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Local Dealerships Install GPS Tracking Inside Your Newly Purchased Car

Privacy Concerns Force One Woman To Speak Out

by Matt Kroschel

Story Created: Feb 21, 2012 at 6:49 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 21, 2012 at 10:52 PM MDT

Grand Junction - We have all heard about GPS tracking in our phones, but now, hidden tracking units in some vehicles we purchase give dealers the ability to track your every move in real time from their computers. Over the last few years, "buy here, pay here" lots worried about high risk loans they make on vehicles they sell at across the county have began the installing tracking units. The growing industry-wide trend leaves some customers with privacy concerns.

“I think it is creepy. They already know where I live. Now, they know where I am all the time. It is weird,” Clifton resident Dominicque Barker told NewsChannel 5 Tuesday afternoon. Barker purchased a used Cadillac Escalade, a vehicle that fits into a high-risk category according to industry insiders.

We can confirm that most companies that sell new and used cars and also offer financing here in the Grand Valley use some form of GPS tracking on at least some of the cars they sell. Because of privacy concerns, the companies we asked to go on camera for this story refused to be interviewed, but they did provide us with information about the type of tracking systems they use and what capabilities they have.

NewsChannel 5 has learned companies like Rocky Mountain Tracking, a Fort Collins based GPS provider, offer the units for under a $200 investment to start. Customers can also purchase upgrades that give the ability to shut down a vehicle remotely and have car alarms engaged.

The tracking units are legal in the state of Colorado and before they are installed in vehicles the owners have to sign a waiver acknowledging the devices are installed.

“I was basically told I either had to sign and have the GPS installed or else I could not get the loan for my car,” Barker said.

One dealership manager told NewsChannel 5 that as long as people pay their loans on time, they should not even know the device is on their car and their staff only uses the system when someone becomes delinquent in their payments.

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FED up said on Thursday, Mar 21 at 12:39 AM

Suppose I just accidently run out of gas on a rr crossing. They can have their car/gps in the scrap metal yard. Oops! Whats next, a gps implant in our crotch? Think about it?

Angie said on Friday, Jan 25 at 3:11 PM

My car has a GPS install, and they actually told me about it. One thing I didn't like about the Dealer was that my husband works for the dealer I bought the car from. One day I got a flat tire, called my husband to make him aware. Thank God someone helped me with the tire. I told my husband that I was going to be a couple minutes late, so he asked the person at the dealer to track me down, he's calling me at the other line and said you're not where you told me you where. We just check the GPS and you are actually farther then you think. I didnt like that at all. I felt violated, becuase my payments are always on time

Jan Smith said on Tuesday, Dec 18 at 3:41 PM

Can they put one of these in your car after you've had the loan for a while, without your knowing it? Like go to your workplace and install it while you're in your office and have no idea?

Guest said on Wednesday, Nov 28 at 5:13 AM

Might as well just rent a car then, if it is not yours anyway!

banchy said on Thursday, Oct 18 at 10:54 AM

so bankruptcy is theft? they couldn't pay and went bankrupt. can you explain that?

lol said on Monday, Oct 8 at 10:55 PM

i was not informed about the gps until 2 weeks later, after i bought it. then they told me if im late they would shut the car off with the device. thats my problem. I have no problem paying, i just have had times in the past where checks werent given to me on time so that means i didnt get paid and that wasnt my fault. I just dont want my car shut off for it being a day late???

chris said on Tuesday, Jun 19 at 12:05 PM

can they check your driving habits?

?? said on Monday, Jun 18 at 2:30 AM

this is all great entertainment you guys but me myself dont agree with the gps thing either and both of you are actually right. it is an invasion of privacy. but also it is for those who dont have the best credit. and in order to get a loan we must sign the waiver. so i jus purchased a car with a gps unit on there and i plan on making my payments on time but if im even three days late my car gets repoed thats the part i think is bs. not everyone can pay everything on time and honestly i believe that part is the scam because they charge you an arm and a leg to get your car ack from a repo and if im already late on the pyament wher do they think we will get the extra 3 to 5 hundred for a repo fee. that part i think should b illegal.

