$72,108,500
99%

Missouri
$60,848,500
$60,015,500
99%

Mississippi
$12,301,000
$11,920,000
97%

Montana
$6,321,000
$6,075,000
96%

North Carolina
$77,940,000
$76,119,500
98%

North Dakota
$8,881,000
$8,767,000
99%

Nebraska
$21,584,500
$21,135,000
98%

New Hampshire
$22,870,500
$22,478,500
98%

New Jersey
$102,398,500
$99,354,000
97%

New Mexico
$13,755,500
$13,206,500
96%

Nevada
$14,292,500
$13,865,500
97%

New York
$154,881,000
$152,708,500
99%

Ohio
$135,172,500
$133,182,500
99%

Oklahoma
$37,011,000
$36,081,000
97%

Oregon
$36,774,000
$36,161,500
98%

Pennsylvania
138,174,000
136,099,500
98%

Puerto Rico
$2,179,500
$1,801,500
83%

Rhode Island
$10,617,500
$9,974,500
94%

South Carolina
$36,912,000
$36,015,500
98%

South Dakota
$10,288,000
$10,176,500
99%

Tennessee
$50,454,500
$49,587,000
98%

Texas
$181,663,500
$176,559,500
97%

Utah
$23,803,500
$23,339,500
98%

Virginia
$97,852,500
$96,155,500
98%

Virgin Islands
$1,546,500
$1,490,500
96%

Vermont
$9,788,500
$9,534,500
97%

Washington
$55,431,000
$54,216,000
98%

Wisconsin
$69,510,000
$68,537,000
99%

West Virginia
$13,335,500
$13,099,000
98%

Wyoming
$2,490,000
$2,399,000
96%

Other Territories
$41,000
$41,000
100%

TOTAL
$2,856,512,000
$2,799,077,000
98%

Whew…great

http://freep.com/article/20090923/BUSINESS01/90923004/1318/Exotic-clunkers-also-got-the-crunch-under-program

I bet there are many similar stories///I hope each and every one of the “cheaters” get caught

Couple shocked to find their ‘clunker’ is for sale
by Teri Sforza, OC Register staff writer

The sapphire blue 2001 Nissan X-Terra was still in pretty fine shape – but, getting only 17 miles or so a gallon, it had “Cash for Clunkers“ written all over it.

So in August, Dan Hoang and girlfriend Tara Bui gathered up all the paperwork required by “Cash for Clunkers” – registration, title, proof of insurance – and went to Volkswagen of Garden Grove to ditch the gas guzzler and replace it with a more environmentally friendly VW Jetta.

They wanted the clean diesel Jetta – which would have qualified for the maximum $4,500 credit – but alas, the dealer didn’t have any. So they went with the regular model, got a $3,500 credit, and drove away content in the knowledge that the old Nissan would be destroyed, and that they had done their little part to make the planet a better place.

So imagine Hoang and Bui’s surprise when they breezed by the dealership days later, and saw its flashing sign advertising a pre-owned 2001 X-Terra for sale. Current price: $5,995.

Noooooooo. Could it be?

Hoang and Bui did some investigating, and yes, indeed, it was the very same sapphire blue 2001 Nissan X-Terra they had owned and thought was headed for the scrap heap.

“I had come to the dealership specifically because of the cash for clunkers program, but to see that the dealership trying to sell my old car strikes me as some sort of violation of an agreement,” Hoang wrote in a complaint last week to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“I had brought in my car registration, the car title, and 1 year of auto insurance proof for the clunker, fulfilling my end of the cash for clunkers, the other was for the dealer to sell me a new car and to destroy my old one. One of the major reasons for me to bring the Xterra to the car dealer was due to the program’s requirement that all clunkers were to be destroyed…. If I had known that the dealership was using the car as a trade-in, then I would not have brought the car in, but simply kept the car for another year or two.”

We at The Watchdog contacted VW of Garden Grove to clear this up. There seems to have been a misunderstanding.

“They came in for the cash for clunkers, but we went out and looked at the car and decided it’s a pretty clean car, so we took the car on a trade-in,” said Ken O’Donnell of VW of Garden Grove. “We decided we’re going to give them the $3,500 they would have gotten from the clunker program as the trade-in. We’re not asking the government for any reimbursement.”

