During the course of my loan Prestige Financial engaged in many forms of harassment in their collection efforts. Many times I received threatening calls one to two days before my payment was even due. On the occasions I was late I tried to call Prestige to let them know when I would be able to make the payment. They demanded payment right then and there, and threatened me. They would send people out to my home and charge me $50.00 “for a door knock” every time they came out. This is after I had called them and said for example “I will bring the payment to you in three days” and they would send someone out anyways and charge me $50.00. On one occasion I was not home and my sister was at my house with a newborn baby. The collector banged on the door and yelled my name for 20 minutes before leaving. My sister did not know who it was and was very frightened as he was banging on the door so loud it caused a picture to fall off the wall. I was three days late at the time. I received abusive and threatening text messages to my cell phone from another collector, calling me names and threatening to come take my vehicle. Other times they called my family and friends and gave them specific account information and informed them I was late on my payments and was going to get my car taken away. They even went as far as demanding payment from them! Other times when I made payments over the phone they agreed to waive the normal fee of $20 to pay over the phone. They told me numerous times that if I gave them the payment over the phone right then that they would waive the fee. When I asked for a detailed account statement of the fees on my account, they had in fact charged me $20 every single time I made a payment over the phone. I went as far to speak with a supervisor regarding the fees, and explained to her that I was told these fees would be waived and she was very rude and said there was nothing she could do. It was just another tactic for them to get payment. Other times I received as many as 20 phone calls in a row on my cell phone, when collectors would call and call for 20 minutes straight. I have done research online and found many similar complaints regarding this company, and believe that they practice in illegal and harassing collection practices. Three years into the loan the engine went out on my vehicle. I was trying to save up to buy a new engine and continued paying Prestige for six months when I was not even driving the vehicle. After that time I simply could not affford to make the payments. Prestige repossessed the vehicle (a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta) From the dealership I had taken it to while I was waiting to buy an engine. They charged me $1500 to repossess the vehcile and than they sold it for $600! Now get this... I paid them close to $14, 000 during the course of my loan. The original amount of the loan was $16, 800. Now they are sueing me for $17, 000! They are sueing me for more than the original loan amount and they took the car! Unbelievable! I don't know how these people sleep at night.
Excuse me mica1755, but that is absolutley not correct. Just because you have breached your contract does not give the finance company the right to act anyway they please. There are actual laws put in place regarding this called "the fair debt collections practices act." This outlines specific guidlines for collectors and I can tell you as a former collector that if these laws are broken, the collections company can be fined up to $1000 per each and every specific violation. I have actually sued a collections company for this and they choose to give me $1000 rather than go to court!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Ya there trying to do the same to me but I am doing some reserching to see if they can legally be doing what they are doing. I lost my job and still was trying to pay and I asked them to lower my payment down from $416.00 to $316.00 for a few months and they kept saying we will work with you just pay this month in full and well work something out next month well it was the same story every month. well with no income i cant pay $416.00 and they wouldnt take the $316.00 so I let them take the car and I hope they take me to court so I can let the judge know what kind of company they are and how so many pepol owe more on there cars at the end then what they pd from the start. I have many emails and phone messages saved on how they played there game of pay in full this month and we will work with you next month so hopefully I can use them in court becuse im sure the judge would like to hear that they wont work with us during these hard times that everyone is having.
i wish they would send someone to my houst knocking on the door i have some dog that can stop that and if you dont know post no trespassing sign then call the police they will be arrested for criminal treapassing
Just to let you people know - The way loan contracts work with vehicles (have been doing legal collections for years for local Law Firms) - When a car is repo'd, it is sold at public auction. If you owe $10, 000.00 on the car, and they charge a repo fee of $1, 500.00, then you owe $11, 500.00. They sell the car at auction for $3, 500.00 - That leaves you owing $8, 000.00 + all Attorney Fees, Court Costs, & Filing Fees. Thus, leaving you owing roughly $11, 000.00.
While it sounds like they are dirty & malicious in what they do. The people that are doing this job are doing nothing more than obiding by the very contract that you signed. Regardless of how its going to look in court, a Judge may tell them that their tactis are a little rough... but you still signed a contract that you will be liable for...PERIOD. Sorry to rain on your parade. Oh, and it isn't criminal tresspassing if they have an order for repo on a vehicle you aren't paying on. It's them collecting their belongings, and allowing you to return it voluntarilly, versus the repo charge!
