70 Deals Under Review - Check out my experience.

[vicero]

So we have been scanning and submitting all these deal, we have a process here. We have sent over 70 deals to CARS.GOV and they are all "under review." I did send one early on without attachments, and it got rejected at 12 midnight.

So Ive been still sitting here, and we got more to send in... the new stack is pilling up. Motivation isnt really there since I havent received any payments. But I will keep sending them in to get in line for payment.

I have had some of these deals in que for a week now, We started on monday\tuesday. Now its Friday. When I call into NHTSA, they are rude and give me snappy answers that lead to nowhere. One girl on the phone told me that she heard of a dealer that has 30k outstanding, We got 315k outstanding........and its growing. We are basically giving Obama a loan on these deals.

She said well it may take 10 days... I said... it says 10days to receive payment... not to get approved. She was like "Ohhh." Its almost like they are learning the rules and their jobs as they go, like on-the-job training.

She then gave me a email to .... "9amc-nhtsa-cars-ap-suppliers@faa.gov".. Which I had her read to me three times, of course that email bounced, she assured me that it would answer my questions and that she hasnt had ANY Callbacks after that...

Well lemme tell you, I am currently on hold, been on hold for 30 minutes, I can see why she hasnt had any callbacks.

So far we are still optimistic and hopeful, but it makes anyone wonder...

[lsx only]

im so glad we decided not to do it,hope u big boys are having fun now

[CL Pgh]

Vicero – Welcome aboard! #38 for me at this point… 7 more to load and I’m officially Out Of Inventory (CARS units). All deals still “Under Review”! Here’s a copy of an NADA email I got this morning. A lot of “fluff” to me but it does contain the email addy your looking for… not sure if you’ll get anywhere as all these people were doing something else 30days ago. Good luck!!! Post us back any good news/hints you may find. :thumbsup:

COPIED:

Cash for Clunkers Update and Tips (Updated August 7)

A total of 219,000 CARS applications have been received by NHTSA, which constitutes a total of $923 million in claims. Of that number, approximately 14,000 applications are ready for payment, and 1,600 have been paid. An estimated 189,000 applications are currently under review with another 14,000 in “saved” status.

Below are some useful tips and updates from NHTSA:

Registration Problems – Nearly two weeks after dealer registration began, some dealers still aren’t registered. Dealers who have technical problems related to registration (i.e. need to update banking accounts, reset registration passwords) should contact the following email address: 9-amc-nhtsa-cars-ap-supplier@faa.gov and state their problems. This email address should not be used for other concerns. (funny she gave you this email addy)

Upload Times/Hotline Wait Times – Many dealers have seen faster submission times and hotline wait times reduced due to expanded bandwidth and additional staff added by NHTSA. While computer wait times have become tolerable, getting through on the Hotline is still unsatisfactory. NADA will continue to press NHTSA to improve Hotline wait times and simplify the clunker application process.

File Attachments – A large number of applications continue to be rejected due to the absence of attachments or the submission of attachments consisting of poor quality documents that are illegible. Dealers should be aware that attachments do not need to be in color and scanners should be set for no more than 200-300 dpi resolution. NHTSA recommends one file attachment correctly ordered per its checklist, a reasonable file size (under 10 MB), with the documents right side up.

Revising an Application after Submission – Many dealers want the option to revise an application after submission. Currently, a dealer who knows they have submitted an incorrect application has to wait for a rejection. NADA has asked NHTSA to consider adding a “cancel” button so dealers can amend and resubmit correct applications. NHTSA is actively looking into this request.

Program Funding – With yesterday’s Senate approval of an additional $2 billion into the CARS program, dealers should be confident that transactions they have submitted or are ready to submit will be funded. To avoid future uncertainty and to ensure all dealers are reimbursed, NADA will soon begin discussions with NHTSA on an orderly and fair wind-down to this program.

Saved Applications – Currently, applications can be saved with no time limit. This is causing some customers and vehicles to be “shut out” of the system should they decide not to conclude their initial transaction. (The law only permits one “clunker” transaction per person.) NHTSA is considering putting a time limit on saved applications to prevent vehicles and customers from being locked out of the system. NADA will advise dealers when and if this change is made.

