Consumer complaint received 2019-05-28
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Loan
Issue: Managing the loan or lease — Problem with fees charged
Company: KEYSTONE EQUIPMENT FINANCE CORP. (CA)

I financed a vehicle through Keystone Equipment Financing Corp on XX/XX/2019. The vehicle was located in PA at XXXX in XXXX, PA. I wire transferred them {$6500.00} via wire transfer on XX/XX/2019. The funds were received by Keystone same day. Included in the wire transfer were DMV Registration, licensing and sales tax that I was under the impression to be paid directly to my local DMV. I have attached email breakdowns of my correspondence with Keystone explaining how i could not pay them to my DMV directly, only through them and a breakdown of the fees. Many of which my local DMV does not recognize. We paid Keystone directly for the taxes, licensing, registration and some other fees unbeknownst to CA DMV. Although I strongly urged Keystone ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) that this would further complicate purchasing an out-of-state vehicle. As I advised Keystone, paying the sales tax, etc to Keystone would not be wise. CA is very particular about how out-of-state vehicle registration is handled, from previous experiences. However, Keystone would not allow us to settle this on our own directly through the DMV. Below is a breakdown as to what Keystone declared are the CA DMV charges, per email from XXXX on XX/XX/2019 : The taxes applied are based on the state where your business is located, or in this case where you live. So the tax rate is 9.5 % which is based on your county equaling {$1900.00} plus Registration which is {$450.00}, {$22.00} for the plate fee and the Title/ Lien fees which are {$190.00} equaling {$2500.00}. 
These fees were represented to be valid DMV charges, in which they are NOT. 
Upon picking up the vehicle on XX/XX/2019, at XXXX XXXX at XXXX in XXXX, PA, we were advised there was no license plates on the vehicle nor would there be any temporary registration. Per the PennDOT, they advised we would not be able to obtain temporary registration without a title. Which is obviously in the possession of Keystone. We had to drive cross through state lines with no license plates, which is clearly illegal. We had to work with our counterparts in California to attempt to obtain temporary registration in order to avoid breaking traffic laws. While in CA, my business partner had to again, pay {$450.00} to CA to register the vehicle because the funds had not been paid on their end. Which in short means, that the tag agent XXXX spoke of had not yet handled anything with the CA DMV. This is simply unacceptable. If Keystone wants to force me to pay them sales tax, registration, etc, then HANDLE IT. How did Keystone expect me to register the car to drive it if your they had no handled their end? Further the DMV did not recognize two of the charges XXXX itemized above, the {$22.00} plate fee and the {$190.00} Title/Lien Fees? These are not valid CA DMV charges. 

The {$22.00} fee and the {$190.00} according to Keystone are charges Keystone is in fact billing me to, '' {$450.00} registration/tags {$22.00} plate fee {$42.00} title/lien fee {$150.00} agency & Keystone processing and overnight fees to complete the transfer & send you your plates/registration/tags.

Keystone had already billed me {$550.00} for loan  processing fees and was not hiding additional loan processing fees into the financing agreement. They did not allow me to settle my CA sales tax/registration on my own avoiding these hidden fees. 
I have attached a receipt for my payment to the DMV on XX/XX/2019 and demand a full refund of the {$450.00} registration fee and the other two charges if they can not be explained.

Further, I demanded the tag agent contact me asap as the DMV has advised me that I need to work with them to get this registration current immediately. keystone will not put me in touch with the Tag Agent.There is certain information that I need to provide the DMV in order to avoid further fees and penalties. This is unprofessional and simply put, Keystone lack the knowledge and information to be collecting these fees. Going forward, Keystone should NOT collect any sales tax, registration fees for out-of-state clients in order to save them time, money and frustration. Thank you for your time.