Safeguarding Your Customers Info
The end of the month is typically a busy time for Auto Dealers which means it’s slow for me. In the past, I have called a few Dealers the last couple days of the month only to get lectured about what day it is. End result, I end up in my cubby with puppy dog eyes and my tail between my legs. Since there is only so much “Facebook-ing”, “tweet-ing” and texting one can do in 8 hours, I normally take this time to catch up on my Auto Biz scoop through various online sites as well as the many Auto Industry Publications we receive.
I’ve been reading a lot about the war on the Auto Industry declared by CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). CFPB has entered its first enforcement action ordering Capitol One Bank to pay over $210 Million, and the FTC recently charged a Toyota Dealership in Georgia with compromising consumer data through the use of peer to peer file sharing.
With all the talk of Red Flags, Privacy Laws and making sure compliance issues are met, I wonder when you guys have time to actually sell cars.
I’m glad The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB) wasn’t being fully enforced back in my days as an Internet Manager. If so, I would’ve probably got a few Dealerships either shut down or at least heavily fined. Before CRM Tools became a necessity, I had (or what I thought) a great way of handling my third party finance leads. The right side of the lead was used for tracking my call attempts and emails sent and the left side was strictly for my artwork…actually I will be honest it was doodling. After I went through my leads I would put the stack in a Manila Folder and sit the folder on the corner of my desk as a constant reminder to do my follow ups.
Fast Forwarding to the present where Finance Transactions are now being video taped to ensure compliance, I am positive my old school way of handling third party finance leads would not have been acceptable. What? What’s that you say? There are still some of you tracking call attempts on the right and doodling on the left? Say it ain’t so! For those of you that don’t have a dedicated BDC or Internet Dept., I can imagine that it would be easier to P&P (Print and Pass) to a salesman. However, is it worth it? Let’s ask that Toyota Dealership in Georgia.
VOISYS has a simple solution for ensuring your customer’s information is safeguarded. It’s called VOL (VOISYS on line). VOL is a Web Based Lead Management Tool that is included at no additional charge with all of our programs. Dealers pick their own User Name & Password, log on to our site and voila! VOL allows you to view as well as leave comments on your leads. You can also do searches on your leads by last name, SS# and specific dates. This way when a customer calls you back they don’t have to hear you shuffling through the pile of leads that sits on the corner of your desk in the Manila Folder. A few moments on line could end up saving you from a headache and fines! As of right now we don’t have a section for doodling on VOL but never say never! Good Selling!
About the author
Erika Hoffler has been in the Auto Industry for over 15 years. She currently is a Senior Account Rep for VOISYS where she has been for the last 6 years. She has a strong background in BDC and Appointment setting and is always willing to share her insight. She can be contacted at 800-999-1880 or ehoffler@voisys.com