Consumer complaint received 2017-12-07
Company: NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
State: MD
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
Around XXXX XXXX I contacted Navy Federal Credit Union for a loan for a dump truck. I was asked to issue a bill of sale in order for the bank to review the value of the truck and determine loan amount. The bank came back after credit checks and I assumed VIN check and approved a loan of {$33000.00}. We accepted and signed agreeing to the loan under XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

Upon Arrival in Mississippi to pick up the truck, we realized after being there for a few days that the sale was a scam and that XXXX XXXX XXXX was in the business of scamming people. We immediately tried to contact the bank but XXXX XXXX was out and no one else seemed to be able to assist me with the issue. I sent numerous texts and emails and made phone calls and no one tried to assist. When XXXX returned I explained in detail what I found out from the BBB, XXXX XXXX, and various other websites that the owner XXXX scammed many other people the same way. XXXX tried to help and we continued to make payment on the truck until XXXX XXXX. I made numerous calls to the bank and was told rudely by one woman in the business collections department that it was n't there problem. After a few more calls someone from the business department called and asked me to tell what happened so they can best help me. I was told that the loan should n't have been issued in the first place and that no one actually did a vin check to see the value of the vehicle. Upon doing a Vin check they found out that the truck was only valued {$1500.00} and that it would n't be worth them repossessing the vehicle. I was told I would be contacted about the next course of action. 

I started getting letters from the bank saying they will need to take further steps if the account was not brought up to date. I called the bank and told them I could not afford to make the monthly payment as the truck was not in our possession and that is what we would have used to make the payments. I was told that the collections process would have to run it 's due course and I would be contacted by their lawyers. 

I received a letter from Attorney XXXX XXXX approximately XXXX XXXX to call about the loan or they will assume the loan is mine. I tried calling the number on the letter and no one picked up. I sent the letter back explaining that I contacted the bank and that the whole deal was a scam. I never heard back from the lawyer 's office. 

On XXXX XXXX, XXXX I received a letter thanking me for a payment I did n't make. I rushed to the bank only to find out the cleaned out all the money from my personal accounts without my knowledge even though I was told the dump truck was the collateral for the loan. 

This really put me and my family in great distress to the point that I could n't go to work. I try really hard to keep my credit profile clean.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation