Consumer complaint received 2017-01-27
Company: Atlanticus Services Corporation
State: TN
Product: Consumer Loan
Sub-product: Installment loan
Issue: Taking out the loan or lease

Complaint:
At the end of XXXX, 2016 I purchased a XXXX and signed up for the promotional financing of 12 months same as cash through Fortiva XXXX XXXX. I was looking at my statement today and it stated " Deferred Interest Charge Calculation '' and showed a timeframe of 6 months. I called customer service and they indicated I had signed up for the 6 months same as cash. I told them that the promotion XXXX was running at that time and still today was 12 months same as cash. The customer service rep stated she was sorry but that was not what I signed up for. She indicated someone would contact me within 10 days. 
I looked on the website again today XXXX XXXX and all over it states 12 months same as cash in nice big letters. The only thing I found referencing 6 months was in small print at the bottom ( copied below ). If the offer is either 6 months or 12 months same as cash, it should be stated somewhere besides the small print at the bottom of the page and really, this does n't say the offer is for 6 months, it just states " within XXXX or 12 months as applicable. '' I would assume 6 months is not applicable for this offer since nowhere else does it state 6 months same as cash. 

*subject to credit approval. Deferred interest means that if you fail to pay your purchase in full within the promotional period, then the interest accrued on such purchases From the date of purchase through the end of the promotional period will be added to your account. To avoid paying the deferred interest charges, you must ( a ) pay the Promotional purchase in full within XXXX or 12 months, as applicable and ( b ) make all required minimum monthly payments on time. Making only required minimum monthly payments will not Pay off your promotional purchase before the end of the XXXX or 12 months, as applicable promotional period. See credit agreement for full terms and conditions. Fortiva XXXX Credit lines of credit are issued by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, MO, Member FDIC. 

If you do not pay off your purchase within the allotted timeframe, you must pay back the entire purchase plus interest from the beginning. I understood this but felt 12 months was a reasonable timeframe and calculated that if I made a {$250.00} payment each month I would have it paid out. {$500.00} a month however, it is not reasonable for me and had I understood this was only for 6 months I would have utilize a card I already had with a lower interest rate, as this XXXX is 26.9 % if applied to the balance. It seems to me this is a bait and switch tactic ; advertise for 12 months and then only provide for 6 months. If the consumer does not notice, they will have to pay the interest on the entire balance and will probably give up fighting so as not to mess up their credit report. Again, NO WHERE does the XXXX site indicate the possibility of XXXX promotions ( 6 months or 12 months ).

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