WTF ever mc williams, u sound like you work for them however i understand what you are saying but just like the housing market those people signed contracts as well and it was found that the same people that signed on the dotted line were preyed upon just like a lot of the finance companies do especially prestige i have seen loans there that were funded and these people DTI ratio was overlooked just to make a car deal i feel as if the goverment needs to sit down and put some things in place to protect our elderly and people that get nothing but ssi and disability those are the people prestige prey upon i have seen times people have car loans and have the same name as there dad and have a loan thru the company and even when they find out they dont care they still go after the father so u can sit back and quote all the laws u know but the simple fact is every dog has there day and prestiges day is coming soon WATCH and see.
Her name is BRIANNA from PRESTIGE. My car paymet is due on the 20th of each month, she calls me the day before to see if I'm making my payment or if she can go ahead and the bank draft. I've never been more than a week past due on my payments. She said my loan has a NO GRACE PERIOD agreement in it. So on the 20th of each month they want my payment made. I said once I'm going to be a month late. they threaten to repo my car, or take it to a location until I made that late payment and paid a month in advance. These are BLOOD SUCKERS. I will tell everyone I know to never ever, let them finance a vehicle through them.
I have an account with prestige financial. Now, I know that according to the F.D.C.P.A, creditors are not allowed to leave several messages within a 24 hour period, yet this company does.And they don't just leave a message, they are detailing the reason for the call on my machine and to others.(Another direct violation) They also solicit payments from my parents when they cant get a hold of us. (again, direct violation) this has been going on for months and I'm fed up.
I have made 11 payments on my car, not ONCE late, not even a day late. Every time I am early, every time I pay over the amount due. I got a call from them yesterday asking about my payment, which by the way was NOT due yet. I told him he was being very rude to call about my payment when I have never even shown them I wouldn't pay. He said I should be grateful to them for lending me the money to buy my new car. I am lost, what kind of customer service are these people practicing? If anything they should be happy to have customers, especially with the economy the way it is, and then to harass a good customer? I am going to trade my car in next month and not finance through this company ever again. Do they really believe they are the only finance company? I also registered a complaint with the BBB, more should, they have no right to treat people this way. BTW McWilliams63, you are very wrong in your comment, people have rights when companies like yours use bully tactics! I'd look for a new job if this company keeps up like this, you will go under with it.
THIS COMPANY OF NEEDS TO BE STOP WE CAN BLOG ALL DAY LONG BUT ACTION IS NEEDED- WE HAVE RIGHTS NO MATTER IF THERE FIRST PARTY OR THIRD-AND MCWILLIAMS63 LEGAL COLLECTIONS LAW FIRM USED THE SAME TACTICS SO YOU DONT COUNT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SUING THEM SO YOU CAN DO IT TO IF THEY VILOATED YOUR PRIVACY OR THREATHEN TO SEND YOU TO JAIL CHECK YOUR STATE LAWS--FIGHTINGBACKINAZ
Prestige Financials bark is bigger than there bite they are taught to threaten you if you cant make your payment the whole thing is they can say wutever to you as long as you (the customer) doesn't have proof of it (recordings) there is no prelegal, etc the only departments that's there is collections and customer service so they ususally have there neighbor or someone there that has a scary voice to threaten ya but they will not repo your car unless you are 90 days past due. You also have to be more that 30 days past due to in order to get an ext. now how ###ed is that? Reward the customers who are 30 days past due but the ones that are on time threaten them and they will pay this is what i was taught guys .Again just know your rights and call them on there threats.
My payment was due on the 10th and couldn't make it. They said they would give me till the 30th but I had something major come up and I told them it would have to wait till the 8th of next month till we get paid. They said books close on the 30th and they cannot extend the payment. I have heard some dirty stories about Prestige repossessing cars after one missed payment. Is that 90 day thing a law? I hate to get a loan to pay this n get another bill to pay. Can email me at janicetrue57@yahoo.com and let me know. I am needing to know what to do here. They can be [censored] n don't care about your situation.
This company is ###ED! I have told them over and over to come get the car..I told them I don't plan on paying them anymore because I cannot afford it. They have threatened me over and over again with legal action. I haven't made a payment for over 6 months now and the car is still sitting in my drive way, were it hasn't moved since 6/2009. Has anyone actually been sued by this company? Not just threatened...
