Consumer complaint received 2025-05-09 00:00:00
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Loan
Issue: Repossession — Deficiency balance after repossession
Company: Westlake Services, LLC
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
On or about XX/XX/XXXX, I assisted my brother in obtaining a vehicle loan with Westlake Financial Services to purchase a XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX. Although I co-signed on the loan to help him qualify, the understanding was that he would be solely responsible for the vehicles use, insurance, and loan payments. 
Unfortunately, my brother was involved in a major accident with the vehicle around XX/XX/XXXX. I was not the driver at the time of the crash, nor was I present. The official Florida Traffic Crash Report confirms that I was not involved, and that the accident occurred at approximately XXXX XXXX  in the XXXX XXXX area near XXXX XXXX. The car was abandoned and later repossessed. This incident has severely and unfairly affected my credit score and personal record. After the crash, I did not continue making payments on the vehicle because I already had my own car and could not afford to make payments on two carsespecially one that had been totaled and was no longer in my possession. I was already managing my own financial obligations responsibly, and taking on that additional burden for a car I wasnt driving or using was simply not feasible. 
To further complicate matters, I received a notice from the Florida DHSMV ( included in my documents ) warning me that my drivers license would be suspended due to the vehicle having no valid insurance despite the fact that my brother, the actual driver and primary user of the car, had assured me that he had insurance. This suspension notice adds another layer of proof of the negligence on my brothers part, not mine. 
Additionally, Ive included the official Florida Title Application listing both me and my brother, XXXX XXXX XXXX, as co-owners of the vehicle. This proves that both parties shared legal responsibility for the vehicle, and thus liability should not fall solely on me. 
I contacted Westlake Financial on XX/XX/XXXX, to dispute the repossession and request that it be removed from my credit report. The representative I spoke with was extremely rude and dismissive. I explained my situation respectfully, providing all facts and expressing my desire for a resolution. However, she dismissed my explanation and stated that I was still liable without consideration of the documentation I referenced. She even made an inappropriate comment suggesting that I should have been more careful about who I sign contracts with, which I felt was extremely unprofessional and victim-blaming. 
I am now formally requesting a review of this case and a removal of the repossession from my credit history, or for it to be transferred to the responsible party, my brother, who was involved in the crash, failed to maintain insurance, drove with a suspended license, and ultimately abandoned the vehicle. All this information can be backed up with the documents Ive submitted, including the : Florida Traffic Crash Report Florida DHSMV License Suspension Notice Vehicle Title Application At the time, I did not take immediate action in XXXX because I was unaware of my rights and the proper procedures to dispute this issue. Now that I am informed, I am taking the appropriate steps to seek justice and repair the damage done to my credit and record.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation