Consumer complaint received 2026-05-24 00:00:00
Product: Payday loan, title loan, personal loan, or advance loan — Title loan
Issue: Charged fees or interest you didn't expect — 
Company: SIMPLE CAR TITLE LOANS INC
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Re : Complaint against Simple Car Title Loans, Inc. dba 1800 Title Loan Account # : XXXX Consumer : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Dear CFPB XXXX, I am responding to the company 's statement dated [ insert date ] which claims my loan was " originated and serviced as an interest-bearing title loan '' and that " no 'no interest for XXXX year ' promotion '' exists in their records. That response misstates what occurred and does not address the core issue : I was solicited with a clear oral and written representation of " XXXX year no interest, '' I relied on that representation to sign, and I was then charged interest from day XXXX. What actually happened Prior to origination, a company representative promised a " no interest for XXXX year '' promotion to induce me to pledge my vehicle title. Based on that promise, I entered the agreement with the understanding interest would not accrue for XXXX months. After funding, interest charges appeared immediately, contrary to the promotion. When I disputed this, the company pointed only to the final contract language, ignoring the marketing representation that induced the contract. The company 's position " it's not in our system, therefore it didn't happen '' is precisely the type of bait-and-switch the CFPB and XXXX regulators prohibit. Why this matters legally I believe the conduct XXXX violate several state and federal consumer protection statutes : XXXX. Federal UDAAP ( Dodd-Frank Act, 12 U.S.C. 5531, 5536 ) The CFPB prohibits unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts in consumer financial products, with examination procedures focused on misleading representations and lack of transparency. Promising no interest, then charging interest from inception, is a classic deceptive practice under UDAAP. XXXX. XXXX False Advertising and Unfair Competition Business & Professions Code XXXX makes it a misdemeanor to make false or misleading statements in advertising, punishable by up to XXXX months jail or a {$2500.00} fine. The law requires truthful disclosure of services, prices, and terms. Business & Professions Code XXXX prohibits unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business acts. XXXX. XXXX Financing Law XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX et seq. regulates finance lenders and expressly prohibits deceptive practices. Violations of XXXX XXXX consumer financial laws can carry civil penalties up to {$25000.00} per day. XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Theft by False Pretenses Penal Code XXXX criminalizes knowingly defrauding another of money, labor, or property through false pretenses. XXXX XXXX XXXX prohibits making false statements to secure a loan or credit. I am not asking the CFPB to make a criminal determination, but I raise these codes because the company 's conduct inducing a secured loan with a material misrepresentation about interest, then profiting from that interest fits the statutory definitions of deceptive and unethical conduct. Company 's response is inadequate The company says " no billing error was identified '' because its records match the interest-bearing contract. That ignores : whether the marketing that induced the contract was false whether the disclosures were overshadowed by the " no interest '' promise their duty under TILA and XXXX law to not advertise terms they do not honor A review limited to internal servicing records can not cure a deceptive origination. Requested action I respectfully request the CFPB : XXXX. Treat this as a UDAAP matter and refer to the XXXX XXXXXXXX for parallel review under the California Financing Law and XXXX XXXX. Require the company to produce : all marketing materials, call recordings, and lead-source data for my origination period. XXXX. Order correction of the account to reflect the promised no-interest period, refund of all interest and fees improperly charged, and removal of any adverse credit reporting. XXXX. Retain this complaint in the public database as evidence of a pattern. I have [ copies of the advertisement / text messages / witness name ] and am prepared to provide them upon request. Thank you for your review. This is not a simple contract dispute it is a case where a consumer was led into a high-cost title loan by a promise the lender now denies ever making. That is both unethical and, I believe, unlawful. Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

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