Jay said on Saturday, Jun 16 at 10:18 AM

Well here's my issue: Due to job changes, I had to move across the country, but at the same token I still maintained my payments and eventually the car was paid off in FULL! Now you would think the dealership I bought it from would just mail me out the title to my car since I held up my end of the bargain. Now they are HOLDING my title until I can give the GPS device back to them. Claiming that it costs over $1K. So now I have to pay someone to remove something off my car that I really didn't know was on there to begin with?! Now who's the REAL thief?

thomas said on Thursday, Apr 26 at 5:09 PM

this is a question bout the tracking device added to my truck. do i have to let the dealer put it on if i have signed the aggreement and have left the lot with the vehicle. do i have to go back so they can put it on? i live in florida

Alex said on Friday, Feb 24 at 2:05 PM

Sorry, I might have said bill of sale when I meant title. Incidently, there is a simple word for an individual who does not pay his/her loan, and hides the vehicle. That word is: THIEF!

Alex said on Friday, Feb 24 at 1:41 PM

There are two ways to procure an automobile, you can pay cash, in which case you own the vehicle, or you can take out a loan on the vehicle, in which case the vehicle is not your property until the loan is paid off. This is why you do not have the bill of sale for the vehicle if you have a loan on it. I have no problem with the instilation of a tracking system on the vehicle, if it owned by a bank, or credit union. I worked my way through college by repossessing vehicles from dead-beat loaners. If you own money on the vehicle, it does not belong to you!

Rufus is my Dufus ! said on Friday, Feb 24 at 10:38 AM

You're a Typical Ignoramus. When All Else Fails, You Resort To Stupid, Childish Comments(Rufus) and Act As Though You Know Someone Personally, Trying To Insult Them When All You're Really Doing Is Showing How Dumb you really are "RUFUS" The Dufus- You're Comical Senseless Ramble Honestly, Dude You Really Need To Shut Up Your Ignorance "Your Own Words" Dufus ! LOL FREAK

Rufus said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 10:33 PM

You're a typical ignoramus. When all else fails, you resort to stupid, childish comments and act as though you know someone personally, trying to insult them when all you're really doing is showing how dumb you really are. You'll grow up one of these days. Or maybe not. I'm guessing the latter.

Rufus The Poor Dufus said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 8:32 PM

First I want to thank you for being a Girly Man !and wanting to hold my hand tonite(Fruit-Head) ! Now I Hear ! Your Mother calling you to come out of the basement? She ready now to take your temperature ! So dont Cry ! U Freak ! LoL

Rufus said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 8:09 PM

Like I said, you're comical. An idiot, too. BTW, you need to learn the difference between "you're" and "your". From there, you still have a LONG way to go--but it's a start!

Rufus is a Dufus ! said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 7:57 PM

By GPS THEM ! Ha ! Lov U 2 You Freak ! LoL ! I Think Your a Terrorist ! and you should be reported to the Dept of Homeland Security ! for your crimes! Tracking Americas around the USA ! Who Are Dumb Enough To Sign Your Crooked Loans In Order To Buy Your Poorly Built Vehicles ! That We Tax Payers Paided To Baled-Out Your Auto Industry With Our TAX DOLLAR's! Who do you Think you are ? the CIA ! Your NoBodys Thats Who !

Jam It said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 7:17 PM

Look online for a gps jammer ! for about 50 bucks. It works

Rufus said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 6:18 PM

BS GPS Them, you're comical! An idiot, but comical. You really need to shut up, because with every post you show your ignorance. I hope you're not in charge of anything at any time for any reason. Ever. You would undoubtedly just mess it up!

Its Just a Loan said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 5:49 PM

If you cant trust the government ? why should anybody trust a crooked dealership and its crooked banks with any data or information ? Income-Work-Location- Its none of there business !Your Just a Bank , Your Just A Auto Dealer ! Not F.B.I. ! Watching over our backs ! Go To Hell U Control Freaks !

AMUSED said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 3:45 PM

OH THE MENTALITY ON HERE. IF YOU DONT AGREE WITH A GPS IN YOUR CAR DONT BUY IT. IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE THEN LEARN TO PAY YOUR BILLS. TERRORISTS? REALLY?

Big SiS said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 12:09 PM

Department of HomeLand Security Said.Look out for persons who buy and use these GPS devices !Could be terrorist activitys in the making .

Control Freaks said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 11:53 AM

Before you know it ? They will be selling and sharing all the data on your driving habits with law enforcement and insurance companys !

B.S.GPS THEM ! Online ! said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 11:33 AM

The Only Vehicles That Should Have GPS? Are Vehicles- We the People- PAY For With Our TAX DOLLARS ? Yes ! Police-Fire Depts- City-County-State-Cars and Trucks-TSA-DHS-DOT Vehicles-Any Vehicles Used By State & Government Officals & Employees Nation Wide 24/7 365 Day A Year ! I Want To Know !! Where Your At ! And We What To Know, What Your Doing With Our Money !

Rufus or Dufus ? said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 11:00 AM

Who do you work for ?

BS GPS Them ! said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 10:44 AM

Rufus Ive Got A GPS unit for You Fat A## ! Lets Start With U ! Lets Track U ? Damm Fool !Im Calling the DHS On You ! You could a Terrorist ? Now Who Do You work For ? Spit It Out ?? Chevy or Ford ?

GPS USER said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 10:18 AM

Not all loans require GPS. Most that are installed are customers out of state or customers who have bad credit. Bad credit shows problems with paying bills so who is to say the car payment will be different? I am not saying all bad credit people are bad and do pay their cars off. The GPS is then uninstalled at OUR cost or the customer can chose to keep it installed in case of theft. I do find it rather interesting people assume we abuse the GPS system and watch your every move. Believe me if your payments are made we are not looking at where the car is, we have a business to run and better things to do.

Law abiding said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 9:12 AM

Finance companies and Banks already have laws in place for those that don't pay. Due process is what the laws are supposed to be about. This is just another encroachment of our rights by Big Money lobbyists for the corrupt auto and banking industry. They have enough laws. Fight this or you will loose even more in the future!

Rufus said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 8:16 AM

it's obvious that Slave Tech and BS GPS Them are the same person. The same style of typing, the same senseless ramble, and the same total lack of grammatical skills are perfect giveaways. Honestly, dude, I'm surprised you were even able to spell "GPS" correctly.

B.S.GPS THEM said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 7:42 AM

Maybe We A LAW Passed Were Bank Loan Officers and Banker Presidents Wear a GPS Unit up there Fat-Butts So We Know Where We Can Find Them When All Hell Breaks Out ! Its Our Right To Know There Whereabouts ???

Rufus said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 6:18 PM

"... before they are installed in vehicles the owners have to sign a waiver acknowledging the devices are installed." How hard is this for people to understand? It's not like it's being done in secret. People like Libertarian, Its Called, and Slave Tech try to make a big conspiracy out of everything.

Don't assume I am a thief said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 6:17 PM

While the intent is good, the opportunity for abuse is big. It is just another way to steal your rights or exploit knowledge of you. By installing these devices, they are making the assumption that all borrowers are going to skip paying for the car. If you think it is OK for the Banks to view you as a thief, then you missed the news of the bailouts. Those are the real 'thieves'.

Resident said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 4:40 PM

Ok GPS USER I wont buy the car.

Anonymous said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 11:48 AM

who cares. krex excuse for news

Slave Tech ! said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 11:26 AM

Why Not Just GPS-Micro Chip and Bar Code All Of Us ? We Should Be Tracked 24/7 365 Days A Year ! Its For Your Safety ! Its Placed under your skin and we will burned onto your flesh a Bar Code all for your Safety & Protection ! Why Not ? Your Already Being Brain Washed by TV and Told Lie's From Our National News Media!

Jesus said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 10:58 AM

It will come in handy if your car is also stolen, even by a bank robber.

GPS USER said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 10:27 AM

The purpose of a GPS is to know where an auto is when it is not being paid for. We do not care where you are at all times and do not locate autos for fun. If you are paying for your car you have nothing to worry about. Most companies make you sign a form informing you a GPS is in the auto, if you are uncomfortable with the GPS dont buy the car!

Guest said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 10:22 AM

I'm guessing if your loan requires a GPS your credit is a little shabby.

Libertarian said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 10:00 AM

Go ahead America give away everything, we are so close to communism and you all are blind to it.

GPS said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 7:55 AM

Someone in our Government Supported This BS ? WHO Voted On This ?

Its Called ? said on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 7:50 AM

A Police State !

Nun said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 11:09 PM

Once the vehicle is paid off the dealer should have to remove GPS tracking at their own expense. Don't believe for a minute car lot employees only use it when a payment is late. We all know what dirtbags car salesmen are.

David said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 9:31 PM

Imagine being a single female and having complete strangers knowing your exact location all hours of the day and night...

Rufus said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 7:20 PM

“I think it is creepy, they already know where I live now they know where I am all the time, it is weird,” Clifton resident Dominicque Barker told NewsChannel Five Tuesday afternoon." I'm guessing they don't care where YOU are, but they ARE interested in where their car is.

guest said on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 7:10 PM

i guess for the places that finance your car they have a right to know . its actually theres til you pay for it ?

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