They are suing me now
So I guess I don't need to worry about missing one payment then?
Did you actually get sued?
I have been trying to work with them for over 2 years. Right now I am 21 days late. They are threatening me to take the car because I don't honor the agreement. My rep is Kamia Hood. I told her that I would make 2 payments next week and she said not good enough. I am trying to stay a float like everyone else. I lost my job over a year ago and now finally got a new one but I am playing catch up. They call me, . text me, and send emails threatening me every day. Now it is in the hands of the field agent to pick up the car. No idea what to do..I lose sleep over this company..
@palehand: I totally agree with you. This company is ###ed. I have done the same thing that you mention. I have not made a payment in 7 months. I sent the request for them to pick up the car. They have called texted, emailed with threatening messages. They even went as for as to ask me if I could find someone to take up the payments. At one point I did have someone to do that, but the way their people play so many games they decided against dealing with them. For them to be professional people they play some stupid games like changing the number on the read out on your caller ID to say your work number or other number from your references in hopes that you answer the phone. Well I just sent them another letter to inform them that the car is now in the auto pound due to the tags expiring in October with the address there for them to pick up. The funniest thing to me was when I was told that they couldn't repo the car because I didn't have insurance on the car. Now what kind of dummy am I suppose to be. First of all they want be driving the car it will be in tow, and secondly they have insurance to cover their cars.
I am so glad to find out that I am not the only one dealing with this company. They are the most unprofessional company that I have dealt with. I make payments every month and I still get threatened by them. If I am a day late, the text messages and phone calls start. Sometimes I can get a call 6 times in a day. Just depends on the day who calls me. They keep telling me I dont have insurance on the care however i have sent them proof over and over. I wish I knew how I could stop them.
I have been lied to by them. I was not going to be able to make my payment for Aug and Sept. I called them and they said that they would put it at the end of my loan...interest free. We agreed to have my next payment due Oct 1st. Well, I was able to make a payment in August, so I made one over the computer. Then Sept came around and I found out that I could make another payment, so I called them this time and the guy on the line told me that I didn't owe a payment until October 1st. He also told me that I shouldn't of made a payment in August, because I was on a payment plan agreement. I went round and round with him and he pretty much refused to take my payment. I hung up with him and called right back hoping to get someone else, but I got him again. I asked him to check once more and see if I have a payment due...he said '' mam, please you do not owe a payment until Oct 1st." Like a dummy I took his word for it. I didn't understand, but believed him. I figured he worked there and should know better than me. Well Oct 1st came around and Brittany called me and now I owed 2 payments and I was being charged interest for everyday that I was late. I told her about the guy I talked to and she asked me what number I called and then informed me that he was fired, because he was not on the same page as everyone. Ok! So I reminded her about the no interest and she told me that the was not true and I needed to now make a $350.00 payment every 2 weeks until the end of March to get me caught up. Being a good person and not understanding all the fast talking, I made one $350.00 payment and then a week later the calls started up again. 3 calls a day! This time it was Andrea! I finally talked to her and told them that I can't do that many payments. She laughed and told asked me who told me that I needed to make payments like that. Again not understanding!
