My daughter wanted to leave Florida to return home, she had purchased a car through DriveTime. I told her to contact DriveTime and get the pay-off on the car and have them check it before we drove it back to Nebraska.
When I reached Florida, she had been told she could not take the car out of state with out DriveTimes permission. I called DriveTime and ask for the pay-off on the vehicle. They told me they couldnt give me the pay-off and that the car had to remain in Florida. I told them I needed confirmation and that I was going to record the conversation for my lawyer. They said I was not authorized to record any conversation with them and hung the phone up.
We drove the car back to Nebraska and I again contacted DriveTime, explained that I only needed the pay-off on the vehicle to get them all their money. They told me that they wouldnt give me the information.
At this point were into the first two weeks and payments are due every two weeks. So I call again, and this time its send your payment and we will discuss giving you the pay-off. I hung the phone up. I then wrote a letter to DriveTime which was certified, that from now on any converstions with DriveTime will be recorded and or in the form of written documents. I explained what I wanted as far as the pay-off and received a very pleasant letter that DriveTime would work with me in anyway.
I attached a digital recorder that picks up on any conversation and called drive time. The conversation was less than pleasant and the bottom line was that they were not going to give me any information to pay-off the loan unless I paid the balance that shouldnt have existed anyway. I explained that If they would send the pay-off and where it could be paid the current payment would be included. They refused, and the gentlemen became very shall we say negative when he found out that he was being recorded. He immediately hung up.
This continued for nearly a month and a half, until I finally got my banker involved and he found the titles are held at DriveTime in Arizona. He sent a letter requesting the pay-off and we sent a check for the full amount.
The Florida office called and wanted payment, I told them the payment for the full amount was sent to their main office. To my surprise that very evening a gentleman from a local collection agency shows up and tells me hes there to pick the car up for DriveTime. I told him it was in the garage and was staying there; he became belligerent and said hed get a court order. I informed him to please do that. He and DriveTime in Florida called to tell me I was violating the law and they were going to take me to court.
I decided to play along, I called my attorney informed him and surprise he called General Collections and DriveTime and informed them he had a copy of the draft for the pay-off of the car which had been Fed-Exed. He then told General Collections and DriveTime to come and get the car, and when the title arrived he would file charges in federal court for transportation of a stolen vehicle.
The final out come, we got the car, but had to pay for two months of payments at there interest rate which cost me $2000 more than was necessary. And I still have all the letters, documents and recorded efforts to get the vehicle paid-off.
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