BBB issues second warning on First Marshall Auto

The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois is warning consumers to use caution when dealing with First Marshall Auto Auction LLC, at 398 E. 147th St. in Harvey IL.

First Marshall Auto Auction currently has an "F" rating with BBB, on a grading scale of A+ to F, with 61 complaints filed against them. Of those, 28 complainants are outside of IL. The company has failed to respond to 32 of those complaints. They have 16 negative customer reviews and 1 positive customer review. BBB serving Chicago and Northern Illinois first issued a consumer warning regarding a high volume of consumer complaints against First Marshall Auto Auction in 2016. First Marshall Auto Auction failed to address the majority of BBB complaints on file against them and failed to respond to communication requests from BBB.

BBB has an ongoing investigation into the company based on a large number of continuing complaints from consumers who allege issues with product or service, advertising/sales issues and delivery issues.

After the most recent investigation into the company in March, BBB determined First Marshall Auto Auction to have a reoccurring pattern of complaints, as was first reported in 2016 by the BBB.

"Attempts to contact First Marshall Auto Auction to help them alleviate their pattern of complaints have gone unanswered," said Steve Bernas, president and CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. "We now want to alert consumers to the business's marketplace conduct," he added.

Some consumer complaints allege:

• They were charged additional fees, which were not mentioned prior to giving down payment, and increased the total amount due.

• First Marshall Auto Auction failed to disclose their no money back policies.

• They were not allowed to test drive or inspect a car prior to purchase.

• The vehicles First Marshall Auto Auction advertised were not made available to them and they were offered a different vehicle to purchase.

• They felt intimidated by the security guards at First Marshall Auto Auction and were told they were not allowed to have anyone accompany them into the auction.

• The vehicles purchased were not functional or experienced other mechanical issues that First Marshall Auto Auction declined to address.