Tag Archives: 2012

Outrageous Craigslist Car Ad Becomes Internet Sensation

What does it take to make a $700 1995 Pontiac Grand Am into one of the most wanted cars on the internet? Simply make the greatest Craigslist ad ever.

On Wednesday, Jalopnik posted what they claimed was “the best Craigslist car ad ever.” The ad, posted by Joe Strachila, was for a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am GT, a fairly run-of-the-mill used car. The ad, created by Joe’s lifelong friend Kyle Miller, was anything but ordinary.

I thought I had seen just about everything on the internet until I saw the ad’s headline, “1995 Pontiac Grand Am GT – AKA – JESUS TAP-DANCING CHRIST.” The splashy bright-yellow and blue ad claims, “Never in your life has a car made you so appealing to the opposite sex…EVERY PREVIOUS OWNER HAS HAD A BEARD. This was the car that broke Pontiac. When it came off the production line, each person in the company had a collective aneurysm from the visual masterpiece with which they had blessed humanity, and gave up entirely.”

Of course, the question I had was that if the car was so amazing, why was the owner selling it? The answer was that he wasn’t man enough to handle it. “I tried to be,” he laments.” “I grew my beard to unreasonable lengths, trimmed my fingernails with belt sander, ate nothing but lumber for 6 straight days and knocked a polar bear unconscious. The car chuckled at my failed attempt at manliness, and became so bloated with testosterone that it literally blew a head gasket. Oh right, you’re definitely going to have to fix that…”

I seriously doubt that any car, much less a car with a blown head gasket, could live up to the hype of this Craigslist ad. Still, I have to give the seller credit for creativity. He took a $700 1995 Pontiac Grand Am and turned it into an internet sensation, and now, he is flooded with offers for the car. Supposedly someone even offered $10,000 for the honor of owning “Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ.”

Only one person can get Joe’s 1995 Pontiac Grand Am, but if you’re looking for a car that will blow your mind even if you don’t have mind-blowing credit, Approved Loan Store can help! Fill out an auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest in auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

Auto Loan Approval-By-Phone: Why Approved Loan Store Doesn’t Do It

At Approved Loan Store, we get asked all the time why we can’t give car loan approvals over the phone and why our customers need to bring their driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of income, and other identification to their appointment. Yesterday, there was a perfect real-life example in Dedham, Massachusetts, and we would like to share it with our readers so they understand why approvals-by-phone simply don’t happen.

Arthur Roberts wanted to get a new car. His previous car had been repossessed, and he was looking to get a car loan. Rather than take less-than-favorable rates or a cheaper car, Roberts forged documents from Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office and a credit bureau claiming that he had been the victim of identity theft. As a result, he got approval for a $22,000 car loan.

It wasn’t long until the law caught up with Roberts. He was indicted last March, and yesterday, he pleaded guilty to one count of larceny by false pretenses and three counts of common law uttering. He was sentenced to two years in jail, but due to medical reasons, he was put on three-year probation. The conditions of his probation are that he has to report any purchases made over $3,000, provide his quarterly credit reports to his probation officer, and inform his probation officer if he applies for credit.

This is why approvals-by-phone do not happen. There is too much of a risk that criminals will submit other people’s personal information, claim that they earn a higher income than they really do, and commit fraud just to get a car. At Approved Loan Store, we set up appointments for our customers to meet with a Special Finance Representative so that we can verify all of your personal information. We do not and nor will we ever stand for illegal activities, and the best way we can prevent that is by insisting on approvals in-person and with the proper documentation.

Are you having trouble getting approved for a car loan? Approved Loan Store can help! Fill out our auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest news and consumer education by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

Image: Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Approved Loan Store: Car Loan – Meeting with Your Special Finance Representative

At Approved Loan Store, we take the hassle out of car buying. We make the process easy, even if you have challenged credit. Still, we want our customers to understand our process and why we are the best way to get into a new or used car quickly!

