I purchased a 2000 Ford Ranger pick up in October and was approved through United Auto Credit Corporation. Little did I know at the time that they were a subprime auto loan company who has no regards for your privacy or the law in general.
For the most part, my payments have been on time, but I have been a week or two late on some occasions. Who hasn't? They started by making "courtesy calls" the day before, or a couple days before, and even the day the payment was due to "remind me" of my payment. If the payment wasn't in the mail pile the day it was due, they called me demanding Western Union Quick Collect (which I didn't know was illegal for them to do at the time, but now I do), and have probably wracked up about 14 months worth of quick collect charges that I never should have paid, I now know I should have just mailed them a money order since it only takes one day for mail to reach them from where I live.
They tell you if the payment isn't there on due day, that that is "unacceptable" and that Western Union is the only option according to them. They use rude and profane language with me, and told me if I didn't like their calls, to pay on time, and then I wouldn't have to listen to it. Regardless of when my payment is received by them, I should NEVER be treated with such disrespect!
I mean we're talking no more than 2 weeks late, I have never been a month late, ever! They have also told me that if I don't pay on time, that they will personally come out to the house and collect the vehicle. Then the gentleman (Dave - I'm not scared to mention who it is I spoke with or wait I fought with on the phone) stated that once he came to collect HIS vehicle (states it's his vehicle not mine) that he would sell it at auction and then attach a lien to my house for the remaining amount.
They call my home more than the lawfully allowed 2 times in a seven day period, and they call the people I used as references on the original loan application and tell them that they need a new phone number for me, as the one they have is disconnected, and that I owe them money and need to find me.
(ALL ILLEGAL) and this is right after they left me a detailed message on my answering machine (ALSO ILLEGAL, I'm not the only person who lives in my house, and I have a babysitter who checks the machine incase I leave her a message), when they are really trying to get someone to tell them my cell phone number which they don't have (AND WILL NEVER GET!)
They threaten me on my machine stating "We can just solve the issue, WHERE'S THE VEHICLE? Just tell me where the vehicle is and I'll come out and get it!" They know my god forsaken address, and they still ask that! Hello! Try stepping foot on my property and see what happens!
They use "mafia style" collection tatics to get their money on time. They even told me in a volatile conversation I had with them on 4/24/06 that I was warned in the beginning that they were aggressive. I informed Mr. & that I was meeting with my attorney the following evening, and he laughed and said go ahead, but your lawyer won't be able to do anything, I've sent you 3 notices on 3 different occasions of the default (I told him he has to by law, and I paid it each time.
Mr. & on the other hand says he doesn't have to send anymore of those letters if I'm late again, he'll just come and take the car without notice. Good Luck! I'll block my driveway first!) and that my lawyer would back him up! Can you believe that! He again told me that he wanted a western union payment made, and I told him no that I would send a money order first, but not until I spoke with my attorney.
I told him asking me to send Western Union is illegal, unless I ask you if I can send you a payment Western Union. I told him that he couldn't not demand a payment method where I had to pay an extra fee to pay the bill. I also informed him that everything he has done thus far is illegal, and he abruptly told me "That's not the point, the point is you still owe me for my vehicle for this month."
I kept interrupting him telling him "That is the point, That is the point!" I don't think he liked me too much at that point. Meanwhile I could hear all his coworkers laughing in the background as we were bickering back and forth over the phone. It made me wonder if he had me on speakerphone cause I only heard it when he spoke up.
Well, I did speak with my attorney Mark & in Boston, MA and he wants to see a copy of the contract I have with United Auto Credit and after telling him about the conversation I had with them yesterday, and everything they've done to date, he thinks I could a good chance of filing a class action lawsuit against them. He needs to see my contract first, though.
If it is worthy of a class action suit, then anyone else that would like to help bring this company down, is more than welcome.in the meantime, I am trying to trade the vehicle in, as that is truly the only way I am ever going to be rid of United Auto Credit Corporation. Six months ago, they said they'd finance another vehicle for me since I had been paying on time for so long, now they threaten to take my car (oops excuse me, their car) away from me. (I'd never finance another car with them every again! I'd buy a $500 little POS car to get me to work, before financing again with them.
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