Complaint about Reed Nissan in Orlando, FL: I purchased a used 2003 Maxima on 12/17/2003 and completed the paperwork required to transfer the license plate from my trade-in. On 04/08/2004 I went to the local tag office to renew my tag (my birthday is 04/11), and found out the Maxima had never been registered in my name - it was still registered to the former owner. Also, my tag had not been transferred to the Maxima - I had been driving illegally for four months! In fact, my tag was not registered to any car at all. I was instructed by Reed Nissan's title clerk, Mary Melaro at extension 118, to drive to the dealership and exchange my tag for a temporary one while she processed the paperwork (that should have been done four months earlier). I did so on 04/08/2004. On 04/21/2004 I received a postcard from the dealership stating they had received the tag, I should come in and pick it up, and I owed a balance due of $82.18. This amount was in addition to the $125.00 which was collected at the time of purchase on 12/17/2003. Mary states the high cost is largely attributable to my being charged a $100 initial registration fee by the state (even though I was transferring a tag - I have yet to establish to my satisfaction whether she processed the paperwork correctly). Mary told me it is now my responsibility to provide proof to the tag agency that I have previously owned a car in Florida and should not have been charged the extra fee. No one has ever explained why the dealership did nothing for four months – and I doubt they ever would have if I had not brought it to their attention. I wonder how many other customers have had the same negative experience?

Regardless, and to add insult to injury, when I picked up the tag on 04/26/2004 I was given a tag which had expired on my birthday 04/11/2004. Apparently the dealer processed the paperwork on 04/09/2004, 2 days prior to my birthday, so I paid a full year’s fee for a 2 day term. I must now go to the tag office and pay for a full year's renewal, again.

The dealership is unapologetic and blames the state. I am extremely dissatisfied by the dealer's concept of customer service, and will take my future service and maintenance business to another dealer. I will also not recommend the dealership to any one shopping for a new or used car, nor will I purchase from them again. I thought you should know. I hope you care.