Consumer complaint received 2021-10-28
Company: World Omni Financial Corp.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Auto debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I don't recall exact dates or words spoken by any party involved. For this reason I will be summarizing my experience with the company. 

I was contacted by a person claiming to be from Toyota a few years ago ( probably XXXX or XXXX ) stating that I owe them money ( about {$500.00} ). I explained to them that when I turned in the leased vehicle ( XXXX ), I was told by the representative that the car was free of any damage and that I did not owe anything. The transaction was finalized and the car was turned in. I told the individual on the phone that I would like to see proof that I owed them that amount of money and provided them my contact information that was requested. 

I may or may not have heard from them again shortly after. If so, my explanation and request for proof were repeated. 

I never received anything from them in the mail or email. 

I see that it is showing up in my credit report so I disputed it with XXXX and provided my reasoning. I then heard back from XXXX and was told the dispute was closed because the information was under my name. 

I then contacted SETF ( South East Toyota Finance ) to discuss everything up to this point and they told me the following was the breakdown of the charges : 1 ) {$350.00} [ stocking ] fee - I forgot the exact word they used, but it was something like a stocking fee 2 ) {$12.00} late fee 3 ) {$160.00} for wear and tear on the vehicle In addition to this, they told me that there is nothing they could do about the credit report because this was my name. 

I repeated to them what had occurred and explained that I don't believe I was provided any proof of my owing the amount stated, or any amount of money at all, and that I didn't understand on what grounds they could report this as a negative mark on my credit report. 

I have had over 10 calls a year over the past 3-5 years from people claiming that I owe money to [ their ] company or taxes or something like that, and to be safe and fair I have attempted to screen out the fraudulent calls. Since they provided me with plenty of my information I assumed they were being honest and gave them my contact information so that they could provide proof. Since the proof was not received, and I recall the gentleman at the dealer telling me that I did not owe any money, I assumed it was one of the false or fraudulent calls.

The representative at SETF reassured me that they couldn't do anything, except for if I go to the dealer where I turned in the vehicle and speak to the representative that inspected the vehicle and get him to write a letter to them confirming my claim. They specifically said I need to go in person! 

This car was turned in almost 4 years ago in California. I am currently living in Florida. I do not remember the individual whom inspected my car and took the keys from me. I hardly remember the dealer, although I should be able to look it up because I know it was towards the end of XXXX and I took an XXXX or XXXX home from the dealer. I doubt the individual would recall this anyhow. Additionally, it seems to me to be unfair and a bit excessive that, after this much time and no proof provided by them for the money they suggest I owe ( {$520.00} on my credit report ), that they require me to fly across the country to attempt to find this individual and ask him to write and sign a letter regarding this matter. Again, assuming this gentleman still works there, I wouldn't expect him to recall a 30 - or so minute transaction that occurred in XXXX. 

Still no proof of anything was volunteered by them ; only words saying that I owe them money. 

They then transferred me to the " Least end of term '' department where I was told to explain to them what had occurred. After over an hour on hold with this department ( the direct number was provided prior to the transfer : XXXX ), I decided to submit this complaint as previously directed by the representative from XXXX. I have now been on hold for XXXX hour and XXXX minutes and have not gotten a hold of anyone. I will continue to wait until bed time and document that conversation as I am able, if it does occur. 

In the mean time I would like some guidance as to how to handle this situation. 







Also... 
Below it requests optional documents to provide. I don't know if I have any documents to provide. I will go through boxes of old papers in my storage unit over the next week or so when I get time to see if I find anything. I'm pretty sure that on the day I returned the car at the dealer the individual whom inspected it signed off on something, but it has been 4 years and I have moved 5 times since then ; XXXX of them being across the country. I am not the most organized person I know and don't always keep receipts or documents, or keep them organized if I do. I still believe that burden of proof should be on them, being that they are the ones making a claim that I owe them something. XXXX walking up to a stranger on XXXX XXXX telling them that they owe you something, then calling the police to enforce the amount they owe you when they ask you to provide proof of the amount owed. I don't believe this is how the system works. 

Anyways, thank you in advance for your attention in this matter! And sorry for the lengthy description.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation