Consumer complaint received 2025-02-01 00:00:00
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Lease
Issue: Repossession — Account reinstatement or redemption after repossession
Company: BMW Financial Services NA, LLC
State: MD

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to bring to your attention a critical issue involving the repossession of my vehicle in XX/XX/year> and its subsequent sale on XX/XX/year>, which I believe were conducted in direct violation of Maryland XXXX XXXX XXXX, issued by Governor XXXX XXXX during the XXXX state of emergency. This order explicitly prohibited vehicle repossessions and related actions during the emergency period and was not rescinded until XX/XX/year>, as clarified in Executive Order XXXX. 

Furthermore, prior to the repossession, and after 8 months of unemployment and no income I finally started to receive unemployment benefits and I then entered into a repayment plan with BMW Financial Services. I adhered to the agreed terms and made payments as required. However, without notice, BMW unilaterally ended the repayment plan and repossessed my vehicle. When I contacted BMW to inquire, I was informed that, despite my compliance with the repayment terms, BMW reserved the right to terminate the agreement at any time. This not only contradicts the spirit of the repayment arrangement but also exacerbates the harm caused by the repossession and subsequent sale. 

This action reflects an unfair and unethical treatment of a customer during an extraordinarily difficult time. During the XXXX pandemic, I lost my job due to circumstances beyond my control. For months while unemployed, I remained in consistent communication with BMW Financial Services, as they advised consumers to do. Furthermore, prior to the pandemic, I had consistently made my payments on time. Despite my prior payment history and efforts to stay in good standing during the pandemic, BMW still repossessed my vehicle. This occurred during a government-declared state of emergency, which underscores how unreasonable and insensitive BMWs actions were during a period when many consumers were struggling financially. Their treatment of a loyal customer during such a challenging time is disgraceful and unacceptable. 

Despite my prior efforts to resolve this matter through disputes with BMW Financial Services and all three major credit bureaus, the issue remains unresolved. Additionally, I have filed complaints with both the Maryland Attorney Generals Office and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ).

Background of Violations Unlawful Repossession : Executive Order 20-04-03-01, Section III, explicitly states : To the extent any statute, rule, or regulation of the State of Maryland or any political subdivision would permit a Creditor to repossess any automobile, truck, or XXXX XXXX by self-help ( including, without limitation, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXX, or XXXX ), such statute, rule, or regulation is hereby suspended until the state of emergency is terminated and the catastrophic health emergency is rescinded. 
This provision unambiguously prohibited self-help vehicle repossessions during the declared state of emergency. My vehicle was repossessed on XX/XX/year>, well before the moratorium was lifted. 

Unlawful Sale : Further compounding the issue, my vehicle was sold on XX/XX/year>, while the moratorium prohibiting repossessions and related actions was still in effect. The prohibition was not rescinded until XX/XX/year>, as clarified in XXXX Order XXXX, Section XXXX ( B ) : Any statute, rule, or regulation of the State of Maryland or any political subdivision thereof that was suspended by paragraph III of Executive Order XXXX shall remain suspended until XX/XX/year>. 
Both the repossession and the sale of my vehicle were conducted in violation of these clear directives. 

Impact of These Actions The unlawful repossession and sale of my vehicle have caused significant harm, including : Credit Damage : A negative impact on my credit report, including the reported {$20000.00} balance. 
Professional Consequences : Difficulty in obtaining the necessary security clearance for my employment.

Financial and Emotional Harm : Ongoing financial strain and emotional distress due to the repossession and its aftermath. 
Previous Disputes I have made multiple good-faith attempts to resolve this issue, including filing disputes with all three major credit bureaus. Unfortunately, these disputes have not led to a resolution, despite the documentation I provided to support my claims.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation