Banks and Their Insane Security Practices

Okay, I have to get this one off my chest and might as well start from the beginning. So apologies for its length. Kick back and learn why Banks are up there with Trial Lawyers in my book.

It all started with the fall netbank.com. We had been customers of theirs since my wife and I were still dating in 1999. Unfortunately they were one of the first banks to collapse in late 2007 just before the full banking crisis started to unravel. And for many of you since this great fall, you have learned what we learned. That you had no clue your bank closed until you tried to run your debit/credit card and found that it declined after 5:00PM on a Friday. Thank goodness we weren't at a restaurant and found this out as we had no other way of paying.

On a quick side note about us before I get too deep into pent up pressure release...we learned via Dave Ramsey to quit playing with credit cards and avoid the eventuality of getting bit by snakes. Also, by using debit cards or cash only, you can save a good deal of money each month. I didn't buy into this concept at first, but since I am a Type-A personality I tracked everything in Quicken. I quickly learned that we were saving around 22% in spending each month just by using a debit card rather than a credit card. (Take a course from Ramsey to understand why this is.) I mention this because our bank debit card is our ONLY card, so when it declined, we have no other way of paying unless they accept checks. AND we can't talk to anyone at NetBank until Monday since all their offices are closed after 5:00PM Friday.

So this forced us to find a new bank. Since we banked online for so long, we decided to keep with that trend and landed upon E*Trade. We finally got everything moved over and setup. Things were peachy until we decided to move from a rent home to buying a home. We were smart this time. We learned from the purchase of our first home that you needed a cashiers check (rookie mistake). So we were going to be proactive and have a cashiers check before closing. My first mistake! I went online to move funds from our money market to our checking account so as to get a cashiers check processed. We had learned that we must pick this up at an E*Trade store in person.

Unfortunately, due to security concerns, the amount of money I was transferring between my own two accounts threw up a "red flag." I was told via an online message to contact an E*Trade representative.

So I called them, and of course the call is routed to what seems like India. The lady on the other side of the planet says, "For verification purposes [code speak for security] I will ask you a few questions from your credit report to verify who you say you are." "Okay," I say. She goes on to ask a question about our car loan from 2004 (FOUR YEARS EARLIER).

"What was the purchase amount of the loan?" she asks. "Well that depends, we refinanced it two months after we purchased it...which one are you asking about?" Her response, "I can only ask the question and give you four choices." So she lists off four possible amounts that I have no recollection which one was the "original" amount. They were so close in amounts that unless the contract was in front of me, I would have no clue! 19,887.43, 19,253.13, 20,043.50, etc. (Not the exact options, but you get the point) So I guess at one of the answers.

"Security question 2," she says. I interrupt and asked did I get it right. "I don't have the answers in front of me, I just type in yours and it moves on to the next question." A security measure no doubt! "What is the monthly payment on the loan for the previous question?" Again I raise the point that it was refinanced. So I picked the current loan as I know its amount. I do not remember the two payments made before it was refinanced four years earlier! She asked two additional questions that were just as vague as the first two.

Once done, she tells me I need to visit with an E*Trade office in person. "So can the funds be moved now?" I ask. "No, please see an E*Trade agent," and she hangs up.

She just completely froze all of our accounts one week before closing on our new home. All I wanted was a cashiers check so that there weren't any issues at closing. Only now, for security purposes from E*Trade who is outsourcing customer service to India who pulls credit information from a third party (not from the actual three bureaus mind you!) , I have now created a complete lock-down of my own accounts!

So I call back and at this point they won't speak to me and will only tell me to visit a local E*Trade office. Now I can't buy anything as both my wifes and my debit cards are now cancelled. So I go online to locate an E*Trade office. Turns out there is only ONE in Houston. Thank the Lord because the next closest one is in Dallas! Hours of operation, M-F 8-5. Of course this all had to happen close to 5:00 and we are unable to make it to the Galleria in time to resolve this that day.

So I call the office on Friday and am told I need copies of my Social Security card, birth certificates & drivers licenses for both of us. Since the birth certificates were not readily available, it was Monday before we could get down there with all of our documents. We both had to take a full vacation day on Monday just to prove we are who we say we are.

After getting down there, we spend four hours (NOT an exaggeration!) proving to these clowns who we are. We finally got our accounts unlocked and our cashiers check. I immediately began looking for a new local bank as I was never going to do this strictly online banking again.

I had heard of great things from Wachovia customers and decided to give this "local" bank a try. What a great choice we made. They turned out to be just the bank we needed with customer service and local personnel who know who you are.

And wouldn't ya' know it, they fall in 2009 from the banking crisis and are bought by a bank I completely despise...Wells Fargo (a story I won't divulge in this rant). I wasn't with my happy bank for more than 18 months before we are back with a despicable one.

I'll admit, it took me some time to find a new bank after this merger. I was not excited about doing this again because it is such a hassle to move everything. But they helped me quickly make up my mind as they lack everything Wachoiva had. I think they honestly wanted me to leave.

So we open up an account with Thrivent Financial (Pro: small bank with a direct representative, Con: out of state/online). I begin moving over our direct deposits, automated payments, etc. I closed out my money market with Wells Fargo via "secure" online email without any hitches. I was finally down to two recurring charges. I didn't have available the information to call them and update the monthly charges with our new banking account. So I made the decision to close the Wells Fargo account with full intent of these two charges to be declined. WRONG!...my next mistake.

I wanted these two drafts/charges to reject so that they would call me (as all other vendors have in the past....[i'm getting good with this banking mess]).

Knowing the dates these two drafts and charges will occur, I cut a bill pay check for the entire amount in my account and zeroed it out. I send another "secure" online email to Wells Fargo to close that account.

A week goes by and I get an over draft letter in the mail. Now correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the new banking law forbid this? So I trash it out of my own protest. Ten days go by and I get a nasty call from some representative. Your account is negative 93.50 and you need to get this settled. 93.50!!!! What???

I go into attack mode at this news. "How did a 12.50 draft get to 93.50 and why are you funding a draft when no money is there to fund it?" Isn't this outlawed! His response, "that only occurs with debit cards. If someone initiates and ETF, it can and will 'REOPEN' your account and fund it." I told him then it's his problem not mine! "Also, there is a 10.00 charity charge that came through," he states. Add to that two overdraft fees of 25.50 and a monthly banking charge of 20.00 on an account that was closed, I am now liable for 93.50!

So with the threat of black listing us as hot check writers with Tele-check and preventing us from opening another bank account for five years (who in their right mind gave them this power????) my wife convinces me to get this taken care of. The representative called back and I told him I will pay the bank 22.50, my liabilities. The rest you get to eat. He made notes and explained that it is imparative that this "promise" be kept and the 22.50 deposited that next day.

So I go make a cash deposit into my account, only it takes them 15 mins to find it because in Texas, they haven't converted all of the Wachovia accounts to Wells Fargo. And since I destroyed all the checks and cards, it took two personnel agents to locate my account....and of course verify its me (security purposes) who is giving them cash!

I asked the guy if we are good and he appears to read the screen, "yes, the account will now be closed." Yet another mistake on my part! I should never have believe him. The following Monday, I get another nasty call. At this point, I am graying by the hour and call my wife up for help.

She calls the branch that I deposited the 22.50 in only to be told they can't talk to my wife who is a full co-owner of the account. She im's me and tells me that they have to conference me in for "security" purposes. Marriage means nothing anymore when it relates to security! With truly gritted teeth, and balding my newly created grey hair I get on the call.

They get my name, address, phone number, and my SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. I highlight this point to be made in a minute. Again, we don't have our account number and again it takes two representatives and a transfer for them to find my account. My wife does all the talking as I am too steamed and with all politeness she is able to get all of the fee's waived and account closed. Once the representative waives the Wells Fargo fee's, it creates a 0.02 interest credit to me. I told her to "just keep it." Her response, "We can't, we have to mail you a check." So five day's later, I actually get a 0.02 check from Wells Fargo. That check went directly into the trash.

