Consumer complaint received 2023-03-07 00:00:00
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Lease
Issue: Managing the loan or lease — Problem with fees charged
Company: Tesla, Inc.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
In brief, Tesla is claiming that I owe them {$7200.00} and I believe this is a violation of unfair business practices, fraud, and misrepresentation. ( This list is not exhaustive ). 

The main issues are as follows : Tesla failed to correctly effectuate the lease termination process and transmit information ; Teslas employees misrepresented material facts ; ( I have direct proof ) Teslas employees failed to disclose material facts ; Tesla 's misrepresentation influenced my decision to terminate the lease ; and I reasonably relied upon Teslas representations to my detriment. 

On XX/XX/2023, I received a quote from Tesla indicating that there would be a {$0.00} balance due upon returning the XXXX XXXX Tesla XXXX : XXXX to Tesla before XX/XX/2023. Detrimentally relying on this information, I returned the vehicle on XX/XX/2023 and took possession of my new XXXX XXXX Tesla. More importantly, between XX/XX/2023 and XX/XX/2023, there was no communication or mentioning from Tesla indicating that there would be an any Early Termination Fee and there was no estimate of {$7200.00} included in the quote that would be due upon returning this vehicle. An estimate gives you a rough idea of what the costs or fees would be due before you make an informed or finalized decision. In like manner, an estimate quote is supposed to be nearby an actual quote. As can be seen, the fee of {$7200.00} is completely obstructive and not nearly estimated in comparison to the approximate calculation of the {$0.00} quote that I was originally provided. 

On top of this, I have a public audio recording that took place inside of the lobby of the Tesla Delivery Center located at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX wherein the employees ( Name : XXXX ) of Tesla made statements on behalf of material facts regarding this {$7200.00} bill that I received. Specifically, in the recording I have direct evidence that Teslas employees instructed me verbatim to ignore the emails from Tesla regarding the {$7200.00} amount owed and that I did not have to make any further payments on the XXXX XXXX Tesla XXXX : XXXX because I returned the vehicle before XX/XX/2023. I was also informed by Teslas employees that there were no fees for returning the vehicle and that it takes time for Tesla to update their records. Please be advised that my cell phone somehow inadvertently recorded this conversation with the employees of the Tesla Delivery Center. However, this recording does explicitly support my statements of Teslas employees misrepresentation. This conversation was public and was not intended to be confidential.

Teslas early termination process was not effectuated properly on XX/XX/2023. To explain, when I returned the XXXX XXXX Tesla XXXX : XXXX to the XXXX XXXX XXXX located in XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA, Tesla, its agents, servants, and/or employees failed to complete all the steps of the termination process. To point out, I requested that an employee of Tesla conduct an inspection process on the XXXX XXXX Tesla XXXX : XXXX on the spot to confirm that there were no excessive damages to the vehicle and that I would be released of liability, the Tesla employees failed to complete this step of the termination process. In exact words, I was told by XXXX that he looked up my account and it showed that I would be released from all liability and that I did not owe a XXXX on the vehicle or lease. Precisely, I asked employee XXXX to confirm that no excessive fees or costs would be added to my account, and he said that I no longer had to pay for anything in relation to the XXXX XXXX Tesla XXXX : XXXX. 

In the automobile industry, Tesla has gained clout by highlighting the perks of leasing/owning Tesla vehicles ; however, pursuant to complaints submitted to the Department of Consumer Affairs reports , Tesla leasees around the world have been defrauded on behalf terminating their leases with Tesla due to their employees misrepresentations and improper business practices. This conduct highly conflicts with the stainless reputation Tesla has succeeded in portraying to the public. 

In accordance with custom and usage in automobile industry, any reasonable car dealership would have conducted an inspection on the vehicle being returned in the presence of the customer and provided an assessment to the customer of any and all costs associated with terminating the lease, if any. I would NOT have handed the keys over for the XXXX XXXX Tesla XXXX : XXXX if I had known or been properly informed by Teslas employees that there was an excessive fee of {$7200.00} due. Again, I asked XXXX if there would be any termination fees and he assured me that I would not be charged any termination fees or costs and that I did not owe anything. Therefore, I believe the doctrine of promissory estoppel can be justly applied. 

I am demanding Tesla to permanently remove the whole amount due of {$7200.00} from my account, and any other charges, fees, or costs associated with the XXXX XXXX Tesla XXXX : XXXX forthwith without any penalties.

Company public response: Company believes the complaint provided an opportunity to answer consumer's questions
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation