Consumer complaint received 2016-06-08
Product: Consumer Loan — Vehicle loan
Issue: Taking out the loan or lease — 
Company: Westlake Services, LLC (WA)

We need your help in getting clear title to a vehicle we purchased 6 years ago. Here is the story. We purchased our XXXX XXXX Jetta GLX Wagon XX/XX/XXXX in XXXX, XXXX. Our financing options were limited, leaving us to enter into a high interest car loan ( 29.90 % ) with Westlake Financial of XXXX, XXXX. We were able to pay off the car within months of the date of purchase, but we never received the title and are in need of disposing of the car as it is not worth repairing. 

Because of the amount of time that has passed and the fact that we have physically relocated 3 times since the purchase of that vehicle, I can not locate the file that contained the original loan and purchase documents. That is why I thought I would simply go to DMV and file for a " lost title '', but they pointed out that Westlake Financial was still listed as lien -holder and that they would have to file for a lost title if that were the case. Here is the breakdown of the financial activity around this purchase : PURCHASE DATE XX/XX/XXXX ; AMOUNT {$8800.00} ; 1st DOWN PAYMENT {$2000.00} ; FINANCED - Short Term 36 mos. @ 29.90 % {$7700.00} = $ XXXX/month ; XXXX. PAYMENTS MADE : 4 @ {$330.00} = {$1300.00} FINAL LUMP SUM PAYOFF XX/XX/XXXX ; AMOUNT {$4400.00} Our purchase was financed through Westlake Financial in California at an interest rate of 29.90 %. We initially put {$2000.00} down and financed it at that outrageously high interest rate for a 36-month term with the understanding that we would return in the very near future with a 2nd final payment to avoid excessive interest payments any longer than necessary. 

After attempting to make contact, they were excessively rude and immediately accused us of never satisfying the loan. When I asked if that were, indeed the case, why then had no one from their company reached out to us in all these years so that I would have had the necessary documents to prove that we did in fact satisfy our debt to them. Their tone became increasingly hostile when asked about my spouse who I informed them that my legal spouse is a woman ( as am I ), sending the person on the phone into a whipped up frenzy spouting accusatory rhetoric. Some of it was difficult to understand due to a very heavy XXXX speaking accent so I chose to terminate the phone call and research what my options are at this point as I must dispose of this vehicle. 

So this is where we find ourselves with a financing company who claims they never received the pay-off and the fact that they are a frightening predatory lender who was forced to pay fines and forgive auto loans due to illegal collection methods, ( according to an article in the XXXX XXXX that lead me to reach out to you ) I am frankly afraid to reach out to them again. 

It has taken us several years to repair our credit after losing our employment in XX/XX/XXXX which led to the damaged credit that gave us no option but to enter into a car loan with Westlake Financial at 29.90 % interest back XX/XX/XXXX. Now we are seriously concerned about them taking a fraudulent adverse action against us that could cause us financial damage in the process of making us pay for this loan twice.