I told her it was Brittany. She then told me that Brittany was fired. I had called them, because I had many messages on my phone, text and email that they had options for me, but after calling, Andrea told me that there was nothing that they could do for me and that I was to put the car on Craig's list or use a list of websites that she gave me (can't remember the names).She told me that I needed to try and sell the car using these sites and to call her back after I sold the car or have someone else take over the payments. She also told me by doing this it would by me about another month, before they would come get the car. I am now 1 1/2 months behind. I hung up with her thinking that I had to get this car sold. 2 days later I am now getting messages. test and emails from Akesa asking where my payment was and that they had options for me. Again not understanding what the heck she is talking about because of what Andrea told me. I emailed Akesa and let her know the conversation between Andrea and I and all I got was an email back telling me that I needed to make a payment. I then called her 2 days later and asked her what was going on. She told me that she was here to help me and that if I made 5 payments for the next five months I would be caught up and they would put the payments that I missed at the end of my loan interest free. The only catch is that the 5 payments would not go towards my principle. It would just go to the company, because they were doing me a favor. I was desperate, so I gave her the payment. She than told me that I could make the next 4 payments anytime during the months that they were do, as long as I make them. Ok! 4 days later it is still Januray and her constent phone calls, text and emails start up. She is wanting February's payment. What the heck! I just gave you a payment. I have the whole month! My phone is ringing up to 8 times a day, 4-6 text messages a day and at least 2 emails a day. Most times the phone will ring and she will hang up and call right back 3-4 times, then leave 2 text messages. Finally the other day I was at work and noticed that it was them, so I answered and Akesa started in on me. I told her that I was going to make the payment, but I could not do it today and I would call her tomorrow. I then told her not to call me at work, because I work in Health care and it is busy, so I can not have personal phone calls at work. She kept talking and would not listen, so I had to hang up on her. The phone then rang 6 mores times in a row. 1 1/2 hours later she called 3 more times in a row. 20 minutes later I answered the phone again. Asked her again not to call me at work. She then told me that I didn't know who to handle my responsibilities, so I hung up on her again. She then called 7 more times in a row. 2 minutes later she called 3 more times in a row. After work I had 3 calls and 2 text messages on my cell phone. There is other situations with this company, but it would be a book before I got done. I have decided that I am not going to give them 4 more payments of $420.oo, because I was only 1 1/2 months behind and they had told me it would be interest free...well what are the 5 payments for?
Everyone here getting contacted at work, or has relatives being harassed send them email to notify them they can only send you mail. No other communication otherwise can be made period. They must do this by law. I have already done this.
You can also turn them in to the Department of finance in your local area. They are not alowed to ring your phone over and over again. They are also not suppose to give information to family, friends, co-workers or Neighbors. They have done this to me and I am tired of it. I know that I am in the worng for not being able to pay for the car any longer, but when it comes to my health care or the car...I have to chose my health care.
I have made my payments told them I would make a payment on the 26th. I sent Morgan the info Fri that I could not make the payment on the 26th due to the fact that I was put in the hospital. I am 20 days behind so now here the threats start. Yesterday they called my work twice, sent me 3 text messages, 8 emails, and called my phone 26 times. One rep says that they can can take a post dated check and the next rep says they can't. Then I had a third person call me last night telling me that he understands and wants to work with me. I call him to tell him the situation that I am still in the hospital and he understands..Then Kamia calls me twice already today..threatening to release my car for repo..she said I never communicate with them. I have responded to all emails and text messages. I can't take it anymore. This is insane. I feel like I am under the gun with them all the time.
Insane66. It will get worse. They contact my co-workers everyday and tell them that they are looking for a missing car. They make it sound like I have stole a car. My boss even asked me what was going on. They have contacted my neighbors (people I don't even know) having them put notes on my door, telling me to contact them because they don't have my phone number. (Whatever, they call, text, email and call my work all day). They also told my neighbor that they were looking for a missing car. Gosh, that makes me look like I have stolen the car. I have told them to just come get it and they raise their voices telling me to stop hiding the car. That is so not true! I don't understand why they keep saying that to me. They know where I live and work and I have told them to come get the car.
I have contacted the Dept. of Finance and they told me to file a complaint on their website, because they may be able to get them on the constant calling and hanging up (over and over again). They also said that they are not alowed to tell family, friends, co-workers or anyone that you are behind on your payments.
Not expecting much, but I have received a letter from the Dept of Finance that they are sending a letter to Prestige in this matter.
I totally feel and understand your frustration. I just don't understand why they have laws for Morgage companies, but not for car finance companies. I have just through my hands in the air and given up. I just can't take one agent telling me one thing and then another saying something different. Hopefully they can be stopped.
So...after almost a year of not making payments, they send a peon to my house and try telling me that they do not need a judgment against me in order to garnish my wages. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I am now going to get some legal advice regarding this company and their shady business practices.
They have already threatened to repo the car more than once. It still sits in my driveway.
They have already threatened to sue me more than once. Have not received a subpoena.
This company is obviously in no position to do much and they are probably going under. I would recommend filing complaints with your state's AG and with the FTC. If they get enough complaints about Prestige, they will investigate and I guarantee that their investors will not be happy when they all find out they've been investing in bad loans, default loans and whatever else is going on at that ridiculous excuse for a company.
