My car is financed through AZFCU. It was impounded on 7/23 due to an unpaid ticket. AZFCU repossesed my vehicle 9 days afterward, on 8/2, even thought the contract states I have up to 10 days before they will take any action to secure their property. First off, I had an appointment with Tempe Police Department to provide proof that I had satisfied their requirements to release the vehicle. When I arrived for my appointment, the court clerk said 'Oh, your bank didn't call you? They repossessed it this morning.' They took my car literally hours before I went to court to settle everything and get the car back, without even a call of warning. When I called to complain (in complete shock and bewilderment, since I never got a letter, call or ANYTHING ever even threatening repossession in the entire time I've had the loan) they stated it was viewed as a risk, because my loan was also past due. This month (July) is the first time I've fallen one full payment behind in the 2 1/2 years I've had the loan. Furthermore, Jorge (the first person I spoke to) informed me that I had put myself in this position, and the bank couldn't be held responsible for my personal problems. After picking up my jaw from the sheer rudeness I got for a reply, I asked to speak to a 'lead'. I informed her of my situation, including all the steps I had taken in the past week to get the car out on my own. I renewed the registration back in June (woudn't that indicate I intend to keep and maintain the vehicle?), and reinstated the insurance policy that lapsed due to my suspended licence, and reinstated my driver's license all within the past week. Also, I have a standing 'promise to pay' arrangement set up already with the risk management department to ensure that I don't fall any further behind. Despite all this, I was told that they had the 'right' to protect their investment if it seemed 'at risk'. How is it 'at risk' when I'm working with THEIR in house risk management, and in the span of 8 days fulfilled everything required to get my vehicle legally operable again? Everyone falls on rough patches once in a while, and the last thing someone in my position needs is for the bank to take advantage of a temporary situation to basically grind me into poverty. I extended myself as far as possible just to get to the point where I could get my car out of the impound, and the clerk telling me my car was impounded was the last straw for my strained back. I called in every personal favor I could, and even took out a payday loan to get everything in order as soon as I could, but apparently the everyday struggles of the normal working person don't matter to places like Arizona Federal Credit Union. I stayed away from large banks to avoid being treated as a faceless bank account number, and sadly that's exactly what I found the instant hard times hit. I am beyond upset, bewildered and angry that such practices are still allowed on car loans. I have no other outlet to voice my frustration than here... Please tell me there is something I can do to right this blatantly egregious wrongdoing.
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