It isn't worth my time, or Thrivent's time processing lunacy. Policies in place and are so locked down, they can't even apply a 0.02 credit to the bank fee's and just zero this out. Instead, a check must be processed and mailed to ensure everything is done "by the book!"

My wife asks the lady on the phone if we can get our account number so that if this issue comes up again, you people can actually find our account without it taking fifteen minutes each time. To which she replied, "due to security purposes, we can't give that info out over the phone." I just couldn't help it, "WHAT?" My wife interrupts and says, "okay, thank you" and Wells Fargo hangs up.

So they can't give me my own freakin' account number but are completely willing to take my social security number over the phone....all in the name of "security!"

Now onto Thrivent. (This crap just continues....told you it would be long.) They started out on the wrong foot! I mailed in our application and about ten days later received my pin number for the new debit card that is being shipped separately. (If the thief can steal letter 1, then they can steal letter 2, problem solved...but I divulge.)

A few days later I received my debit card and called the number on it and voila, it's activated. I was a little curious at this point as my wifes pin and card have yet to come in. The next day I received my check stock. On the checks was my name only. GREEAATT!

So I call 'em up and they tell me that have no record that my wife was on the account. "Okay," I said, "then add her." They take the info and she is now a co-owner of the account. "When can she get her debit card?" I ask. "She will have to contact us directly to request that due to 'security' policies! "WHAT? I JUST GAVE HER FULL ACCESS!" OMG! Now I am aging faster than I should.

Since I was slightly irate on the phone they told me that they will call me back and they will see what they can do. Two days later, they call to tell me they found the paperwork and wouldnt'cha know it, she's on the application and only because the paperwork stated she was to get her own debit card, did they allow hers to be mailed.

To this day all my checks just state my name, but just going to run with it rather than update that. Sooo, we truckin' right along. Me minding my business and banks minding theirs.

Then one day after much research, we decided on our ten-year anniversary family vacation. I plug in all the info into the site and click submit and wouldn'cha know it....DECLINED. Now I half expected this as it was a large charge, but the response from the bank is not at all what I expected!

"Hello" a chipper happy voice declares over the phone. I am going to be optimistic and respond "hello" and we go through the usual, first and last name, address, security questions, eye color, sex, race, religion, blood type, etc. "How can I assist you today?" he asks. "Well, I am booking our vacation online and my card is being declined." "Lets have a look at your account," he says.

"Mr. Cross, it appears that you are a new customer and have not been a member of our bank for more than a year. For 'security' purposes, all debit transactions are limited to 500.00 and all credit card transactions are limited to 1,500.00." "Ookkaayy," I respond. "So how do we resolve this? I am booking our ten year anniversary family vacation. Are you telling me I can't book my vacation?"

"Do you have another card you can use?" he asks. "NO!, I DON'T. We only use you. Look at the account, there is plenty of MY money in there to cover MY charge to book MY vacation!" Of course I am yelling at him on the phone by this point. I simply don't take it to well when someone tells me I don't have access to my money.

"Let me get your call back number and have someone call you back," he says. I asked what the timeline for this would be and was told "I don't have a timeline for that."

So I, a grown man, married 10 years this year, a seven year old son is forced to call mommy to get her credit card so I can book this vacation and will hand deliver her a check for the exact amount in three days.

This rant is my exhale and my only ability to prevent myself from having an aneurysm. I emailed my "concerns" to our account representative who in turn pushed it up the line. I got a call back the following day from corporate apologizing and sympathizing with my dilemma.

This conversation was much more friendly and it seemed that the policy "is the policy." So I asked the question, "What in 366 days changes your security policy that ups my credit card limit?" She had no immediate response. She tried to claim that it limits the banks liability when theft occurs. "So how does that liability change from 365 days to 366 days. Are you still not liable?" I ask. Again, no good response to that question.

I did get a direct line and in the event other issues arise I have two people I can call to get matters done. It is this kind customer service that keeps me. I just hope that when policies are written, they ask more that the people in the conference room. How about asking the customer?