Rejected Codes – NHTSA is revising the list of rejected codes and expects to issue a new list early next week.

Payment – Dealers should expect payment from NHTSA 1-3 days after receiving approval of the application.

[vicero]

CL_PGH, Thanks for that update, that makes me feel a little better.

Well here is a update to our situation... I called up NHTSA Hotline, which I have found to be a total call center. It is not the real place, and they dont have any real good answers... When you ask a good question, they always transfer you to space... or to a NHTSA number that wont answer.. Wish I could to that everytime a heater called the dealership, that would be funny.

Its like you owe me 315,000 dollars... where is that... they say... great question, let me transfer you...........

I got some new numbers to call and Im going to try them monday. But its good to hear where they are in the transaction process.

Still waiting...

[XDCX]

vicero - Welcome to the forum, it's always great to have another new member. :wave:

I've heard about a number of dealers who are concerned about their growing CARS receivables. As your case illustrates, it doesn't take long before a dealer has $300K+ tied up. Is there a point where you're going to stop doing CARS deals if your receivables keep increasing?

To the extent that NHTSA has made improvements to the Claim Entry process, I'm hoping that the approval and payment process will improve too.

On a final note, how did you find the forum?

Most of the dealers here are Chrysler or GM dealers who are just about out of eligible CARS inventory. It's great to be able to hear from a Honda dealer and learn from your experiences. :)

[dafuzz1956]

THE WORST 2 WORDS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW ARE "UNDER REVIEW"

I am so tired of no change in the status of our deals, customers want there cars and we are not delivering until we get the approval. If I get rejects then there is something to do. The gov't must not realize that good car people can't sit around and wait with thumbs up our butts. It may be O K in DC but not out here in the real world. :irritated:

[vicero]

XDCX... Thanks for the welcome....

Yeah, I know of dealers with 250+ of these deals in pending status... We are approaching the 100 mark.

We will not stop rolling these deals. I am getting some response from NHTSA offically, but it isnt definate. We will keep going... Alot of dealers have stopped.... Some have taken 20 deals, and sat on them. Many dealers didnt have the inventory and now are doing MSRP or walk. They could probably handle writing off a NHTSA rejection loss at full sticker.

I have even heard of highline dealers just allowing 4500 or 3500 and just not submitting the deal, just rolling the car and wholesale the trade, sounds kind of lazy to me.

We have seen a boost in our leads and our phone calls. At most times I cant even find one of my salespeople available.

Im also noticing as the program is winding into the later phases, people are getting more desperate to take advantage of the program and they are trying to slide in with weirder and weirder ideas of what they consider a clunker. We wont take any chances with what is consider eligble, anything that could spark a reject, we wont take. All the stars need to be aligned for a deal to goto the next steps.

[XDCX]

Im also noticing as the program is winding into the later phases, people are getting more desperate to take advantage of the program and they are trying to slide in with weirder and weirder ideas of what they consider a clunker.

That echos what I've been hearing too.

While it's been widely reported that the first $1 Billion has already been spent I think it will take awhile to spend the remaining $2 Billion. It will be interesting to see what Congress does if the CARS program still has funding when the program is set to end on 11/01/09.

[XDCX]

I am so tired of no change in the status of our deals, customers want there cars and we are not delivering until we get the approval.

Uncle Sam's making up the rules to the CARS program as we go along and I'm afraid you cannot withhold delivery pending payment. :censored:

Here's the link to the story in Automotive News - click here (http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090812/ANA05/908129958/1078&AssignSessionID=173326373452201)

Oh, in case you were thinking about having the customer sign a contingency agreement, NHTSA doesn't want you to do that either.

Welcome to Government Motors. :mad:

[vicero]

Update

110 In the Clunker System
0 Approvals
7 Rejections (None Valid Rejections)

[XDCX]

Update

110 In the Clunker System
0 Approvals
7 Rejections (None Valid Rejections)

Wow, that's insane. :mad:

The worse part is your experience is not unique. Thousands of dealers are having the same problem.

If the NADA actually functioned on behalf of their member's interests they'd be demanding that NHTSA front the CARS payments subject to chargeback

[mopar4life]

15 under review (2-3wks)
3 rejected
all 3 rejected were not valid rejections
0 paid