The first step is filling out our convenient and secure online auto loan application here. Once you fill it out, you will hear back from one of our friendly Approved Loan Store representatives within 24 to 48 hours. They will verify the information on your application and let you know if you are picked for our loan program. If you are chosen, you will be scheduled to meet with an Approved Loan Store Special Finance Representative to look at vehicles and discuss your financing options.

Now, we get more questions about the meeting with a Special Finance Representative than any other part of the process, so we wanted to answer some of the more frequently asked questions here.

1. What do I need to bring with me to the appointment?

Bring your driver’s license, Social Security Card, a proof of residence, and proof of your income. Proof of residence can be a utility bill or bank statement that has your current address on it. For proof of income, bring two recent pay stubs or a letter from your employer stating how much you make and whether you are paid weekly or bi-weekly.

2. Do I need to buy a car if I set up an appointment?

Absolutely not! Approved Loan Store will work very hard to put together the best deal for you, but you are not obligated to purchase a vehicle if you meet with a Special Finance Representative.

3. Approved Loan Store set me up with Special Finance Representative located at a Kia/Chrysler/Mazda dealership, but I want a different brand of car. What do I do?

No worries! Your Special Finance Representative might be located at one dealership, but they can pull cars from any of Approved Loan Store’s certified locations. You are not limited by brand make or model. Tell your Special Finance Representative what car you are looking for, and they will do their best to get you that car! Remember, any make, any model!

4. Why do I need to set up an appointment?

Our Special Finance Representatives are busy folks, and they meet with lots of people like you on a daily basis. If we didn’t schedule appointments, they wouldn’t be able to work with you one-on-one and give you personal attention.

5. What if I don’t get a car?

We work hard to get our customers into a car, but in the rare scenario that we can’t get you the car you want at the financing you want, we offer complimentary gifts just for making it to your appointment. Ask your Special Finance Representative for details.

6. Why do I have to meet with a Special Finance Representative? Can’t I get approved over the phone?

Without seeing proper documentation and doing a credit check, it is impossible to get approved for a car loan. Anyone that tells you that you are approved for a car loan over the phone is not being honest. Besides that, your financing depends on your credit score, what car you want to get, and other factors that need to be discussed in person.

7. Is there anything else I need to bring to my appointment?

This appointment is as much for you as it is for us, and you will get out of it what you put into it. With Approved Loan Store, you will get great customer service, financing options, and a huge inventory of vehicles, but you will get even more out of it if you come prepared and know the right questions to ask. An inquisitive consumer is a smart consumer, so never be afraid to ask if you don’t understand how much you will be paying, the APR, or how many total payments you will be making.

Still have questions? Feel free to call and speak with one of our Approved Loan Store representatives at 877-217-2217. Are you looking for a new or used vehicle? Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and check out testimonials from real Approved Loan Store customers here. You can also keep up to date on the latest news from Approved Loan Store by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“Clean up your credit overnight! Get the best rates without leaving the house, and pay no money down on a Mercedes-Benz!”

These days, a lot of companies are promising the world to people with challenged credit who are looking for a way back. One of the fastest ways to re-establish credit is through a car loan, so there is a high demand for car loans from people with challenged credit. Unfortunately, this means that some businesses will take advantage of that demand and take advantage of less-informed consumers. We wanted to clear up some misconceptions and misinformation that is spread about credit restoration and auto loans. If more consumers are educated, then less people will fall prey to these predatory companies.

First off, credit restoration is not an overnight process. Any company that offers an overnight solution or a new Social Security number with a clean credit record is lying. Worse, anyone that offers to sell a new Social Security number is committing a crime. These Social Security numbers have to come from somewhere, and some of these scam artists are selling children’s Social Security numbers. Foster children are especially vulnerable to these crimes because their personal information is passed around so much, and most parents wouldn’t think to check their child’s credit report.

The truth is that the credit restoration process can take as little as a month or up to half a year. By law, the credit bureaus have to be given about 35 days to respond to any credit report dispute, so the quickest way to gauge if a credit restoration company is legitimate is asking them how long the process takes. Also, credit restoration companies cannot charge upfront for services. Some companies get around this law by bundling credit restoration with other services, but they cannot specifically charge consumers for credit restoration work until they see results.

