Consumer complaint received 2022-08-25
Company: ALLY FINANCIAL INC.
State: CA
Product: Vehicle loan or lease
Sub-product: Loan
Issue: Problems at the end of the loan or lease
Sub-issue: Problem related to refinancing

Complaint:
PREDATORY LENDING ALLY FINANCIAL Ally Financial XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, MN XXXX On XX/XX/XXXX I purchased a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for {$45000.00} with a down payment of {$29000.00} and was financed by Ally Auto for {$25000.00}. My payments were {$480.00} a month. 
From XXXX XXXX I made either above or {$500.00} a month. The over amount I made equaled 4 months of payments. I was unaware the payments were being made to the interest and not to my monthly payments. 
In XXXX and early XXXX of XXXX, I was hit twice in 2 separate accidents ( neither were deemed my fault ) The car was in the body shop until XXXX XXXX. I also contacted XXXX  early XXXX then my Husband and daughter also got XXXX, so I was home out of work either XXXX  myself then caring for my family then in quarantine. I was unable to make my payments during this time but since I had overpaid every single month, I thought I was ahead of what I owed. 
At this time my loan had gone down to {$23000.00} in only 8 months. 
I also sent in 2 emails via the online dashboard where I make my payments. In XXXX I attempted to make a payment but since it was less than they said I owed at the time they didnt accept it. 
I also attempted to call in to Ally and found out a month later my number was either blocked or always sent to a loop of holds then would hang up. 
I also attempted to call in to Ally and found out a month later my number was either blocked or always sent to a loop of holds then would hang up. 
My car was in a body shop and finally fixed on XX/XX/XXXX, I paid the {$3000.00} my insurance didnt cover, and I took the car home. On XX/XX/XXXX it was repossessed by Ally. 
My car was taken from my apartment complex behind a gated community with no security guard and no permission from my apartment main office to enter. The company is on camera and with an eye witness as to have followed another tenant into the complex. 

Per California law : The agency that repossessed your car must give you a Notice of Seizure within 48 hours of repossession. Contact information for the agency that repossessed your car and for your car loan lender ( the legal owner ) must be included on the notice. 
The repossession agency must also give you a list ( inventory ) of the personal property that was in your car. Personal property will include items such as car seats, cell phones, and school books, but it wont include car upgrades, such as new rims or an upgraded stereo. Upgrades that you made to the car that are affixed to the car wont be returned separately from the car. 
You will have 60 days to collect your personal effects. After 60 days, the personal property you left in the car can be sold. If youre present when the car is being repossessed, you can ask to collect your personal items from the car before its towed. 
Youll also get a notice telling you what you can do to have the car returned to you. This usually means making a payment in full. 
I received none of these notices and to this day do not know where my car was taken and was never told how to get my stuff back. I had {$4500.00} worth of items in my car. 
When I called Ally about my car, I was told I had to call back in 48 hours for info on the car. 
I was told the price to get my car back was over {$30000.00}!!! While I waited for the written notice from ally regarding my repo which I never got, I attempted to locate the tow company and was denied all info regarding this. 
On XX/XX/XXXX I was told over the phone I had to call from my daughters phone to even get through as they had my # blocked for months. I was told I could not reinstate my loan and had to pay the full amount of {$23000.00}. 
I had put down XXXX cash for this car The value of the car was XXXX And I only owed XXXX after they got XXXX more from me in payments plus a XXXX warranty package I paid cash for and was never reimbursed after the repo. 
This bank took full advantage and knew the high value of this car and I believe I am a victim of predatory lending. 
It gets worse two weeks ago the car was sold ( I received no notice of this ) I only found out when I checked my online dashboard and say the balance owed was XXXX. 
So I call in ( using my daughters phone ) on XX/XX/XXXX and was told the car sold for XXXX and my new balance as of the online dashboard was XXXX and they had no intention of sending me a check for the balance they owe me of over {$6000.00} and I had to wait for a check they are probably never sending. 
This is 100 % fraud, and I have been taken advantage of and this bank needs to pay me for what they owe me plus my belongings in addition to all payments made and my original XXXX down because they illegally repossessed the car and didnt allow me any of the California protected consumer protections to reinstate my loan. 

I am going to file against this company for predatory lending and illegal repo. 
I have made complaints with the attorney generals office XXXX XXXX Attorney General Office of the Attorney General XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX and the CFPB XXXX XXXX XXXX and DCA DIVISION OF INVESTIGATION HEADQUARTERS XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX AND BUREAU OF SECURITY AND INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX and Department of Consumer Affairs California

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