Consumer complaint received 2025-10-20 00:00:00
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Loan
Issue: Managing the loan or lease — Billing problem
Company: SANTANDER HOLDINGS USA, INC.
State: CO

Complaint narrative:
Complaint Packet : Santander Consumer USA XXXX XXXX. 
* * Complainant : * * XXXX XXXX * * Agency : * * Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) * * Loan Type : * * Auto Financing To Whom It May Concern, Please find below my formal complaint against Santander Consumer USA , Inc., along with a summary of evidence from my account records. I have also attached my full transaction history ( XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ) to substantiate my claims. 

* * * Complaint Narrative I am filing this complaint against Santander Consumer USA , Inc. for failing to properly apply my auto loan payments.

When my loan began, my balance was * * {$33000.00} * *. After one full year of consistent paymentsincluding multiple payments in some months to avoid repossession threatsmy balance is still * * {$31000.00} * *, a reduction of only about * * {$2700.00} * *. 

During this period, I paid * * well over {$9000.00} * *. However, Santanders own transaction history shows that the majority of my payments were applied to * * interest and fees * * rather than reducing the principal. In some cases, entire payments were applied only to interest, with no reduction in principal. Santander also posted miscellaneous fees that offset my payments and kept my balance from decreasing. 

This pattern demonstrates that Santander is not properly applying my payments toward reducing my loan balance. Instead, they are disproportionately allocating funds to interest and fees, leaving me trapped in a cycle where my balance barely decreases despite consistent payments. 

I have contacted Santander multiple times to resolve this issue, but their responses have been vague and unhelpful. Meanwhile, I remain at risk of repossession despite fulfilling my obligations. 

This is not an isolated incident. Santander has received * * hundreds of thousands of consumer complaints * * through the XXXX XXXX XXXX and other platforms. Numerous XXXX groups document similar experiencesmisapplied payments, unexplained fees, and aggressive collection tactics despite proof of payment. 

I am requesting the CFPBs assistance in investigating Santanders practices and ensuring that my payments are properly credited to my loan balance. I am prepared to provide full documentation, including my transaction history, payment records, and correspondence with Santander. 

-- - # # Evidence Summary ( from Santander Transaction History ) * * Account Overview * * - Starting Balance : {$33000.00} - Current Balance ( after 1 year ) : {$31000.00} - Total Reduction : {$2700.00} - Total Payments Made : Over {$9000.00} * * Sample Payment Applications * * | Date| Payment Amount | Applied to Principal | Applied to Interest | Notes XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX | {$790.00} | {$0.00} | {$790.00} | Entire payment to interest | | XXXX XXXX, XXXX | {$790.00} | {$110.00} | {$680.00} | Minimal principal reduction | | XX/XX/XXXX | {$900.00} | {$340.00} | {$550.00} | Majority to interest | | XX/XX/XXXX | {$790.00} | {$330.00} | {$450.00} | Split, but still interest-heavy | | XX/XX/XXXX | {$790.00} | {$170.00} | {$610.00} | Disproportionate interest | | XX/XX/XXXX | {$790.00} | {$360.00} | {$430.00} | More to interest than principal | | XX/XX/XXXX | Multiple {$330.00} fees XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Miscellaneous fees offset payments | XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX {$330.00} {$31000.00} -- {$330.00} -- XXXX. Fees -- XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX {$20.00} {$31000.00} -- -- -- XXXX. Fees {$20.00} XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( {$330.00} ) {$31000.00} -- ( {$330.00} ) -- XXXX. Fees -- I am looking forward to promptly resolving this matter with Santander Consumer USA.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief