I recently got my car impounded for DMV and licensing reasons. It took me a week to get my license reinstated and fines cleared up through the DMV. I contacted Westlake to find out how to get my car back and was advised to contact the police department. I went to the police department and was notified at that time that Westlake had already repo'd my car!
Why would they tell me to contact the police department about my car when they had already seized my vehicle?!
I contacted the agent at Westlake, Ray from the Repossession Department, who claimed that they use the repossession term to benefit the customer. BULL! Stating that they are saving the customers money by storing it with one of their storage vendors. BULL! The repo stays on your record! He then explained to me that they could release it to someone else with a valid driver's license and 5 references. Why would they need anyone's information but MINE? (Watch out! They were setting up the next buyer for my vehicle at the end of the 30 days!) I didn't understand that so I asked why it couldn't be released to me. The agent said that Westlake signed a contract with the police stating they wouldn't release the car to the registered owner because the police had a mandatory 30 day hold' on my vehicle.
Basically, in order for me to get my car, I needed to get the hold released. (Which is possible, people... Don't let them discourage you!) I obtained the release by requesting a 30 Day Impound Release Hearing with the police department's Watch Commander. I provided proof of license reinstatement and proof of insurance. Had a brief interview and the early release was approved!
I faxed the approved early release information to Westlake Financial to prepare a report to send to the storage facility so I could pick up my car. I went to go pick up my car and found out that this so-called storage facility was actually an AUTO AUCTION FACILITY! (Norwalk Auto Auction; Norwalk, CA on Rosecrans Ave.) I learned that Westlake is a primary creditor lending service with the facility thanks to the huge Westlake Financial Service banner hanging up. Westlake had planned on auctioning my car on the DAY of the release! These people WANT to auction off your car from up under you by using delay tactics; sending you on a goose hunt with false and or weak information!
*Example #1: Westlake told me I had to contact Alhambra Police for the release information when in fact THEY reported the repossession, picked up the car from AND signed the contract with the South Pasadena Police Department. I received false information! Clearly this was a delay tactic!
*Example #2: I would call my agent's direct line to discuss my account and he would ignore my calls, leave me on hold for long periods of time or forward me to his voicemail. He even locked up my account so that no one else in the company could help me! It wasn't until I started calling with my phone number BLOCKED that I would catch up with him. Shady business!
*Example #3: I sent Westlake a payment for the towing and storage fees they had paid to the S.P.P. D to get my car. I verified the payment with the agent who said he saw the payment pending and promised to work diligently on the report to send to the storage/auction facility as soon as it posted. After a day passed, I called the agent's direct line to see if my payment had posted and again & NO ANSWER. After many calls, I finally reached his supervisor, Joe, and explained to him that I felt Ray wasn't helping me to the best of his ability! Joe, asked Ray to check my account and the payment had posted. What was he doing all this time?! He was fully aware of time restraint to finalize my car release!
I believe this company wanted me to fail so they could resell my car! Thereby making money from my default loan and the future loan of the buyer. Any other reputable company would not have used delay tactics of any kind to deter the owner from making good on their debt. They would have insured that the owner would've received sound information that would enable them to quickly resolve their issue!
Cerena
Oxnard, California
U.S.A.
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