A FINDER'S FEE WHEN THE CAR ISN'T FOUND?

More and more new car shoppers know exactly what they want these days. But when they march onto a lot and demand a certain color, a certain engine and a certain CD player, the dealer isn't very likely to have such a car in stock.

So a loose system of referrals kicks in. The dealer will canvass other dealers to hunt up what the customer wants. Often, the search is successful. And almost always, if the right car is in East Timbuktu, the local dealer will arrange to have it brought to his lot, without charge and without much delay.

But let us never underestimate the ability of the car business to come up with new ways to drive the customer crazy. Latest witness in the dock: Bobbie Williams, of Burke.

About six months ago, Bobbie and her husband were shopping for "a specific Volvo," as she puts it. They visited Miller Toyota and Volvo in Manassas.

The salesman did not have such a car on hand. He said he'd be glad to search as far away as Pennsylvania or southern Virginia. But he wanted to place a $200 charge against the Williamses' credit card to cover expenses in case he had to pick the car up.

Bobbie's husband agreed. However, Miller could not locate the car the Williamses wanted. Meanwhile, the couple bought the "right" car the next week from Brown Volvo in Alexandria. Brown did not charge a finder's fee, even though the Brown salesman had to go to Pennsylvania to obtain the car.

In January, the Williamses were alarmed to see a $500 charge posted to their credit card account by Miller. They immediately called. The dealership agreed to void the charge. However, that process took four months. Meanwhile, the Williamses paid interest on the $500 charge.

Miller brass could not explain, either to the Williamses or to me, why a $200 charge became a $500 charge, why a charge couldn't be voided within one billing cycle, why that dealership charges a finder's fee when competitors do not or why a fee was charged when a car wasn't found.

Edward Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Washington Better Business Bureau, said finder's fees are common in the car business, but being charged for a car that isn't found is quite unusual.

The key is whether a customer agrees to a finder's fee up front. "It doesn't matter whether you're buying a tie or a car," Edward said. "{The issue} needs to be raised up front to the customer so they know what they're getting into." Also, "they'd have to disclose that there's no refund," Edward said.

In general, there is nothing insidious, illegal or unethical about finder's fees, Edward said. They are like many other "miscellaneous charges associated with the sale of a vehicle" that are "common," Edward said.

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Nor was Edward shocked that the matter took four months to clear the Williamses' credit card. "People don't realize they have to be patient with these things," Edward said.

Of course, the safest remedy is to bend a little when you're on a sales lot. If you have to settle for no racing stripe, and the alternative is a hassle like the one that nipped the Williamses, it's not a hard decision.

A few weeks ago, I wrote that some superbanks created via recent mergers aren't treating customers well. You readers were front and center with supporting evidence.

Many said a good way to escape bank merger messes is credit unions. You can't join one unless you belong legitimately to an "affinity group." But if you do, and you like no-fee checking, no-fee ATMs, no-hassle loans and tellers who know your name, it's worth a look.

I also heard of several banks that do it right. None attracted more votes than Burke & Herbert, a family-run operation in Old Town Alexandria.

They offer biscuits to every dog and lollipops to every child. And in the lobby, they offer a very pointed, very funny sign. It reads:

"What's the name of your bank today?" SEND A KID TO CAMP

Would you like to help our annual summer fund-raiser by eating? You can do it today at McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant (1652 K St. NW and Reston Town Center).

Each Wednesday till late July, M&S designates one menu item for our Send a Kid to Camp campaign. All proceeds go to our cause. Today, the camp item is seasonal mixed salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

We're aiming for a record in 1998. It'll happen if you support us. Many thanks.

goal by July 31: $500,000. In hand as of June 4: $38,643.47. CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAMPAIGN:

Make a check or money order payable to Send a Kid to Camp and mail it to Bob Levey, The Washington Post, Washington, D.C. 20071. VISA OR MASTERCARD:

Call Post-Haste at 202-334-9000 on a touch-tone phone. Then punch in K-I-D-S, or 5437, and follow instructions.

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