I can top you all...I too had a car loan and paid every payment on time as required by the terms of the loan. I too received a call the day before the payment was due asking us to 'settle the account' crazy because we still had one day to make the paymnt - we paid it online without fail on the due date- heck we even received rate reductions for great payment history. In April of this year we made a payment on 4-8-10 to be exact then on 4-15-10 we traded the car in and got financed through a different company. Because of this the account was paid in full on 4-29-10 by the dealership - we were happy to get rid of Prestige their hounding us every month. Now I am trying to re-fi my house and the mtg broker tells me that there is negative posting on my credit report guess who it's from...Prestige. They inaccurately reported to the credit bureau that we had two late payments one in April...hmmm we paid it on 4-8-10, and another one in June - WE DIDN'T EVEN OWN THE CAR THEN! So I called Prestige begging them to correct the innacuracies to the bureaus - they saidthey couldn't help to take it up with the credit bureau & file a dispute. I expressed that the process takes too long and can't they contact the bureau themselves and get the information corrected - the supervisor Justine said NO that they had no WAY TO HELP that they didn't have access to letters etc. The only thing they could do is provide me a statement SHOWING ALL PAYMENTS WERE MADE ON TIME - now how rediculous is that THEY ARE NOT CUSTOMER FRIENDLY WHAT SO EVER. I will likely lose the opportunity to refi the house into my name - and if so - Prestige WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE - pay attention Prestige! T from CO
I agree with all of you, i have been trying to look into doing something about these unlawful practices this company does.I have to been getting alot of calls txt messages and harrassing calls to my family members and told them time and time agian do not call my job they still do! this has to STOP my reps name is Niesha and i have requested that my due date be changed because of having to move and a change of employment my dates have changed and they refuse to this so now i have late fees and get all these calls because the payment is late but HELLO! change the due date and it wont be late anymore.how RETARTED! these people must be stopped i thought i was the only one having to deal with this company but come to find out all you are dealing with the same exact issues.i look it like yes we owe a debt to this company but there is still laws they have to obide by and they are not doing that.
Ok I'm done with Prestige Financial, They call me, my family and co-workers many times a day trying to get paid, at one point asked my boss to make a payment.. I am only 4 days late.. This has been going on for a year.. Anyone have any ideas of what I can do?
I had a loan with Prestige as well and they are ruthless! This was actually my ex's account but we were married at the time he got the loan and they even allowed him to sign my name. He bought the car in May of 2006 and we made our payments every month, we did have some late payments. We were separated in April of 2007 and he left the car and the payments for me to take care of, not to mention our three children. Once I took over payments I made them ontime, even early every month. They still called me days before the payment was due telling me that if I didnt make a payment they would take further action, even have me arrested. I was laid off from my job in August 2008 and until then I had made every payment ON TIME, my payments for that time period equalled over $11, 000. At that time I told my account rep Brian that I could no longer make my payments due to my job loss and I wanted to do a voluntary repo. He told me not to worry about it that he would defer that months payment and I would find a job by the next month. I then continued to get up to 10 phone calls a day from them. Well the next month came no job.. I called him again same thing. He did tell me that I could have my ex take over payments or sell the car but they could not lower my payments to help out (I was paying $615 every month) October & November both passed so finally in December I stopped answering their calls after telling them I was done with the loan and to come get the car. All this time they called me numerous times a day, I had to block their number from texting me. They left message after message telling me that they were going to call the police and that my kids would be sent to the state because mom would be in jail. They finally came to get the car in January 09. My ex took the car from them that same month and they lowered his payments to $400. I would recieve calls every month from them because he was always late and they would threaten me just like before. They told me just because he took over the payments I was still responsible (we were both still on the loan), they also told me they would not refinance the car for him to get my name off. They took the car from him in November of 09 but they did not inform me before hand that he had defauleted this time. I was trying to clean my credit up so I called them in July of 2010 and they said they would make payment arrangements with me on my half of the debt and they would send me the info. I never recieved anything. Here it is December and still nothing. My new (and much improved from previous) husband is trying to buy a house for our family but prestige is our bump in the road. I called them two days ago about this account and they told me they wre tyring to find either me or my ex to sue us. I haven't moved or changed my number so they obviously havent looked to hard. I am still unemployed but they said they would garnish my husbands wages for this debt and not my ex. I even gave them my ex's info but they were not interested. I told them I want to make payments and get this taken care of but he started in with the threats again. THey finally told me they would sent me information and the final pay off is $17000. I think I will send them some lube samples in return so it won't hurt as much for the next person they screw over. FYI I was advised by my attorney and lender not to pay a dime to these people and let them try to sue me. Just make sure if they do sue you that you go to the trial so you can defend your case
The people at Prestige Financial are idiots. My car was recently totalled as of 10/5/2010, so i called them to let them know i wouldn't be making a car payment on a car i didn't have. These people kept harassing me for a car payment, i kept telling them i have no money and wait until the gap and my car ins. pays them. Finally after all that was said and done i still owe Prestige 2, 000 dollars. I told them i would pay them 50.00 dollars a month and they said that they cannot take a payment that is less than 100.00 dollars a month, so now i get a call, text message, and email pretty much everyday from them and i tell them the same thing everyday. There has to be a way to get them for harrasment. If anyone knows where i can go or who to talk to about this problem, please let me know.