Another misconception about credit is that getting negative information taken off will automatically improve the credit score. A large part of a credit score is based on credit history, so getting a good credit score means having open accounts that have been paid on time consistently. (Once again, this is why an auto loan is a great option for people who want to improve their credit.) Still, some people expect their credit score to dramatically increase immediately after starting credit restoration, but any change in the credit score depends on the individual and their own credit history. One person might go from a 500-something credit score to low 700s while someone else will struggle to break 600. It is not a one-size-fits-all process, and every person will have a different experience.

When consumers understand how credit restoration works, they have an easier time picking out which companies are legitimately trying to help people with challenged credit and which companies can’t deliver what they are promising. Doing credit restoration in one week and getting an auto loan with premium rates the next week is simply not possible. At Approved Loan Store, we know that rebuilding credit takes time, and we offer real solutions, not fantasies. If you have challenged credit, we can help you in getting a car loan, and we can also advise you on reputable credit restoration services. The road back to good credit is tough and getting a car can be tough too. That is why Approved Loan Store is here to help, getting customers into a car and back on the road to good credit.

To learn more about our auto loan program, fill out our secure online application here, and stay up to date with the latest from Approved Loan Store by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Also, watch real Approved Loan Store customers talk about their experience on our YouTube channel.

Image: M – Pics / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Approved Loan Store: Our 100th Customer Testimonial!

This week, Approved Loan Store hit a major milestone. We got our 100th customer testimonial, posted right here on ApprovedLoanStore.com!

Customer service is a top priority to everyone here at Approved Loan Store. From the initial phone call through your scheduled appointment at a partner dealership, we make the process of getting a new car fast and easy. Read our customer testimonials here, and check out all of our video testimonials on our YouTube channel here.

Image: foto76 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Paul Ryan Budget Would Cancel Loans to Auto Industry

In the midst of the partisan bickering in Washington D.C. over the budget recently, the auto industry has been put on the chopping block by Paul Ryan’s Republican-backed budget.

Right now, there is a loan program in place for green energy efforts called the Advanced Technology Manufacturing Program. It was signed into law by President George W. Bush back in 2007, and part of the $25 billion program includes $16 billion which would go towards modifying auto factories. In Ryan’s proposal “The Path to Prosperity,” he was highly critical of President Obama over green initiatives, apparently forgetting that President Bush had signed it into law, and he claimed it “blocks proven domestic energy sources while spending recklessly on uncompetitive alternatives.”

Now, there should be debate over government spending in this country, and both Democrats and Republicans need to be willing to compromise. However, it is unfair of Paul Ryan to pin this program on President Obama and label it as “spending recklessly.” Alternative energy sources are the future, and we need car manufacturers making hybrid and electric cars now. If hybrid and electric cars start selling now, we will get early adapters in the next few years, and by the time we need to switch completely to hybrid or electric cars, America will be ready. Manufacturing fuel-efficient cars should not be a partisan issue; it should be common sense.

Looking for a new or more fuel-efficient car? Fill out Approved Loan Store’s car loan application here, and keep up with the latest new and trends from the auto industry by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Poll: Auto Bailouts More Popular Than Bank Bailouts

With U.S. auto sales on the rise, a new poll is showing that Americans are much more supportive of the government bailout of the auto industry now than when the bailout happened in 2009.

The poll was conducted by Harris Interactive, one of the country’s foremost market research firms. Respondents were asked two questions. The first question was, “Regardless of whether you support or oppose these government bailouts, do you think the ones that the government has done have helped or hurt the economy?” and the second question was, “How much would you support or oppose the U.S. government using taxpayers’ money to bail out these sectors that are suffering from the economic recession?”

To the first question, 45 percent thought that the bailout of the car manufacturers helped the economy, compared to 23 percent who felt the same about the banks and 15 percent for insurance companies. Only 29 percent of respondents thought the car manufacturers bailout hurt the economy. To the second question, 69 percent of respondents in 2009 said they were opposed to using taxpayer money to bail out car manufacturers, and in 2012, 70 percent said they opposed it.