Indeed, the feds confirm that the dealership did not seek money for the Nissan under the cash-for-clunkers program. Hoang’s complaint was forwarded to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Enforcement and Justice Services Division, which told him this by email:

“I certainly appreciate your feelings with respect to the transaction you had purchasing your new car. Because the deal was not submitted to the CARS program for a rebate, we have no jurisdiction. However, you have the option of referring the issue to Attorney General’s office in California, or local authorities for review.”

Hoang and Bui are contemplating doing just that, but don’t expect much to come of it. “I suspect many people are being deceived,” said Bui.

It’s unclear just how often this has happened – but we know of at least one other case of a Ford Explorer heading to a dealership as a clunker, and turning into a trade-in because of incomplete paperwork.

We’ve got calls in to a couple of consumer expert types about the ethics of all this, and will update this when we hear back.

Perhaps the people who wind up buying that X-Terra – and the Explorer – will be upgrading from their semis?

What, if anything have you done in your own self-interest?

Can you tell me what dept you contacted at your state’s DMV?
We don’t seem to have an investigator at our state’s DMV
(I assume you mean “department of motor vehicles”).

I’m in IL, and the website doesn’t show that type of department, or anything similar (I’m looking for like a “fraud reporting”).

GO GET ‘EM

This action was soooooooooooooo way out of line by the dealer. they should pay you for your time and anguish and not merely return the car.

“Now we’re down to the point where we’ll actually get on the phone with these dealers and say, ‘This is missing. Can you provide it? ‘”

“Did this process go as smoothly as we might have wished? No,” LaHood said. “We’re going to give the benefit of the doubt to everyone of these applications. We want to pay these people.”

Tell your dealer to resubmit if he says you were rejected for being late on registration.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090916/AUTO01/909160393/1025/POLITICS03/-Cash-for-clunkers–pays-out-$2.38B–still-reviewing-applications

but then again logic has been amiss throughout the entire C4C program, has it not?

The LAW clearly says NOT TAXABLE for the buyer.

ask to see the contract w/ scrapper…mine said we don’t have a contract…..odd, not to have records…go from there

be pleasant but persistent

I still don’t think I’m approved but my Toyota dealer gave me my title docs last week (37 days after delivery).

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government has approved $500 million in reimbursements to car dealers for sales under the Cash for Clunkers program and dealers should be paid by late September, officials said Thursday.

Auto dealers have complained that the Obama administration has been slow to pay them for the car purchase incentives of up to $4,500. The rebates led to 690,114 new sales at a taxpayer cost of $2.88 billion.

A Transportation official said 120,000 submissions from dealers, or about 17 percent, have been approved under the program, which ended on Aug. 24. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was not authorized to speak publicly about the data before a congressional briefing.

All eligible and completed dealer submissions should be fully paid by Sept. 30, the official said. The official said the government is ramping up staff and 5,000 workers will be reviewing paperwork by the end of next week. About 3,000 government and private sector workers are currently working on the project.

The official said the department expects to be approving $100 million per day by the end of next week.

The program, which provided incentives of $3,500 or $4,500 for consumers to trade in a gas-guzzler for a new, more fuel-efficient car or truck, boosted car sales during the summer. U.S. auto sales rose to 1.3 million vehicles in August, a 30 percent increase from July and the first monthly year-over-year gain since October 2007.

Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Hyundai Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. posted strong sales.

Auto dealers have said the delays have squeezed their businesses, leaving them on a short-term hook for dozens of deals. AutoNation Inc., the nation’s largest dealership chain, said Wednesday it was owed more than $54 million from clunker sales and expected to get paid in 30 to 60 days.

Bailey Wood, a spokesman for the National Automobile Dealers Association, said that “while dealers are still floating billions of dollars related to this program on top of their dealerships, we see the new numbers as a step in the right direction.” He said the dealership group was encouraged by the Sept. 30 deadline

Great to get that good news! Please share the specific details; what exactly did she do to get the car back, and did she sign any waivers or pay any more money? If she engaged an attorney, and/or an advocacy group, which ones?

I’m reposting both Anne Roberts original post and ddelgado’s below:

Anne Roberts says:
August 25, 2009 at 10:28 pm
PLEASE HELP NOW!!!
THE DEALER STOLE OUR NEW CAR
TWO MONTHS AGO, MY LIFE PARTNER WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD TERMINAL CANCER AND IN 6 TO 9 MONTHS THE PAIN WOULD BE EXCRUCIATING.
He decided he would like to take his life savings and go on a trip to visit and say farewell to family and special friends.
We planned to look at used cars when we heard of the CASH for CLUNKERS program. MICHAEL HOHL’S IN CARSON CITY, NV had a car we liked. We were told to return on Friday the 24th when they would have all the gov’t guidelines and paperwork to qualify our vehicle. We did that, brought all the papers required, MICHAEL HOHL checked our vehicle out and after checking against his papers, said they’d accept it. We purchased the car we chose, and PAID THE ENTIRE BALANCE IN CASH !!!
We left for home in our new car to pack up for our trip. My brother in MICHIGAN
died the next day so I flew to MI for his funeral. When I returned we finished packing and left on our trip. Half-way through our trip we learned that the dealership had not sent the papers necessary for registering the car, so we headed back home as the tags were only good until 8-22-2009.
On arrival home on 8-17-2009 we found several messages and threats from MICHAEL HOHL’S . They wanted the car back, as they had discovered that the clunker didn’t qualify so we owed them $4500 or they would have the car repossessed !!!
I called them next day and challenged their right to recission.
On August 20 they sent Zane Investigations of Reno to our
home and they took our car from our driveway .
Anne Roberts

d delgado says:
August 24, 2009 at 11:54 am
My mom bought a car on the first day of the program. After waiting to be told her trade in would qualify, she paid cash for the new car. CASH, not a check, real CASH. She received a bill of sale showing the balance $0 for the new car. Almost a month later, someone came to her home, loaded it and took it away. They say they realized her trade in didn’t qualify. How can they take her car when she has the bill of sale showing paid in full?

I told the officer: “I’m going to warn you now that these tags may still be registered to my old car.” And when he ran them, they did come back registered to my clunker! But he didn’t seem concerned at all about it. He had no problem believing me when I told him that the car I was driving was new and that they hadn’t run the paperwork yet. He was OK with that, but I still got a ticket for the illegal turn.

I hope that makes sense.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The government says it has approved $500 million in reimbursements to auto dealers for car sales under the Cash for Clunkers program.

A Transportation official says more than 15 percent of the submissions from dealers have been approved. The car rebate program ended on Aug. 24 and dealers have complained that the government has been slow to reimburse them for the incentives of up to $4,500 per vehicle. The official said that all eligible and completed dealer submissions should be fully paid by Sept. 30.

The car rebates led to 690,114 new sales at a taxpayer cost of $2.88 billion. The government is ramping up staff and 5,000 workers will be reviewing paperwork by the end of next week.”

Source: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090903/D9AFU4LG2.html

*DOT source says 17% of deals have been approved (120K)
*Will be 5,000 reviewers by the end of the week
*Hope to be approving $100M per day by the end of next week
*Hope all payments will be made by the end of September

Small consolation for those of us waiting over a month (now 37 days for me).

so, what plates were put on your vehicle? you didn’t notice the absence of temp. registration papers???

Yes, I got the similar “you’re so lucky” crap when I questioned the scrap value after the fact. “I’sn’t $4500 enough?” Luckily, I had kept ALL email communication and countered that “one has nothing to do with the other”, and asked him if his dealership had a spare 15K for the fine. I was accused of just trying to bash the dealership when they had been “so nice to me” …a few days later I received a check

Hopefully Mr. Pasch (the site owner here) will post it somewhere so ya’ll can read what kinda BS dealers try and talk about.

The jist is that he never answers any questions and even tells ME the consumer I should be LUCKY i got the cash for clunker deal.
Don’t need incompetent “managers” to tell me what I deserve and don’t deserve because I’m a smarter shopper than the average.

For those that read my post a few pages back…if you got your new car, MAKE SURE your dealership isn’t holding back registering or assingning a tag for your new vehicle. Mine conveniently forgot to tell us. Otherwise, you’ll be considered as driving an illegal vehicle.