Consumer complaint received 2024-04-28
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Loan
Issue: Managing the loan or lease — Problem with additional products or services purchased with the loan
Company: Larry H. Miller Group of Companies (IL)

The bank which my automobile loan is through called me back in XXXX to ask if everything was ok. I informed them that I still did not have my car and it had been in the mechanic shop since XXXX. I explained to them that the warranty company ( XXXX ) who sold me a warranty the day after I purchased the car was attempting to not pay for my vehicle to be fixed and was attempting to tell me that they will not fix it because it was an existing condition from when I purchased the vehicle. My bank then in XXXX offered to pay to get the vehicle out of the shop. I was told that they would push my payment back 2 months and that would give them time to get things done, but I had to agree to a repossession in order to get them to help me pay for the service work on the vehicle ( I was current on my loan at this time and was told I had to agree to a repossession or they couldn't help me ) I called them back agreeing to the repossession if it meant i would get my vehicle back. They explained to me the process in full detail and stated that when they called the mechanic shop if the car passed the valuation test they would help me. I received a call towards the end of XXXX where Prestige financial told me that as long as I was agreeing to a repossession they would pick up the car and then give it back to me since my loan was current. I waited for 2 weeks and didn't hear back from them. I called and was told that they were in the process of picking up the vehicle. 2 weeks later I received a call telling me that I needed to pay XXXX towards my loan and then they would pick up the vehicle. I made the payment and then called in and was told that the vehicle was being picked up. This process has been going on since XXXX and it is now almost XXXX. The mechanic shop ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Illinois ) has received so many calls promising that the bank was coming to pay them and pick up the car that they have seized funds belonging to me that had nothing to do with this vehicle in question, and then XXXX XXXX explained to me that he was holding onto my funds to determine if the bank is still lying to him. I informed him that it was illegal to keep funds of mines that had nothing to do with the bank or the vehicle in question, to which he replied, well if the bank doesn't show up today then I am going to just keep this check and apply for a mechanic lien. I explained that the bank has been telling me the same things they have been telling him for months, I proceeded to show him some of the emails and he came back and told me I had one more day to get the bank to keep their word. I received emails telling me the car was being picked up then emails telling me they couldn't get anyone to drive to the mechanic shop as of yet. I explained to them that they keep telling me things they aren't doing and they simply stated they were sorry and would move as fast as they could. It is now going on XXXX and not only do I not have my car, the bank is wanting me to make additional payments even though they have not fulfilled their end of the bargain. I would never have agreed to be placed into repossession status to get help for a vehicle that was damaged when they sold it to me if I would have known they would simply never keep their word. They have promised me several times over the phone and via email that the vehicle was being picked up and returned to me if that was still my wish, yet it hasn't happened and now they are asking for more payments. The entire reason I agreed to the assistance is because I need a vehicle to make money and not lose some valuable contracts I obtained for my company. I have now lost the contracts along with several other sources of income due to not having any reliable transportation, been forced to keep insurance on a vehicle I have not had for over 6 months and still I receive no answers anymore when I reach out to them. I was left with no other choice but to file this complaint and I am also looking to sue as they have caused me tremendous hardship. The bank still at this time has yet to actually keep their word but are threatening me now from different departments that they have more requirements to fulfill before they will help me, specifically they want me to make more payments. I can't see how it is legal for them to keep lying to me and demanding I continue to hold up my end of the bargain when all I have been getting are lies.