Consumer complaint received 2018-08-14
Company: TCF NATIONAL BANK
State: DE
Product: Vehicle loan or lease
Sub-product: Loan
Issue: Struggling to pay your loan
Sub-issue: Lender trying to repossess or disable the vehicle

Complaint:
I was laid off from my job of 18 years several months ago. Prior to being laid off, my fiance had his hours cut at work when I was on XXXX leave with our XXXX   child. I was unpaid for the majority of the XXXX leave. We fell behind on our car loan payments, however, we were able to get caught up. We were only 1 payment behind. I called XXXX XXXX XXXX to schedule 2 payments, the past due and the current. I instructed the CSR to schedule the past due payment for that coming Friday and the current month 's payment for 2 weeks later. One week after scheduling the payments I was shocked to see my account was overdrawn. The CSR had submitted both payments to my bank the day I called which was 2 days prior to the 1st scheduled payment. My account did not overdraft at that time, but since the CSR submitted both payments instead of one and not on the date I specified her negligence caused other scheduled payments to overdraft which I was charged fees from my bank and the other creditors. Two weeks later on the date I had scheduled the second payment to be submitted another 2 car loan payments were taken from my bank account. I was not expecting anything to be deducted as XXXX XXXX had already posted both payments 2 weeks prior. Now they have taken four loan payments in a matter of 9 days. This brought my loan balance status to two months prepaid. At this time we were struggling to make ends meet with a new baby and loss of income as mentioned above. Having 2 unauthorized loan payments deducted and the deduction of overdraft fees caused by two errors on XXXX XXXX 's part caused us added stress financially and emotionally. It took several months to get any type of resolution and was never reimbursed for fees. The impact of their negligence had a lasting effect and we never fully recovered. About 4 months after that incident I was laid off from my job of 18 years. I decided to go back to school so that I could find another job that would pay the same amount or better than what I had been making. During this time we once again fell behind on the car loan payments. Back in XXXX I paid XXXX XXXX for the past due balance and made an advance payment for the following month. We fell behind again. I have started a new career and we are getting back on our feet. I explained this to XXXX XXXX and they wanted me to schedule payments with them. I told them I would wire money but due to the previous situation with them taking unauthorized payments I do not feel comfortable trusting them to post the information correctly. The person I spoke with said he understood and would take note. The day I scheduled the wire of all past due payments plus an additional two months payments they repossessed my vehicle. I need to travel for my job. I can't work if I don't have a vehicle. That is our only car. How do I get my car back after it is gone and I have already wired them everything that is due plus prepaid two months? There are many factors involved with how we fell into our debt situation. All are beyond our control. We are finally in a position where we are digging our way out again and able to breathe. Now this happens and we currently owe them nothing until XX/XX/2018. Please help us.

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