Anyway, that is where we are now. I plan on staying (where else can I go?) and wish things would get better. But I believe that it will only get worse. I told her in five years, there will be finger print credit card transactions that are limited to 100.00 a day and you have to be a member of a bank for over 5 years to get that upped to 110.00 a day. All in the name of "S-E-C-U-R-I-T-Y."

Red-Light Safety Camera's

And you wonder why Houston voted this revenue generating, safety promoted B.S. down.

The attached violation reveals why we citizens fully believe that the sole motivation behind these camera's is money. The violation, approved by the Jersey Village Police Department, reads "Did Unlawfully Operate a Vehicle" and "Failure to Stop at a Red Light." The photo's show that the vehicle made a right hand turn (video not attached show's he even turned on his blinker) and that there isn't another vehicle at the intersection at 1:00AM!!! What "SAFETY" violation occurred? Unless you count perhaps the roach he might have run over.

This is another instance of Big Brother watching you and issuing a "safety" fine when no safety violation occurred. Did he roll through the red light making a right hand turn? Damn straight and I would have too when clearly approaching an intersection at 1:00 in the dead of night and not seeing a sole around because a clear minded individual can clearly see that no danger was being imposed. YET the Jersey Village Police Department and in many cities across Texas feels that while the Police Department is out and about, Big Brother can catch you making safety violations, review the video and actually sign off for this crap!

Now there is a 75.00 fine and you can conveniently pay with your credit card (additional fee charge for convenience). I hereby ask my state representatives to put on the next ballot to vote out these camera's throughout the entire state!

Why do we Continue to Fund Washington?

It was recently revealed that Federal employee's owe over 3 billion in backed taxes. Now we are funding a 1.1 trillion dollar budget, giving federal employee's a wage increase all the while, American's, myself now included, are continuing to be let go in the private sector while government jobs expand at unprecedented speed.

Another revalation recently was the growth of 100,000 salaries in the government sector. They continue to get money, avoid taxes, get relief when they do (Geitner) while the shmucks like me keep paying into this train wreck! In only six months, this household has fronted a 14K siphon into our wallets to fund government, all the while, I get hit with large taxes because of a small severance and now unemployement. All because this came in during December. Had this happened in Jan, it would be a completely different tax situation. Which is why I feel so strongly with promoting the fair tax.

So while we fund this insanity, the White House staff owes 812,917, our House of Reps owe 5.8 million, Senate tally's up to 2.4 million, and our very own Treasury department owes 6.9 million....and the list just goes on and on!!! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/federal-tax.html

We need the tea party to really ramp up and organize into a new conservative third party to return us back to sanity or we all should just take a tax hike!

Our (Gullo)ible Experience

Can we return to a time where people honored their word? A time when a code of ethics ruled, and a sense of honor and dignity prevailed? I suppose not, as every time we stick our hands out for a handshake and believe we are doing so on an agreed set of rules and understandings, we later learn that the other party was just smiling back at us thinking "suckers!" I honestly hope that my wife and I do not change our hope that there are still some good people out there, but over the years one can only take so many hits before we become so cynical of everyone that we simply have to believe everyone is out to rip you off and if you don't take that attitude towards them, they will get the better of you. I just don't want to become that person.

This is all related to our latest experience a few weeks ago at Gullo Mazda. As you may have read if my other blog relating to our wonderful GM Malibu Maxx, we were anxious to get out of this. Now my wife is an avid researcher so we, as quickly as we could, began our hunt for some foreign cars. We landed at Gullo Mazda to test drive a few cars to see what we were interested in. We test drove a few Toyota's (these two dealerships are side-by-side) and an older Sienna which the price seemed nice and we could pay cash for it and not have to finance anything. We left for the day and did a bit more research and everything we could find pointed us to the decision that the van was a good price as well as a Mazda 6 that was being advertised at another dealship far far away. So going back to Gullo, who is not that far, a few days later, we test drove a comperable Mazda 6 and began negotiations on it as we wanted something a bit newer than the van was offering. During this process, we learned that our Pontiac Sunfire was trading at a price higher than we both expected and decided that trading both our cars in for a paid for Toyota van and a financed used Mazda 6 was our best opportunity to get out of both of these cars and use that leverage of buying two vehicles from the same dealership the same day for a better price.

We were told by our salesman that the van being a 2000 model with 113K miles on it only qualified for a "30 day/1000 mile Gullo Guarentee" and because we were buying on site and signing that night, we were ensured that they have looked over the vehicle and that we could take it to our mechanic if we decided to and have it looked at for any issues that may not have been seen that evening as they didn't want us to leave without first signing the bottom line. So with those "promises" in place and us being gullible in believing that they would honor their word we purchased both vehicles and drove home giddy.

On the second day of ownership, we had our opportunity to drop off the van with our mechanic and he determined that we needed the following:

• New timing belt which also required a new water pump per Toyota standards.
• The power steering pump had fluids on it indicating that it was leaking.
• Valve cover was leaking oil.
• Radiator hoses were dry rotting.

All of which we would not know needed to be replaced and was the main reason we negotiated this prior to sale that we would have the opportunity to have this looked at our mechanic (Total repairs ~2,000.00). Obviously, if these items were known, they would have been requested fixed PRIOR to sale, but we had our assurances! Not only that, but we being the kind of people we are, sunk in 1,500.00 to get the Malibu up to snuff before we would sell it. We are just ethical that way. It seems Gullo doesn't have the same standard. They told us their mechanics had looked it over...either he lied or their mechanics are incompetant. I don't mind paying a higher price for the van, just don't sell me something and then I have thousands to spend in unexpected repair bills.

So I call our salesman up only to get a voicemail in which I leave a message on Friday morning. We call throughout the day to no avail and I finally ask the receptionist if he is in and was told that he is probably with a customer at the moment. Saturday morning and still no return call. So I call for the manager, and again was forced to leave a message. Again we call throughout the day and again, only voicemails. We did later learn that the salesman left a message on our home phone Saturday morning, and explained "...we have customers that have mechanics check out the vehicle before they purchase them, uah, so you know, basically we really don't feel responsible for any of that stuff..."

Once I received that message late Saturday afternoon, I first called for our salesman and yet again, voicemail. This time I am not giving up until I speak with someone. So after 5 calls to the operator who first disconnected me, then transfered me to the salesman's voicemail and then the manager's voicemail before I could finish my request, and finally told her bluntly that I want to speak to a person in charge now and will not stop calling until I get a live person to speak with. Also, we were already in the car and decided to make a personal visit if we have too. Finally, she is able to get the used car manager on the line (the one who also worked with our salesman) and I explained the situation. I was told that there is no 30 day/1000 mile Gullo Guarentee on vehicles over 100K and that the salesman just misspoke when he offered that too us during our purchase. Oh that's just dandy and BS! He also stated that mechanics like to drum up business and that their people would have to look at it first. So we had an understanding that the van would be dropped off that Monday morning for a review of what our mechanic found.

So we call around 4:00 Monday afternoon as we have heard nothing from Gullo about the van. I call and leave yet another voicemail with the manager as we need to know when we might get this back as we are now functioning on one car. Again, no call backs and again I am forced to call them to get the service department who tells us that they see no problems with the power steering pump. The one item that I could possibly hold their feet to the fire as this was a safty issue. We already had to pay a grand for the radiator hoses and timing belt as we knew that they wouldn't cover that as part of their "gotcha" campaign. They did want to keep the van another day to ensure that it isn't leaking.

Tuesday afternoon comes around and again no calls from Gullo. I call the service department first to get a guy who knows nothing about this van and was transferred to the manager only to again get a voicemail. I leave a message.

Wednesday is now here and you guessed it, no call back from my message left inquiring about a status. I again call the service department and I am pretty pissed at this point. I was told that the power steering pump is fine and that there is only "seapage" on the valve cover...certainly nothing that they would deem to be an issue. Of coarse that would be their response. He also gave me the name of a lady who deals with these types of customer issues. But guess what!....I am forced to leave another voicemail. So I explain as best I could and through gritted teeth my situation. Graciously, she calls back within the hour after speaking with the used car manager and we are told that they are keeping the van until the new rearview mirror is in as part of our original agreement...only we were told on the voicemail from the salesman last Saturday, that it would be the following Monday before the mirror comes in. So I explained my issues with the lack of communication and that we would never leave our van there for over a week while waiting for a freakin' mirror. She offers us a loaner while we wait on that issue.

