My granddaughter, a college student, wanted to buy a car from Parks Chevrolet. I agreed to co-sign her note, saying that I would be financially responsible if she failed to make payments. She called and said I would have to come in and give permission in person for them to do a credit check. I had unexpected company and was in a rush, which the salesman knew, and he kept giving me forms to sign.

I should never have signed them, but I did. My mistake. Anyway, her mother came and the two of them decided on the car. The mother called and told me the car would have to be put on my insurance policy. I knew this was a lie, because my son had just bought a car for his daughter. He co-signed the loan, but the car is in her name. She is a college student also. I refused, and surprise, surprise, they decided she could have an insurance policy in her name. When I went to the business office for them to complete the paperwork, close to the end of the workday, I found they had put the car in both my name and her name. This was never meant to be done, and they knew it. They said, "We had to do it this way." I know that is not true.

My other granddaughter's car is in her name alone--same circumstances, except her father cosigned. I firmly believe they thought they could (and they did) take advantage of a 70-year old woman and her teenage granddaughter.