It might not seem like there was much of a change in how people responded to the second question. A little over two-thirds of the American public is still opposed to an auto bailout . Still, considering that there was an auto bailout only 3 years ago, I think it is interesting that the percentage held steady, especially when compared to public opinion on insurance company and bank bailouts. Insurance company bailouts went from 77 percent opposition to 86 percent opposition, and bank bailouts went from 65 percent opposition to 84 percent opposition.

Whether you supported or opposed the auto industry bailouts, it can’t be denied that the U.S. auto industry has made a comeback with higher sales, better cars, and better deals. Take advantage of this time in the auto industry and get into a new car today! Fill out our auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest news from the auto and loan industry by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

Image: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

No Credit No Longer Problem For Lending

If you’re one of the many people that suffers from having some bad marks on your credit report, well, there’s a silver lining in the clouds for you. Just a few years ago with the economy in the state it was in, having bad credit and attempting to get a credit card was a fool’s errand. That seems to have turned around lately, however.

An article from Fox Business quotes a new report from the Equifax credit bureau. According to the report, lenders are starting to look to the sub-prime borrowers to help spur the economy. The number of credit that was given in the previous year to consumers grew more than 10% to $782 billion. This includes everything from credit cards to mortgages and especially auto loans.

This is a huge shift from where things were when the recession was at its peak. Banks avoided lending to the sub prime market. They made it so that the only people getting the loans were only the most credit-worthy. Amy Crews Cutts, the senior VP and chief economist for Equifax, commented, “Banks want to lend because that’s where they make money.”

It’s a great time to be in the market for a car, no matter what your credit situation is. The market is looking to help lend to these people, auto loans included. Approved Loan Store loves bad credit and wants to work with you to help you find the car you need. Go online to fill out the auto loan application and see how we can help you. Make sure to check out and like our Facebook page to see the latest news in the industry. Also, follow us on Twitter, and watch our customer testimonials on YouTube.

Image: jannoon028 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Approved Loan Store Helps Customers Avoid “Sin” of Car Buying

NBC news affiliate WPTZ recently published a story about the 7 “sins” or pitfalls that consumers make while shopping for a car. The usual pitfalls were included like not doing research before going to the dealership and picking a new car that isn’t as nice over a used model of a better car.

The third “sin” of car buying, though, was one that Approved Loan Store understands very well. Not knowing your financial status (including your credit score) before going into a dealership is one of the biggest mistakes a consumer can make when shopping for a car. If your credit score is below par, you could wind up getting rejected several times and getting unnecessary inquiries put on your credit report. The article recommends applying online through a service like Approved Loan Store so you can get more information about your available options. They also noted that these services expedite the process and lead to a better and more informed decision.

No matter what your credit situation, Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a new or used car today! Fill out our auto loan application here, and keep up to date on the latest auto news by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter. Also, check out our YouTube channel and watch video testimonials by real Approved Loan Store customers!

Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

High Auto Sales Predicted for March

Will March be the best month yet this year for American automakers? U.S. auto sales have continued to surprise even the most optimistic analysts, and now, it is expected that March sales will make the beginning of 2012 the best quarter in four years.

The Fiscal Times attributes the soaring auto sales to two factors. First, the economy is improving. It might not always seem like it, but the economy is improving slowly but surely. Second, car buyers are having an easier time finding financing. Part of that is due to services like Approved Loan Store which help people with poor credit and good credit alike get into a car.

Car ownership is an important part of economic recovery. Rising car sales are not only a sign that people have money to spend, it also shows that people are taking steps to avoid future problems. Car ownership has a strong correlation with less dependance on public assistance because employees are not dependent on public transportation and are not limited to employment options close to bus lines or subways. The fact that people are choosing car ownership is very encouraging to both U.S. automakers and Americans hoping for economic recovery.

Will you be shopping for a new or used vehicle in March? Make your search easier by applying through Approved Loan Store here, and make sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter to keep up with the latest auto news and trends.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net