So during our lunch on Wednesday, we drive down there to get the loaner car. Both the salesman and the manager ignore us completely and we get the loaner from another saleslady who knew nothing of our situation. Being there for a third time now, I am really mad at this point as they have no business and are never too busy to answer their phones....they just simply do answer them.

The very next morning, we get a call from our salesman that our van is ready to be picked up. WTF? If we knew it was going to be the next damn morning, we would have waited. So during Thursday's lunch we drive down their to get our van with all the known issues that they refuse to repair and we part our ways.

Only the battery fries after my wife turned the car off and is stranded in a rain storm looking for a jump. I call the salesman as I am more than certain that this incident would fall under the "30 day Gullo Guarantee" as this wasn't a preexisting issue....the guy actually answers his phone for the first time in over a week! Hmm...I have to wonder if he thought we were gone for good and he could now pick up the receiver. I asked him about this and his response was "I don't know what you want me to do about it." I asked, "So you're telling me that we are stuck with this now?" His reply, "Well yes, you are!" I bitched him a thank you and hung up on him.

I left another message with the customer relations lady, and to no surprise, no call back. Soooo, we are now left to word of mouth and internet reviews that will hopefully steer others from this company. We do like the van and our beef was never about the purchase, it was about them selling under lies and false beliefs that they ACTUALLY looked over the car and ensured it was in top shape for sell as we did with our Malibu. There were no known issues remaining on the Malibu; however, these issues with the van were known to Gullo and they didn't owe up to them.

Sad to know people still shake hands with you while their other hand is robbing you blind! Life lesson learned....again.

Why we will never again own a Government Motors vehicle.

We currently have two GM vehicles. One is a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire with 119K miles on it. This car I have not complaints about. It has been maintained well, and therefore has done us proud as a reliable vehicle with no special bells and whistles. Our second car, well this one is an issue. It's a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx with 86K miles on it and obviously it was during these years when crap began to be produced from this manufacturer. This vehicle is six years newer than the sunfire, but presents itself at least six years older! When my wife and I purchase this car, we thought that it was sleet, classy, and an all-around good multifunction family vehicle. Obviously this car was rushed to market with no true research done that would have saved us as well as GM a lot of headaches and lost customer base. I have taken a few pictures that highlight why this car sucks, why I wish I owned a car from a company that takes pride in their product, and explains that if a company running in a free market can create this, then a taxpayer owned company would simply produce a danger to the roads and citizens who drive them. By the way, this car doesn't qualify for the "Taxpayers pay for everyone else's new car" program, AKA "Cash for Clunkers."

This is the obvious lack of testing and good engineering. If you look closely at the top orange area of the blinker, you notice there's a hole in the orange enclosure. I went through many bulbs as this enclosure just melted under the trapped heat from the bulb and blew out the light. After this went on for several years, the encasing finally melted enough that it now misses the bulb and the trapped heat can now get out. As a result of this heat escaping you can see the discoloration that was rewarded to the once shiny silver metal lining for the entire headlight system.

Should a car that is only five years old have the inside door paneling peeling away? This isn't an accident on our part or lack of care. It just started to separate and give our five year old car a sense of being around the block a few times! Also, this door has power locks, but unfortunately the only feature that works on the passenger door is the unlock button. That door can no longer lock the car.

One would expect that when they bring down the visor that pieces of the covering wouldn't land in your lap. Apparently, the spring that holds it open and closed just popped out and the flap would just hang freely. This was distracting enough that I just removed it as it no longer stayed open or closed.

