‘Everybody Rides Automall' accused of duping customers

APRIL: Customer says she was duped by Everybody Rides Used Automall

A local teen and his mom are claiming a used car dealership took advantage of them by selling them a car that doesn’t work.

It’s the second time in less than three months the same dealership has been accused of duping customers.

Louis Allen, 18, recently graduated from high school.

His mom, Teresa McCaa, said he’s the first of her children to graduate, so she gave him $1,000 to buy his first car.

“I thought I was buying a Buick. It was an older Buick, but it was a nice car,” said Allen.

Allen said he found the car on an app called OfferUp.

The person he was texting with told him the car was available at Everybody Rides Automall on Lem Turner Road.

“I test drove it, had cold AC, it drove fine. Once I got back to the lot and signed all my paperwork and went to put fresh gas in there, I got on the freeway, it broke down,” said Allen.

In April Action News Jax confronted the same business about a similar situation.

On Wednesday, Action News Jax tried speaking with the manager but he refused.

Instead, a man who claimed to be the mechanic spoke to us, saying they’re not responsible for what happens after the car is driven off the lot.

The mechanic, who didn’t want to give Action News Jax his name, blamed Allen for the problem with the car.

“He ran the car hot and blew a head gasket,” said the mechanic.

He did admit they tried to fix the car after Allen took it back and said the car is going to need a new engine.

The mechanic said they offered to let Allen exchange the car.

“What do you recommend people do when they buy a car off this lot?” asked reporter Lorena Inclán.

“Bring a mechanic to check the car before you buy it,” said the car lot’s mechanic.

Allen and McCaa said they just want their money back but the dealership refused to give them a refund.

“I feel like he was being taken advantage of for simple fact, you know, he’s a young man,” said McCaa.

Cox Media Group