For some people, providing the basic necessities for their family can prove to be difficult. Bad credit can hinder chances to get a loan, whether it’s for a house, college, or a car. But for others, legal status can make an already complex situation almost impossible. Luckily, there are companies that are not just willing to work with you in these situations, but will also treat you like family.
Family owned and operated for 40 years, Southlake Auto Mall in Merrillville has provided excellent customer service and a dedicated staff for the community. The dealership, which consists of Southlake Nissan and Southlake Kia, has a stock full of pre-owned and new vehicles, and no matter the credit siuation, will help individuals and families meet their needs.
“Our motto is ‘We treat you better than family,’” said Kevin Green, the General Sales Manager. “We want to get families into a vehicle that’s going to help them get to work, to school, to church, anywhere they need to go, regardless of your credit scenario.”
One of these common credit scenarios is individuals with an ITIN number, a tax processing number issued by the IRS that is used in lieu of a Social Security number. ITIN numbers are often assigned to individuals who are foreign nationals or have immigrated from another country and are not eligible for a Social Security number.
“This situation is common in the Hispanic community, and unfortunately, many lenders will not take an ITIN number as a true Social Security number,” Green explained. “But I have lenders who will work with these individuals to get them the best deal.”
For Southlake Auto Mall, the first step in the process is to complete a needs analysis.
“The needs analysis highlights what the customer is looking for,” Green explained. “We look at what type of vehicle is going to fill that family’s needs.”
The next step is to do a credit analysis. Depending on the individual’s or family’s credit situation, Southlake Auto Mall searches for a lender that corresponds with the customer’s situation. Usually, multiple lenders can be found that are a good match to the customer and offer the best deal.
“We show the customer the lender that’s going to give them the lowest interest rate when paying back the loan,” Green said. “Then we present them three or four vehicles that match their needs and will work between them and the lender.”
Not only will Southlake Auto Mall work with individuals and families with ITIN numbers when other dealerships often won’t, but it also employees over 150 people, some of whom speak Spanish. Just like Southlake Auto Mall is prepared for any and all credit situations, sales and service people are ready to provide outstanding customer service through their dedication to find the right car and deal, or even speaking Spanish so to not alienate a customer or family.
On the dealership’s website, 'Se Habla Espanol,’ which translates to ‘Spanish Speaking,’ is in bold letters, informing every customer that Southlake Nissan is ready to help everyone.
“Everything we do is designed to be a stepping stone,” Green said. “Our goal is to help you get into a vehicle and get your credit established.”
Buying or leasing a car can be difficult and complex. When you have bad credit or an ITIN number rather than a Social Security number, buying or leasing a car can be almost impossible. But dealerships like Southlake Auto Mall aren’t just committed to selling cars; they’re dedicated to standing behind the customer and guiding them through this process.
“We don’t want to take advantage of the customer,” Green said. “We’re here to fill a need and take care of everyone who comes through our doors.”
For more information about Southlake Auto Mall, visit www.southlakeautomall.com.