Consumer complaint received 2021-08-11
Company: ALLY FINANCIAL INC.
State: MD
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Auto debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Notification didn't disclose it was an attempt to collect a debt

Complaint:
To Whom It May Concern : I am writing this complaint mainly against Ally Bank although XXXX  XXXX XXXX is also implemented in this complaint. Its a little complex so I wasnt 100 % sure which box to check in the preface of the on-line form. 
On approximately XX/XX/XXXX I went to XXXX  XXXX XXXX  XXXX and purchased a used XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ). My problems started when I was pressured into buying and extended warranty. Later the paper work was given to me to sign. When I looked at it I saw the figures were a little off. I was told that the extended warranty was {$3000.00} but in the paperwork when I questioned it showed {$4000.00}. I had already agreed on the monthly payments so after a few minutes of back forth and the Financial person telling me that this would cover the whole car I agreed, besides I really needed a car and I believed that this was a reputable car dealer. All of this was done through the bank of their choosing, Ally. The very next day while driving the car in the daylight I noticed it had a lot of very small chips in the front windshield. I complained to the dealership and drove the car back out for them to see it. I also complained to an on-line website that was affiliated with them that publicly published such complaints and the results. XXXX XXXX XXXX promised to replace the windshield and said that they would call me with a date. Meanwhile, I was sent an e-mail from this on line company asking was my problem resolved I said yes, believing that it would be. The following week I was called to come to the dealership. I met a guy from a glass company provided by them. He looked at the front windshield and said that there were too many chips and that the windshield would have to be replaced, he thought he was coming to fix a small crack or a bigger single chip. I asked him would he come in and explain that to the manager. He did and they promised me, the assistant manager and elderly blonde, that the manager would call me back with an answer. There would be approximately four ( 4 ) calls from me after leading me on, before they made it clear that they wouldnt pay for it. 
I was suppose to come back the following week for my tags. At that time I complained that the car had a little rattle when I would suddenly accelerate to pass. I asked if it may be low on oil. They took it downstairs below and checked it. They said it was OK and that they added a little oil. It seemed to help. I just babied it when I wanted to pass someone. Again, I had to come back because from the beginning there never was a tag mount for the front of the car and the holes for the bag tag didnt line up. They forced some screws in the back of the back tag mount and never mounted the front mount. They told me it would fit. A local mechanic finally told me that the car was designed for XXXX plates. I had to pay someone to drill new holes for the front plate. The mount was useless. The back plate moved around and was loose because the screws didnt go all the way in. 
About 3500 miles later the rattle came back even though I would baby it on the highway. One day on the wat back from XXXX, Va. The rattle got louder. I stopped the car and had it towed back to my home in XXXX XXXX, Md. The next day I made an apt . to a shop close to my home the mechanic there told me that whomever had the car before me apparently raced it. He said if you have a warranty get it fixed and get rid of it. I took it to XXXX XXXX  XXXX MD. They used the warranty to fix it. They said that They replaced it with a used engine. I still felt shakiness in the motor and it still had a small rattle sound so I was unsure if the motor was replaced. I barely drove it after that. Within weeks maybe two months along with the light rattle and shakiness the car started to over heat while I was being pickup at a treatment center in Pa. Again, I had the car towed from XXXX XXXX Pa. to XXXX XXXX  XXXX in Md. A little over {$200.00} this time even with my gold XXXX membership. The car was definitely a LEMON. In XXXX of XXXX I had gotten behind in my payments. I called them and tried to make pay arrangements. I spoke with a woman. She said she would call me back. I never heard from her until mid XXXX, a month later. In our conversation I again explained my situation and told her I was in training for a different job and wanted to know what kind of arrangements could be made. She asked me surprisingly, if the car was still in my possession. I said yes, why she led me to believe that they were going to repossess the car or had already tried. At that point I told her to come and get it that I was still in training and would probably be a couple of months before I could restart payments. She didnt want to hear of it, She wanted all of the arrear amount at once. She said OK. I left the car on the street no one ever came to get it. The next month when I finished my training COVID hit. I was notified from Homeland security that we would be put on hold until further notice because of the pandemic. Two to three days later I called Ally and spoke with a man this time he said it didnt matter if I talked to the same person he could help me. I told him, Come and get the car my job is on hold and I cant pay for it. He promised that he would take care of it. I never heard back from him or anyone. In late XXXX I was diagnosed with throat XXXX that has until now left me XXXX XXXX. In XXXX I started treatment Which took me up until Early XX/XX/XXXX. I had my niece called ALLY and again come and get the car because of my condition. She told them that the car was at XXXX XXXX XXXX. They said they would come and get it. Never did and never called. In XXXX I had a neighbor call them again, again same results. They said they would never did. Finally, a lawyer from XXXX XXXX XXXX called me to see if I would sign it away so he could sell it for parts. I told him to call back Ally and see what they say. If I remember correctly he had called and they still wouldnt come that is why he called me. XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX I struggle with what little voice that I had then to ask when were they coming to pick up the car. I told him that it this was the 4th or 5th time I have called you all and no one ever calls back or go pick up the car. He put me on hold and came back and said I see you have never been served any papers and I do see where your niece XXXX XXXX called in XXXX for us to pick up the car. I then said so you have been taking notes and documenting everything. He said he would take care of it right away. He said that he would email me a document or mail it. It was a voluntary surrender form but that they will come and get the car. This time I ask the guy what was his name. He spoke with what seemed to be a XXXX XXXX accent, he said his name was XXXX and spelled it that way. And As usual I never heard from XXXX  or Ally again. 
One of my biggest problem with this is I believe I was sold a LEMON. I believe that something was incorrect with the car and the whole sale. From XX/XX/XXXX until XX/XX/XXXX I have received no phone calls. No car pickup, No missed calls, no written correspondence, not a peep unless I was calling them. On approximately XXXX XXXXof XXXX XXXX  I received a packet from the court with a court date of XX/XX/XXXX. The packet contained documents of the transaction and some statements that are questionable. On XX/XX/XXXX I received another letter from the court saying that that case was cancelled. A week later I received two other letters that said that the case was dismissed pursuant to Maryland Rule 3-506. By order of : HON. XXXX XXXX XXXX. Then right after a letter telling me that its a charge-off loss and that it has been referred off to their asset recovery Center. I am not calling them again. It has already been 5 or 6 time with never a response. 
All of this time that they never wanted to pick up the car or initially make payment arrangements, they constantly reported late payments to the credit bureau ruining my credit. They never tried to remedy the issue rather ruin my life. This so wrong and I feel they are obligated to fix this.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation