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Bernie: The few times that I have had to (or FELT that I had to...) contact someone in a situation like this, I try to find as many 'heads' to go after, as opposed to emulating that great line/book title, 'mau-mauing the flak-catchers.' (And please be VERY clear on this: I am NOT using that phrase as a racial/ethnic denigration, but rather as a descriptor which means: you're going after the straw man instead of going after the guy he works for.) In this case, I would be sending a letter to customer relations departments of both car companies (or divisions, whatever), AND the company executives/officers, the FTC, the attorney general of the state that you live in, to the editors of every car-related magazine that you can think of, AAA, newspapers, consumer complaint...well, I am SURE that you get the idea. My letters use a particular person's name, and/or title in the salutation/header, and a clearly-stated message, with intended action (like, "I'm not buying more of your cars because..."). After the signature, I list a "CC" and then list EVERYONE else's name and title to whom the other copies are being sent. Kind of a "Whoa, this person is serious" etc. When a lot of those letters, calm and rational, go out to that many people, companies, agencies, etc., it's the "flak-catchers" who usually hear about it (trhe PR people), but you can bet the folks in The Boardroom will be aware of what is happening as well. IF nothing happens, it isn't because you didn't try! --PD
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