My car was totaled on January 9, 2011. My car note was due on January 20th. Prestige emailed me to ask me to make a payment until allstate seattled the claim, when I refused, she changed my monthly due date from January 20th to January 8th so that they can say I was 30-days behind to screwup my credit. I have had it with this company, now that they have recieved the check from allstate, they are now asking for 100 dollars in intrest and fees until the gap insurance finish paying the rest of the car off which is only 725.00. This is the worst company I have ever seen I wish I never signed the papers. If there is any class action suite please count me in my email address is: november192000@yahoo.com
I’m pretty much having a similar issue with this company, I fell ill and had to have back surgery, I’ve been off work for 3 years and fell behind on my car payment. First let me say don’t ever go to world Kia Joliet IL they sold me a 2015 Ford Fusion and over priced the car by $5000.00. I financed $22000.00 dollars and now if I pay as planned it will cost me over $40000.00. I’m paying $540.00 a month and I find out the car blue booked at $15000.00 when I purchased it. prestige said if I voluntarily gave up the car they would sell it for $9000.00 and ad numerous fees and I would still owe $15000.00. I made a full payment today and was told since I didn’t pay it on the 31st I was going to be charged $10.00 a day in interest to the tune of $290.00 on my next payment because August pay is due on the 3rd which I can’t afford. I’m a disabled veteran, and a retired cop. I was injured assisting a 14 year old who had been shot. I reinsured my back and the army blames the police Dept and the police Dept blames the army for my injury. Bottom line I can’t sue either for compensation because being a strong solider I did not claim my injuries when I left service after 11 years, had I claim my injury it would have hindered my future employment opportunities. That was a mistake, so I’m telling my brothers at arms to man up and report your injuries before you leave service. I’ve gotten off track so back to prestige, they are a money hungry Organization and has no heart. I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this situation but if anyone decides to file a class action against prestige please contact me at tneal223@yahoo.com, I would join that class action to save others from falling prey to such an unscrupulous company like this. I know I signed the contract and I own that, but it doesn’t make it right. Making money is the American way, but if you lose your soul in the way you make your money, I ask is it worth it, for you too will have to answer one day for your sins. Keep in mind when you finance a car with a dealer, who they get you financing with a unscrupulous company, it should tell you a lot about that dealership. It use to be for those old enough to remember, the service industry took pride in their service and products and you’d stay with them for life, now you still stay with for life, but not for good service, it’s because you owe them for life due to bad deals. I have been in service of my country and community all of my life and to be treated like this justifies the saying no good deed goes unpunished.
While I was deployed to Iraq in 2005, my ex-wife decided to buy a minivan. Her credit was crap, so she decided to take the power of attorney that I was orded to give her by the Army and bought it through Prestige Financial. I made all of my payments on time while deployed, and was just fine with it when I got back a year later. I then received an honorable discharge for my 6 years of service, and was therefore unemployeed and moving to Utah. When I got here I decided that being with my ex-wife was not the best idea becuase of infidelities on her part (thats another story), but she could not take the van so I got stuck with it, and two other cars that I already had. I then proceeded to tell prestige that they needed to come and get the car because I could not afford it anymore, and I could not sell it to anyone. They told me no and that I needed to make a payment even though it wasn't due until the end of November, and this was the beginning of the month.
