Consumer complaint received 2025-10-05 00:00:00
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Loan
Issue: Repossession — Account reinstatement or redemption after repossession
Company: CARS Acquisition, LLC
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I put a total of {$5400.00} down payment on a {$14000.00} XXXX  XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX. He said I would finance the remaining amount with XXXX XXXX XXXX, I would be able to get the vehicle no later then 5 days, I explained I needed the car for work in XXXX weeks. Almost XXXX weeks went by and I called asking him what was going on, he said he didn't hear back from the bank yet, thinking something was odd, I called XXXX XXXX and spoke with a loan officer. They advised me my loan wasn't approved, the cost of the vehicle was too high for the year and mileage, and he had spoken with the dealer on my loan and advised him the same thing. I went to XXXX XXXX to get my down payment back, he said he isn't able to give me something he doesn't have, that morning someone had taken {$10000.00} out of bank account. I could give him a call in about a week or so, he might be able to come up with something by then. I told him I was getting the police involved if he didn't have my {$5000.00} the next day. Later that evening, he messaged and said I needed to call him so we can discuss some sort of payments. He sent another message saying if he doesn't hear back from me he can't help me. I called, he said he can do buy here pay here with me, it's a contract not a loan, I'll make weekly payments not monthly, and I had to put another {$500.00} down when I signed the contract. I agreed to $ XXXX payments and to put {$400.00} down as he said there's fees and what not that come with the contract, and he agreed with the stipulation, if I paid the {$400.00}, I wouldn't start my payments for the first XXXX weeks, I invested all of my money into this car, I get paid bi-weekly and I have XXXX children, he said that's fine he understands. When I went to sign, his wife was waiting for me, she said she had somewhere to be she was going to go through all the pages quickly then id go back and sign where all the marks are. Soon as I looked, I noticed the total amount owed was well over {$19000.00}. I asked how it was possible if I put {$5400.00} cash down payment, to be almost {$20000.00}. She started throwing out numbers and fees, sales tax, DMV fees, this fee, and that fee. I told her fancy words and numbers weren't helping me make sense out of {$5400.00} not showing anywhere. She said she's not sure how else to explain it, she didn't write the contract. I told her I would sign because I had to have my car for work the next day, and this is literally my only option, this place has drained all my funds and exhausted my options, somethings not right though. 
I got up for work, let the car run for XXXX minutes, I go to leave and I noticed there's still a sheet of ice on the windshield, the heat was blowing a/c temperature on the driver side, and is barely warm on the passenger side. As I was driving further, I turned the wipers on, the passenger blade was scratching the glass, then an alarm sound came on -drive module malfunction. I called the dealer and told him no way am I paying almost {$20000.00} for a car that has issues, let alone these are serious issues, he said to bring it in when I can drop it off for a few days and he will get it fixed. I work 6 days a week, an hour and a half away I couldn't just leave my car there for 3 days. 
I was taken out of work in the beginning of XXXX for work related injuries, I didn't have any income, I fell behind with all of my bills, missed XXXX and XXXX 's payments, he repossessed my vehicle, a week later I went and paid the XXXX months, the late fees, and the recovery fee. I got my vehicle back XX/XX/XXXX. 
XX/XX/XXXX I received a message from XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX  stating they have been assigned to my loan for the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX purchased from XXXX stop auto sales, XXXX, right after I received a message stating my payment is past due, please make a payment. Confused, I called the number attached to the message. 
This XXXX XXXX, from XXXX XXXX XXXX, very aggressive, defensive, all of the above proceeds to demand I'm late on my payment, considering it's my first payment on the account, he has to demand a payment in full, how would I like to make the payment. After exchanging words and letting him know I didn't buy my car from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, that I had just paid {$960.00} on XX/XX/XXXX, and I didn't owe almost a {$12000.00} balance, he said he was going to look further into my account and call me back. When he called back, he apologized saying he wasn't aware their were multiple accounts, when the dealer made the new contracts, he charged me sales tax, and all of the fees again, he corrected the account and advised me, he sees a balance of a little over {$9000.00} ( which was better but not sure if it was correct ), and remember I have an upcoming payment on the XXXX. 
Being it was less than XXXX weeks ago, I didn't have any income for a month and a half, and I was behind on all of my bills not just my car payment, I had to try to catch up on other bills. I paid my electric bill which forced me to miss XXXX. On XXXX XXXX, I received a message from XXXX XXXX advising me the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX is set for repossession with XXXX XXXX tomorrow at XXXX am, please have the title and keys available to give the driver XXXX. Again, I called and re-explained my situation and again he said considering it's my first payment for this account, they have to do a repossession. At this point, I was getting angry, XXXX XXXX XXXX again didn't have the right information, insisting he verified the information was correct when he asked my address and date of birth, he demanded I make the payment at that time or he can't call off the repossession. I told him I shouldn't be forced to choose if I want my electric disconnected, or if I want to keep my vehicle. 
Middle of XXXX my car was repossessed very early morning, I called XXXX XXXX to see where my car was he started he hadn't done anything on my account, I should check with XXXX XXXX. I called XXXX XXXX XXXX, left messages, no answer or call back. I went to the dealer and asked where my car was he stated that XXXX XXXX said he had to repossess the car, it's at XXXX XXXX. I told him I wanted to make the payment I needed my car for XXXX doctor appts that day, he said I had to pay XXXX XXXX their money plus the XXXX payments and late fees, I told him it was fine. I went to give him the money and he said he can't accept the payment, I had to go through XXXX XXXX. The XXXX companies, both refused to take a payment, pointed the finger at the other one, both denied responsibility for the contract, and both companies are telling me I have to pay almost {$12000.00} to get my car back. I don't even owe that much left on the balance, and in our contract, it clearly states, if I am in default on the contract only because of failing to make payments on time, I have the right to pay all past due amounts, late fees, and recovery fees, to get my vehicle back. Both XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX have ignored the contract even though I showed it to them, as well as advising them of NYS Laws and regulations, which permit me to reinstate the contract, and prohibit the acceleration of a retail installment contract. 
If it wasn't for the dealer telling me I couldn't have my down payment back until he was able to come up with the money, I would have bought a vehicle somewhere else, I told him that. I keep offering to pay the money to get my car back, he sends me voice messages saying it's not my car he doesn't know why I cant understand that, and he has to resell the car to get his money back. I told him I was contacting the attorney general, fraud departments, everybody that I can, he said he doesn't care, he can do what he wants. I've sent him demand letters, requested a letter stating his refusal to accept my payment with the reason why, etc .. He has refused to respond. He admits to doing this misconduct to a lot of customers, he feels as if he was doing something wrong, he wouldn't still own a business. I have literally went in person with copies of New York State Laws, showing him what he does is illegal!! This business needs to be investigated, the conduct, the finances, whatever other help there is. I don't want other people to get done to them what I had done to me!! It's unfair, unjust, and illegal!!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation