F*ck! They Took My Car!

An afterthought: That FTC complaint ought to be filed, too…

Some counties require that the repo man file with the local police department before moving the car so your first call should be to the cops to ask (1) do local repos get filed with them and (2) is your car one of those files?

Yes, you do have a right to get your stuff back. Different laws for different places, but basically you have to go to the repo company yard or the auction if it’s already been taken there, to get your stuff.

Some repo men are nice and will let you get your stuff out when taking the car, some are jerks and will tell you to bite them. Some will steal your stuff, so I’d find your car as soon as possible (but they can get into alot of trouble so report that too if it happens). Either way, you do get your stuff back.

Finally, most repo companies are just contracted by the finance company so explaining the situation with the problems you’ve had may not get you very far because they are not really the people you owe any money to. Good luck with all of this. I would definitely call the Attorney General in your state, as well as the Better Business Bureau and the local news. This all sounds like a nightmare and I feel for you.

  • Rez, whose boyfriend got to repo a police car last month

It took Ford about a year or so to work out all the kinks introduced by building the Focus in “American” quantities. I’m almost perfectly happy with my 2002 Focus (if I could only get the damned brakes to stop squeeking…).

-lv

And it to stop being a Ford Focus :wink:

Sorry, sorry, I couldn’t resist.

The American one has a reputation for being an absolute pile of shit. I work at a vehicle fleet and we get recall notices for our Focuses (2001s) CONSTANTLY. And its never for minor things! Its “seatbelt fails in impact tests” or “fuel injectors may explode” or some other catastrophic armageddon waiting to happen. So we just drive them down to the nearest Ford dealer and get them serviced each time.

inkleberry: I’m not to far away from you, want me to come over and help you thump some skulls? :wink:

They never warned me. In fact, when my husband called them today, they even said that.

My point is that you can’t walk into the police station with a wide eyed look of innocence and claim your car was “stolen”. That was the implied suggestion of phall0106, that you act like you know nothing and let the police deal with it. You pretty much know for sure it wasn’t stolen, though it may have been repo’d illegally.

Usually the repo company will try to call once or twice to make arrangements to surrender the car. If those calls are ignored, they look at it as all bets are off and the case to steal the car is on - in fact, all the repo guys I know refer to their job as “stealing cars” and get a thrill out of it.

Your situation is really messed up though, and I wouldn’t be surprised if your bank told the repo company that all communication had faild and to just snatch the car. They don’t sound like the most ethical people.

I used to work for a Repo Company a few years back and I may have some info for you or advice.

1st. The finance company does have to inform you or give a warning. They will send a whats called a “right to cure” letter. Letting you know that you are behind and what you can pay to bring your account current. By law…they HAVE to do this. That letter should also show the time frame in which you have to bring said account current.

2nd. When the Repo Company is contracted for the job, they however will give no such warning. They will show up at all hours of the day/ night to get your vehicle. They are required to contact the local PD to let them know that they are taking your vehicle. It has to be reported. They can not however, break into your garage to retreive the car, or open any locked gates. Thats considered breaking and entering. (of course I don’t know the exacts for all states, just mine)

  1. Call the PD and ask them if your if there was a report of a repo at that time and date. The will be able to tell you then who the company was that took it. You will need to contact them to get your personal stuff. Most of the time they will clean the car out , bag and tag your items and keep them there for at least 30 days. I would try to get it soon tho, because as previously stated, there are theifs and they will take your things.

  2. Once you car goes to auction, the finance company will actually try to sell it for whats owed on the loan. They want all their money back and will do what they can to get it. If they arent able to get all their money back, what ever is left owed will be billed to you. If however the car sells for more then what is owed, that money is returned to you. Given the state of your car however, I don’t forsee that happening. :smiley:

As far as trying to get the car back, I would honestly just let it go and wait to see what it sells for. With all that the Finance company will nail you for…towing, storage, cleaning, late fees and payments due…you would end up paying more for it then if it were to sell at auction for only half of what you owed on it.

I hope this helps some if any. :smiley:
BTW…I apologize for any grammatical errors…it’s been along time since I’ve posted and had to be conscious of what I’m saying and how I’m typing. :wink:

Is this a state law or a federal law?

Sadly, not in this state. We checked with the local PD.

I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them. We are going today. The fuckers are going to charge us $42 though for the privillege.

Heh. If that happened I would laugh and laugh. I doubt it though. Strongly.

Thanks for the advice. :slight_smile:

I suggest you take along Tinkleberry and let him whizz all over the repo company’s counter…
:wink:

My friend and I are taking TWO babies with us. Heh.
:smiley:

Bump in hopes of an update :slight_smile:

The car repoers hadn’t cleaned my car, so I cleaned it out myself. This meant nothing got jacked. Then they tried to charge me a “cleaning fee” and I laughed. A lot.

Meanwhile, the car is going to be sold to completely pay off the loan and then it is over. We are looking at new cars and trying to figure out financing.

Yeah, my credit is likely slightly fucked for a bit. Small price to pay for getting bottom feeders out of my life. And for getting rid of the worst car known to man.

Never again will I own or go near a Ford.

My apologies if it appeared that I implied conducting illegal or immoral activities. It was not my intent. I would never support or encourage someone doing something illegal.

What a horrible story!!

Here’s hoping they do in fact get enough to cover the outstanding loan balance. They don’t have any real incentive to get more than that, even if the car is worth more than that. And yeah, they definitely will try to collect from you if they get less than the loan value - a friend was in that situation last year (loooooong story, debt wasn’t even hers).

I’d strongly advise you to file a complaint with the Attorney General etc. (as the other posters advised) as the whole story stinks of, well, used chicken feed.

As to the mark on your credit, well, argument can be made that until you want a mortgage, having credit is worse than never borrowing.

However, you can go to Experian and the other big credit-reporting agencies, and put a comment into the file with the negative item, showing that the debt was disputed and/or bogus. Especially if the agency has a history that can be documented, or your state’s Attorney General is pursuing the issue as malfeasance.

Disclaimer: I have not done this, don’t know how, and don’t know how effective it is when done.

Actually, the first thing the cops will do is call it in to see if it’s been popped. By law, finance companies have to notify local cops that they have vehicles that might be popped.

To clarify, in Maryland they are required. I don’t know about other states.

Generally, the finance companies will do this, whether it’s required by law or not. Of course, this is assuming you’re dealing with a reputable finance company, which does not seem to have been the case here.

Hang on to any documentation you have - you CAN dispute the negative on your credit report and in certain circumstances can have it expunged completely from your credit record. I do not know what circumstances would qualify - I sleep with a finance guy, but I try not to pay too much attention when he starts talking about his job. Would you like me to question him and find out if there’s any steps you should take?

I must admit, though, this is the first time I’ve heard of a possessed car being repossessed (and without an exorcism in between!)