Arbitration? What do you think of this?

Question

So we bought a car last year from a local used car dealership here in town and it ended up having a bad transmission. We signed paperwork actually saying that we put $2,000 down on the vehicle, but we had only paid him $1,000 with a verbal agreement to pay off the remaining $1,000 over time so we could get a better interest rate through the bank. The loan was approved and we had already started paying the loan off.

Well when we called saying the cars transmission was acting up, the owner of the dealership (also a local police officer) told us they would do nothing for us until we finished paying them for the rest of the down payment. My husband was a bit thrown off and very hesitant of that offer and told them we'd give them half now and the last half after the car was fixed. It was agreed.

I then went to take them the first half of what was owed. When I went into the office, two of the car dealers blocked me in the back room not allowing me to leave, call my husband or 911. They then proceeded to have another employee block the driveway, so I couldn't leave, with an SUV from the lot. I demanded that the police were called so they called the owner, who is a local police officer here in town. When he arrived he told me to unload everything out of my car that he was taking it back. I had lots of heavy things in the back of my trunk and I was 4 months pregnant in a very high rick pregnancy and made him aware of that. He started threating and taunting me, I then told him I wanted another officer there immediately, so he calls his partner. When he arrived he joined in on the threats. I finally just got in my car while cleaning it out, locked myself in it and got a hold of my husband. My husband arrived quickly and upon his arrival, the owners partner quickly left the car lot.

We were NEVER served with repossession papers from this dealer, as we were current with paying our loans, but they still took my car. We have a lawyer now and I guess we're going to aribitration? Although we are very confused as to whats going on. We haven't had a chance to sit and talk with our attorney recently and ask all our questions.

Any help is much appreciated. Sorry it's so long. :)

Answer 1

Your story is a total nightmare! Arbitration is used primarily to try and get your case resolved without having to tie up the courts any more than they already are.  If your attorney can get the other side to settle your case during arbitration then it would be better all the way around including for you since it would get you the relief that you're asking for as well as keep your attorney fees down.  But what happened to you sounds criminal to me and I'm shocked that there aren't any criminal charges being filed in this case against the people, including the owner, who held you against your will.  Talk to your attorney about the possibility of filing criminal charges against the owner of this car lot, his employees and possibly his partner since it sounds like he's using his position as a police officer to terrorize his customers.