When they didnt show up, I drove down to their office, and gave them the car keys and said "I am surrendering my minivan, and you will take it now". They took it, but complained about it the whole time...but they got back at me. The mini van sat in their parking lot for 6 months all the while I was missing payment that they were crushing my credit with. The original price on the van was 15k roughly, they sold it at auction for a whopping 6k so my debt was down to 9k doing simple math. They then told me absoulutly nothing for almost 3 years, and thats when I found out about the 9k that I owed them so I asked them about a payment plan to get it all handled so that I could get my credit score back up, but it would have to be low payments for now cause I had just gotten back from my third deployment (got bored and joined the National Guard) so I was therefore unemployeed again so they had me fill out a debt sheet so that could work with me on the amount that I could pay. I received the paperwork, filled it all out, and sent it back the very next day. I then heard nothing again for another year...the only reason that I did hear anything is because I called them cause I want my credit score back so that I can use my VA Loan to get my house. I got transfered to almost every department in that stupid place, and finally got into someone that could help me (or so I though).
I told a man named Aldolpho that I couldnt pay a lump sum amount, and that I could not afford to pay $450 a month with all of my other bills that I have, so he said that it was impossible to pay any less than that, then he explained that my account balance is now 17k because all the while that they were not in contact with me the account has been accruing interest even though my credit report shows account closed/ Charge-off. So I told him that I would have to talk to my wife about the payment issues, and have since decided to wait until I deploy again to start making my payments to them, because if they can wait 4 years without saying anything at all, they can wait a little bit longer. So he called me back multiple times, left harrasing messages on my cell phone telling me that litigation will start if I do nothing, this Aldolpho even started sending me text messages...text messages...how professional is that!
I dont get this stupid lending institution...I can not wait for them to go to court, because I have kept track of all the messages, phone calls, lack of response to my phone calls, and even a returned check with a letter saying that $100 is not enough for a payment.
Unlike me, you may have some options because you were deployed during this purchase, check with the veterans administration, they have a veterans assistance program that gives one time assistance to veterans for bills they cannot pay like car financing utility bills and mortgage payments. I know a fellow veteran that had his car note paid off. Good luck
The only way to make them understand that they can not do this to consumers is to report them to Utah's BBB and your state Attorney General's office they do take consumer abuse very serious. Also document everything, save texts, VM's, Email's, direct mail, and if you can all the correspondenses with your neighbors and relatives (I do know they contact them too). Just sitting on here complaining about them will not help, I filed with my AG's office it took all of five minutes and $5 dollars for certified return receipt mail. Oh and do not send them emails requesting or quoting FDCPA laws always use US MAIL CERTIFIED RETURN RECIEPT, small price to pay but let's them know you are serious plus emails can be manipulated believe me!
Prestige Financial are a very clever firm. The FDCPA only applies to third party collectors and PF does not not use third party collectors or any collectors at all. They have their own in house collectors and unfortunately there are no laws to protect yourselves against that. They do not have to abide by the FDCPA like any other collection agency does because they do not use one. You can look this up. My husband lost his job and we lost our home. I slept the night in the car that was financed through them with my kids one night before going to a shelter. They repo'd the vehicle right from underneath me. Because they specialize in making loans happen with people who have poor credit or a previous bankruptcy, they know how desperate people are to get a loan approved so they approve loans when many other places woould not...they do take advantage of those with poor credit. Most car loans offer a 7-10 day grace period but Prestige says upfront before signing the loan that there are no grace periods. Once my car was repo'd they got a judgement and then tried to garnish my wages (I ended up getting a job) in a state for which I did not live. But I was able to dismiss the garnishment. I live in a no garnishment state and PF knew that and opted to use my old state that I lived in where the loan orginated. I know the laws and its important to know them, your rights, especially before signing a contract.
I had my loan through Prestige and if I have to walk on my hands and knees, I will never get a car or anything else financed through them again. They lie, they harrass, they threaten, and I have reported them to the BBB, but to no avail. I paid them off today, but it was 6 months after I was supposed to make my last payment. They added all these erroneous charges right at the end of the loan and whenI questioned them they told me that the people who were working there previously were all fired because they weren't doing their job - by telling me that everyday after my due date I was not only accruing additional finance charges, but late charges as well. I asked for a record of my payments and the amount that they told me was owed was $1, 000 less on the statement they sent, and the contract states that if you are 7 days late, there may be additional charges. Please, don't give them any more business. They prey on people whose credit is already in trouble and they practice predatory lending at it's worse. They should be put out of business.
