These people hired myself and my fiance to manage a small motel. They offered to lend me money to buy a 4x4 vehicle.
After a private situation, on Thanksgiving day they decided to let us go as management but asked me to stay until the first of the year so they could hire another.
The following all occurred withing the week following Thanksgiving. Which during this time I was VERY emotionally stressed dealing with the situation that occurred at Thanksgiving.
I had a contract for 2 years on the truck. Which they never delivered a signed copy of to me.
They held my pay for 2 weeks which made me late on the 2nd payment, even though I was still working for them at the time. Then they decided that they
felt "uncomfortable" having a interest free loan for 2 years and me not working for them.
They claimed that I did not put a lien on the vehicle as agreed, but I had told Mr. Vahling at the time that I registered it, that the DMV office had told me that it was their responsibility to put the lien, and that they needed to show a signed contract which I did not have a copy of and still dont to this day.
Mrs. Vahling started calling me and saying she wanted to truck back, she sent a couple that rented her house and that my fiance at the time was staying with, to my home, stating that they were there to put a lien on the truck for the Vahlings.
I called Mrs. Vahling and she stated that as long as I kept the payments up, that I could keep the truck, but she wanted the lien put on it. I gave the title to the couple, and they asked for a copy of the contract, which I told them I did not have a signed copy, only the blank copy the owners had emailed me to read before signing.
I did give them that copy, and the title. They returned the next day stating that I needed to sign the title and could they have the keys so that the VIN number could be verified. I did give the keys, as did I sign the title.
They immediately sent outside and got the truck. I was told they were taking the truck off of the property by my daughter. I ran outside and told them they were not taking the truck, but was promptly told that they were indeed taking the truck.
I immediatley called Mrs. Vahling because I saw my fiance outside across the street and thought they were taking the truck to him. She assured me that they were not, but that they were taking the truck up to her house as a "precaution", and until the lien was put on.
Over the next month I requested several times that the truck be returned to me, upon Mr. Vahling arriving at the motel to discuss things, I offered payment in cash 3 different times, of which he refused.
I spoke with the Vahlings on several occasions informing them that I had the payment and would mail, wire or direct deposit into their account. I was told to wait until one of them could get there to discuss the matter.
Finally on December 15, I made both November and December payment which I mailed by certified mail. I emailed the Vahlings and informed them of that fact.
The following morning I demanded to the couple that had physical possession of the truck that I intended to get the truck, even if it meant bringing the sheriffs office with me to keep the peace. I called Mrs. Vahling and demanded that the truck be returned to me immediately.
Withing the next hour the sheriffs office called me stating that April Storm called them and that I was harrassing them and threatened to come there and start trouble. Three hours later, Mr. Vahling arrived with the police, and had me escorted off of the property.
A few days later on Christmas Eve. I got a check at a motel that by law they had to provide for 30 days, for the payments I had made on the truck, minus the cost for them to put the truck back in their name.
They immediately sold the truck without notification to me, with my plates on it. I filed a small claims case and had them served. They started saying that I had stolen things from the motel when I left, and that those things were going to be reported as stolen.
I notified the sheriffs office, and demanded that they provide a list of all things they were claiming were stolen, and if the sheriffs office found those in my possession they would immediately be returned.
Conveniently when the sheriffs office contacted them, they stated that they didnt have a current list and some private things he did tell the sheriff I had which were given to me by them were promptly returned.
They also held my final pay check for over 2 weeks and I had to go through the labor board and make demand for payment of wages, which cost me to have them served also to even get my final pay.
All of this left me without a vehicle to leave the area, (no public transportation to or from the area), find other employment, no housing, and I couldnt even get to a store to buy food. During a time when the weather in that area was sub-zero for days on end, snow accumulation of feet, not inches.
I am not from that area, I am from the coast of NC. I had to live in a van for 2 months after my 30 day period at the motel ran out, in temperatures that were unreal. I arrived there September on a motorcycle, and coudnt ride it out.
I am emotionally, physically, and financially almost ruined. My motorcycle is ready to be repossessed,
Now I have been told on 2 separate occasions by attorney's that have give me a free consultation that I have a real strong case due to them violating my consumer rights. But now that it has taken me until March of this year to get out of the area, and to safe living arrangements, I have no funds to return to Colorado for this hearing which is May 8.
I have requested a postponment, but not sure if it will be granted. Greyhound doesnt even go to that area.
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