The above picture was a major buying point for us with a three year old child in the car. This version of the Malibu came with dual moon roofs in the back. This worked wonderfully until the summer heat became a factor. The shade that covers this window is a spring loaded retractable covering that when closed is latched in the notch seen above. However, there is no support system behind this notch when we first purchased the car. When summer came, we couldn't keep the shade closed as the rubber notch/paneling became soft and the spring loaded retractor would snap open the shade as the rubber didn't have the strength to keep it closed. Now our son at the time would have to endure the sun barreling into the window as the shade couldn't block it out. We took it in to the dealership when the steering box failed (detailed later) and the dealerships/GM's solution was to install a support system behind it free of charge. This worked fine until the adhesive that attached the support system (plastic bar) behind the rubber notch wore off over time and we are again battling the sun. Our next solution will be to rip out the spring (and maybe use it to somehow fix the visor) and permanently close the shade to avoid the Texas summer heat coming into these two moon roof windows.

Who knew there was a trick to removing your phone charger in such a way to avoid the entire lighter assembly from coming out of the dash? The only solution I currently have is to crazy glue it back in, but looking at the design of it, there isn't anything to keep it from separating when any device plugged into it gets removed.

And finally, the glorious instrument panel…

I just love the fact that only half of my instrument panel lights now work! It gives it a personal touch I suppose. Now I know the picture isn't the best, but I do believe you can see what I am trying to illustrate here. First it was the bulb on the left that cut in half both the Tachometer and the Speedometer details and when the second bulb went out on the fuel indicator on the right (all you can see at this point is the red indicator) I called a local dealership and was extremely glad I could purchase replacement bulbs. I feared I would have to buy the entire panel! So I have to ask, why are the bulbs burning out at all! I've only replaced two license plate bulbs on my Sunfire in the eleven years I've owned it.

Other issues we have had with this car in the 5 years we've owned it is as follows:

• Battery died which in itself is no big deal, but it shorted out the CD player which had to be warrantied and replaced. We were glad this occurred as the black paint on the volume knob was flaking off and shining through the knob was the back light which only made this look worse. This occurred early on and should have been an omen to us!
  
• Steering box failing. I had never experienced this before, but over time this worsened to the point that when you approached a red light and were down to the final 5mph, the steering wheel , if let go, would just start turning itself to the left. We first had the alignment done (never pulled left on the road to begin with, but had to try something) and finally they had to replace the steering box under an extended warranty. This worked for about two years and its slowly creeping back to the left again.
  
• Master Brake Cylinder failing. Luckily we had this fixed before the breaks completely failed on us. Somehow the master cylinder was already junk at 85K miles and needed replacement. I'm used to having brake pads changed and even the occasional rotor…but the master cylinder? Our Sunfire's still running just fine on its original master cylinder….and steering box for that matter!
  
• Seat warmers come on whenever they want. It's always nice to have your ass unexpectedly warmed up when its 105 outside! I thought about just cutting these wires but then remembered I need to sell this thing. What really gets me is we owned a 2002 GMC truck (older model) where the seat warmers actually abided by "low" and "high" settings. This "newer" car had those settings, but it was all or none. Low wasn't a low warmth…it was a high setting for a short time…so its heat your ass up….turn off….heat your ass up….turn off.

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And wouldn't you know it!!...as I create this document there is yet another failure and a towing. The master cylinder failed in mid-July and less than a month goes by that the electrical power steering fails. Only this fails during driving while the engine is still going. So for instance, if you are making a left hand turn at a signal when it decides to stop working, your car will now be going straight into cross traffic. So we tow it again and my wife and I decided that we need to get out of this hazard and money pit. So after 1,500.00 in repairs in less than a month, we dump it along with the aging Sunfire for a Mazda and Toyota.

None of these issues, in my opinion, are the result of a true lemon, but rather a rapid deterioration of cheap workmanship, materials and poor engineering. A great idea rushed to market and ultimately to a rapid demise. This is why we will never buy a GM and perhaps another American made car. These past few years have enlightened me to what the priorities are for these companies. I have no doubt that the unions played a role in this cars deterioration. GM needed to fund labor and benefits over quality and development and to compete in a global market, had to make cuts somewhere. I now know where those cuts were made and I now seek out a car company whose products do not reflect these types of short comings.