Please contact the law office of Hughes Ellzey, LLP if you have had your vehicle repossessed without a notice letter. Hughes Ellzey is currently handling such cases. For more information, please visit the following link: http://www.crafthugheslaw.com/Vehicle-Repossession-Lawyer.shtml or call the office directly at [protected].
I am from Texas and can something be done about this company? I obtained a loan in 2008 and the calls to my family and friends are ridiculous. They have asked my family members for my car payment. Is there a Class Action Lawsuit that we can do. I have asked them time and time again to come and pick up the car, and they tell me that I need to pay for the car.
I am sick of it, the car is not worth all of this. HELP!
My husband and I obtained a loan through Prestige 8 months ago and have made 7 payments on time. Due to a recent job issue, we are not able to keep the car. I informed them by phone and via email back in June 2011 that we would not be able to keep the car and to please make arrangements with me to get it. It's now the end of August and I still have the car. They keep telling me that they don't know when they will come get it. Does anyone know if they have a clause in their loan agreements that pertains to job loss and returning a car with no penalty if it's within one year? I am wondering if that's why they are delaying as they want me to keep it for the year so then I will be liable for the loan as if they get it now, I would not be based on that clause.
Why don't we just sue the company ? These people has put my mom in the hospital twice from stress and the harassments she was receiving from them. Y'all let me know !
Hello, I too want to be a part of a class action lawsuit against Prestige Financial.. Please contact me Tay1221@gmail.com. Lisa
Prestige Financial are crooks... Antone that is in process of a class action lawsuit against them.. Please contact me! Tay1221@gmail.com
I have been behind for a few months. I have several people calling, texting and sending me emails. I explained to each and every one of them that I was going medical issues involving my son. I needed some help. So they agreed to take $200 biweekly and my regular Car payment on its due date. So, yesterday I tried to make a payment I was blocked out. Someone else was on the phone from Prestige named Micha, Casey, or Shelby is in charge of my account and they went the charge off amount to become current.
I have been dealing with Prestige for almost 3 1/2 years. I have been harassed and they have threatened me to pick up my car on several occasions. Finally I told them a few weeks ago "come and get this piece of S%^&! Of course they didn't. The person Jordan Lucero was assigned to me over 4 months ago and he is the rudest person I have ever dealt with. I went so far as to speak with the VP of Finance to let her know that I never wanted to deal with him again. Two weeks ago I sent the VP Lydia Gutierrez a detailed email asking for a breakdown of my account and why when I've paid over $21, 400 on a car that was originally $17, 500 am I receiving a bill that tells me that I still owe $22, 000! I was livid. She of course didn't respond to my first email and so I sent another one. When I sent the second one, her response was "please give me a call to discuss". They do not want to put anything in writing. I only deal with them through email because I want physical documentation of our conversations. I am building my case and I will soon take them down. If you know of someone who is interested in filing a class action lawsuit please reach out to me a tcmotley3265@gmail.com.
You can count on me if we get enough people to go after them. We may not be able to get our money back, but we can at least bring some attention to their unscrupulous practices
reach out to me. I have had many problems with them. I pay every month and they are telling me that I am over 7000 behind. I have had my loan for over 6 years. Ughh. lovinmycharger@gmail.com
I previously had a finance company that put me through all this same s hit. I have had two different account handlers at Prestige Financial and LUCKILY I haven't run into this yet. I'd love to know what happened to some of the people that posted here. It seems as though they submit a complaint to the Dept. Of Finance and that's it. I would love to know if anyone has actually gotten them to stop?
On a side note, I told them where to come get my car countless times. They never came for it.
The place i lived at CONSTANTLY hired tow trucks to get rid of vehicles from the lot for whatever reason they could find. So tow trucks would wander through the parking lot almost daily. But they never picked it up.
yeah they will tell you that you can't go past the end of the month because the "Books Close" and they can't set up a payment arrangement after the first of the month. Well I let it ride and they got in touch with me on the 5th and said so where can we take that payment from on the 10th? lol. they text constantly and call but I just let it go to VM and when they text I send them a message and tell them the date that I will make the payment. when they say they can't make an arrangement for that date I tell them "Ok I can go online and pay it, thanks"