Repo Revenge: Ohio Woman Turns the Tables on Dealership by Snatching Their Name
When you think of petty revenge, you might picture minor acts of mischief: parking too close to someone who dinged your car, or leaving a sarcastic review after bad service. But Tiah McCreary of Ohio has redefined the art of payback. After her car was repossessed by a dealership under questionable circumstances, she didn’t just get mad—she got even, in the most legally creative way imaginable. Her weapon of choice? The dealership's own name.
This story, which recently caught fire on Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge, has everything: corporate blunders, legal plots with more twists than an Uno Reverse card, and a community of commenters ready to crown McCreary a hero.
When Life Repos Your Car, Steal the Brand
Let’s rewind. In February 2024, McCreary walked into Taylor Kia with dreams of driving away in a 2022 Kia K5. Financing, courtesy of Global Lending Services (GLS), was preliminarily approved. So, off she went, new car smell and all. But a month later, the dealer repossessed her ride while she was at work. The reason? GLS decided there just wasn’t enough information to finalize the loan.
Cue community outrage. As u/Chewiesbro vented, “The finance mob realized there wasn’t enough info to finalise the loan and didn’t ask for more bloody info. The logic circuits were clearly burned out or more likely not installed at all…” Many wondered how often this shady “yo-yo” financing tactic is pulled on unsuspecting buyers.
McCreary started looking for ways to fight back. That’s when she discovered a goldmine: Taylor Cadillac and the Taylor Automotive Group had let their registration of “Taylor Kia of Lima” lapse. Oops. Like a chess master exploiting a rookie’s blunder, McCreary swooped in and registered the name herself. Then she sent a cease-and-desist letter, informing the dealership they could no longer use the Taylor Kia name—because, well, she owned it now.
As u/BigTex380 quipped, “Chess not checkers. Tiah McCreary you are a hero to us all.” And if you’re sensing some serious Uno Reverse energy here, you’re not alone. “When they go low, you play the Uno Reverse, Skip, and Wild Draw 4,” joked u/Carbon-Base.
A Legal Battle with More Twists Than a Car Lot Sales Pitch
The dealership tried to wriggle out of trouble by pointing to an arbitration clause McCreary signed during the car purchase, insisting the whole dispute had to go through arbitration and not the courts. At first, the judge agreed, dismissing McCreary’s case.
But McCreary wasn’t done. She appealed, and the Third District court delivered another reversal: the arbitration only applied to the car sale, not to the use of the dealership’s name. As u/TheMathmatix put it, “How the first court fucked this up, I'll never understand. The contract was for the purchase of the car not the name, image and likeness of the Taylor Kia of Lima.”
Community members were quick to draw parallels to other legendary tales of everyday people outmaneuvering corporate giants. u/revchewie recounted a Florida couple who literally foreclosed on a Bank of America branch after the bank ignored a court order—rolling up with a moving truck and sheriff’s deputies until the bank manager coughed up a check.
Petty? Or Just Justice Served Cold?
So, was this pettiness or poetic justice? The Reddit crowd was torn between admiration and awe. “This isn't petty revenge. She took the nuclear option,” marveled u/TimTowtiddy. Others delighted in the dealership’s bureaucratic misstep. “Forgot to do a renewal? Someone is losing their job over that error, for sure,” noted u/TheGypsyThread, while u/skoltroll dryly observed, “Usually just some schlub who has it under ‘other duties as assigned’ and no one ever checks on them. (I'm usually that schlub).”
Some commenters argued the dealership’s hands were tied: “If global couldn’t find it, then there were inconsistencies with what the customer provided,” explained u/clintnorth, a former finance manager. Yet, as u/Hutchiaj01 asked, “Makes you wonder how many people they managed to fuck over with the same stunt.” The real issue, many felt, was the dealership’s lack of transparency and basic customer care.
And then there were the suggestions for next-level revenge. “Sell the name to a strip club, at least there you won't get screwed,” joked u/Bulky_Marsupial3596, sparking a thread about the possibilities of “Taylor Kia of Lima” as the hottest new venue in town.
When David Grabs Goliath’s Signage
McCreary’s saga isn’t just about one woman getting sweet payback—it’s a masterclass in how to turn the tables on corporate arrogance. Whether or not she ultimately prevails in court, she’s already won the hearts (and upvotes) of thousands. As u/FishBonnett summed up: “Clever. Diabolical. Love this for them!”
But the story’s not over. With the case heading back to common pleas court, all eyes are on whether McCreary’s tactical gambit will hold. Will the dealership cough up a settlement, or could “Taylor Kia of Lima” soon have a new owner for good?
Either way, the next time a company tries to pull a fast one, they might want to double-check their paperwork—and their trademarks.
Conclusion: What’s the Pettiest (or Most Brilliant) Revenge You’ve Seen?
What do you think—was this petty, poetic, or just plain perfect? Have you ever dreamed of turning the tables on a business that did you wrong? Share your stories (or your most creative revenge fantasies) in the comments below—who knows, you might just inspire the next viral payback!
And if you’re ever tempted to skip your business renewal paperwork… well, you’ve been warned.
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Original Reddit Post: Dealership Repossesses Customer’s Car, Customer Responds by Taking Dealership’s Name