Japan's Bigmotor Hit Verbal Abuse, Predatory Sales Tactics

Consumer centers across Japan have been getting numerous complaints from people over dealings with Bigmotor Co., amid the major used car dealer's fraudulent auto insurance claims scandal, Taisuke Shimabukuro reported for Mainichi Shimbunn.

Photo Insert: The man called a Bigmotor dealership in Chiba Prefecture and explained his request in detail, to which the dealer gave a positive response.

A 30-year-old man from Chiba Prefecture recently told the Mainichi Shimbun that he was pressured to purchase a used car from Bigmotor.

"I suspect that the company has been doing improper things apart from the (false) insurance claims," he said. The man was behind the wheel during a crash around the summer of 2021.

Words

As the accident was likely to develop into a civil lawsuit over the allotment of fault, a lawyer asked him to submit the appraisal value of his car before and after the accident.

The man called a Bigmotor dealership in Chiba Prefecture and explained his request in detail, to which the dealer gave a positive response. He immediately drove to the store to get his car assessed.

When he arrived, however, a male staffer told him that he needed to buy a vehicle to have his car evaluated.

As he'd been planning to replace his car anyway, and thought he would feel bad if he just asked for an assessment, he asked for a list of used cars on offer. One vehicle that caught his eye was at a Kyushu outlet in southwest Japan.

He told the staffer, "I'd like to see the car in advance," but the worker responded, "You can't see it until after it's been delivered to you."

About an hour later, a loan screening company called his mobile, and told him that he had passed the screening and the contract procedure would move forward.

"I only asked for a preliminary screening, but the dealer moved on to the actual contract without my consent," he complained to Bigmotor customer service. That evening, he drove home only to find the same Bigmotor worker waiting for him.

The worker leaned toward his car window and unleased a stream of abusive language, including, "You've got to be kidding me!" and, "Don't underestimate me."

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic