Situation Overview
Buying a used car is often accompanied by certain difficulties, but for one resident of Columbus, Ohio, this process turned into a two-year odyssey. After purchasing a Honda Pilot, he was left without the vehicle’s documents and had to wait almost two years to finally get his money back. The funds came not from the dealer who sold him the car, but from the state’s Title Defect Recision Fund, created specifically for such cases.
The Beginning of the Problems
Andre Tyrus purchased a 2006 Honda Pilot from All For U Auto Leasing in September 2023 for $4,800. He patiently waited until February 2024 to receive the title, but it never arrived, despite numerous appeals to the dealer. Frustrated, Tyrus returned the car that same month, but his money was never refunded, which forced him to seek help from the Attorney General’s office.
The Long Road to Resolution
Real movement in the case occurred only after the local publication 10 Investigates aired a report on Tyrus’s situation in April. Soon after, he learned that his case had been assigned to a new representative. But even then, he had to wait another year and a half until the wait ended in September 2025. Tyrus received a check for the full amount of $4,800 he paid for the Pilot, thanks to the Ohio Title Defect Recision Fund, designed to compensate consumers in cases where dealers fail to provide proper titles.
According to local Attorney General Dave Yost, similar cases are not uncommon:
“We have encountered similar situations before.”
It is unclear why the refund took such a long time after the dealer’s unethical practices were exposed.
Relief, but with Disappointment
Although Tyrus is grateful for the refund, he admitted that this story exhausted him:
“Thank you, first of all, but next time let’s act faster, like the previous representative did”
, he told 10TV. He also added that patience combined with persistence eventually paid off:
“In life, I’ve learned that sometimes it’s enough to just stand your ground, you don’t necessarily have to fight. Because there will be ways that will fight for you, in this case it was 10TV.”
Tyrus finally got his money back, but his story highlights how a simple error in documentation can turn into a protracted struggle between buyers, dealers, and the state. Such cases demonstrate the importance of proper paperwork and swift intervention by responsible authorities to avoid prolonged stressful situations for consumers. Delays in resolving such issues can seriously impact trust in the consumer protection system.