She Thought It Was a Done Deal – Now She’s Trapped in a Financial Nightmare!

A Texas woman has been thrust into financial turmoil, stuck paying for a car she no longer owns, all because of a dealership’s abrupt shutdown.

The Bayside Mitsubishi dealership in La Porte, Texas, closed its doors without warning on December 7, throwing customers and employees into chaos. Among those affected is Autyana Hodges, who claims the dealership failed to pay off loans for her traded-in car. Now, she’s financially strapped, burdened with payments for both her new car and the old one she no longer drives.

“We’re going to be living penny to penny. We’re not going to do that,” Hodges shared with KPRC, a local NBC affiliate.

Customers Caught in the Crossfire

Autyana isn’t the only one grappling with this nightmare. Another customer, Kori St. Martin, recounted receiving a shocking call from her bank, asking for a payment on a vehicle she had traded in months ago.

“I’m like, what do you mean? My payment’s late? I traded that vehicle in,” St. Martin told the outlet. “That’s about whenever I found out that, oh what’s going on here.”

Dealership Employees Also Victimized

Employees of Bayside Mitsubishi say they, too, fell victim to the dealership’s unraveling. Several reported trading in their vehicles only to discover the loans had not been paid off. This added to mounting complaints that the company failed to file registration paperwork and issue license plates for new buyers.

The Blame Game

Kenny O’Kane, the dealership’s manager, said the owner intended to resolve the crisis and claimed the site was in the process of being sold. He placed blame for the financial woes on the previous general manager, accusing them of reckless spending and neglecting to monitor the dealership’s finances, which he revealed had dwindled to under $1,000.

O’Kane also pointed to Hurricane Beryl as a factor that worsened the situation.

A Troubled Legacy

Bayside Mitsubishi was once spotlighted by the car manufacturer in January 2022 as a rising star. The dealership’s owner, Alex Sinno, reflected on its earlier success in a social media post:

“I found La Porte Mitsubishi, and I fell in love with the quality and value of Mitsubishi vehicles. The dealership needed work, but after bringing in a new finance team and changing the name, we are finding tremendous success. The new vehicles are beautiful, and they’re flying off our lots.”

That optimism has since evaporated. Sinno is now being sued by Nissan Motor Acceptance Group, which finances cars sold at Bayside Mitsubishi, for a staggering $4.4 million. Additionally, co-owners of another dealership under his A&F Holdings, LLC portfolio, Veteran Chevrolet near Corpus Christi, have filed a separate lawsuit against him.

Customers Seeking Answers

The fallout from Bayside Mitsubishi’s closure has left many grappling with financial uncertainty. For individuals like Autyana Hodges and Kori St. Martin, the road ahead is paved with frustration and unanswered questions. As lawsuits stack up and the dealership’s future remains uncertain, the affected parties can only hope for resolution in the face of mounting bills and dwindling trust.