ComplaintsforCalifornia Auto Finance

• Initial Complaint

  09/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I just got another job to pay for bills and I get paid weekly I stated that to the company and the lady assured I was ok that same day they filed a report and for my car to be repossessed. They repossessed my car the day before I got paid after telling me it was ok to pay them late. The *** company even threatened my children when they showed up.

  Business response

  10/03/2024

  ID# ********
  Account# *****
  ***** ******, *******
  
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  Your allegations are not true. Your vehicle was repossessed because your account was past due.
  You stated that you would be paying on 9/13/24 so we gave you that time. Unfortunately that day came, and you did not make your contractual monthly payment. After this we still made several attempts to reach you with no luck. Your vehicle was not repossessed until 9/24/24, by this date we still had not received a payment from you.
  Also, the repossession company did not threaten anyone.But, since they are an independent, licensed repossession agent, you can contact them directly with any concerns you may have regarding the repossession.
  If I can be of further assistance or need additional clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  ****** ****

• Initial Complaint

  06/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Was purchasing a GM* Acadia using California Auto Finance. For the first day there was zero problems. Second day the car had a critical electrical failure on hwy 99 in *********. When this happened there was no power to the engine causing car to drop to near zero miles per hour. The result was a semi nearly hitting us and possibly killing us, I got the car off the road and had it towed to the dealership where it was received with zero penalties. The * A F was notified and closed the loan as paid in full. Well today on Tuesday 4th of June 2024 my wife and I tried to go and buy a pick up. This is when we found out that there was a Repo reported on my credit score. The car was never Repo'd it was returned under the lemon law. Now my family of 6 needed a pick up and are unable to purchase one all do to a false report.

  Business response

  06/11/2024

  ID# ********
  Account# *****
  Poor, ***********
  
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  Your allegations are not true. CAF has never placed your vehicle out for repossession and we did not repossess your vehicle therefore there was no repossession reported by us.California Auto Finance has never reported a repossession on your credit.
  We recommend you contact the credit bureau and find out what company is reporting the repossession and if something is not reporting accurately that you open a dispute with them so your credit can report correctly.
  
  If I can be of further assistance or need additional clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  05/31/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  So I called May 1st, 4th, & 5th To make my payment, All days. They said that their payment system was down and they couldn't process my payment, So for my protection, I put my money that I owed them in a money order at the ***** During that time, they contacted me halfway through the month and wanted me to send the money order to them through the mail, When I sent it, they never received it, So I had to go back to the *********** to have them reissue me another check, Which I held on to? Because it was getting closer to the end of the month And online, my other payment had posted, which I needed to pay last month, and this new month, Over the next few days, I kept receiving calls, I did not dodge or ignore their calls, I answered every single one and got hung up on immediately after I answered, Then comes the 31st, They repo my car on a friday, And expect me to pay the repo. Fees plus the storage fees over the weekend when they could have just waited From the first to the tenth like normal, I don't feel like i'm being treated fairly as a consumer, It makes me not wanna do business with this company anymore, I want out. And I don't wanna ruin my credit after all this time Of me finally Getting's somewhat good credit. Their lack of communication, And tactics of making people late on their payments Is unjust and needs to be investigated? Because I believe I am not the only one that they are doing this too. All I want is able to call between the first and the 10th. And when I call to make my payment to have it be received, And not be told the excuse that their system is down, That they can't process my payment every time I called, If you look at my credit history, I have not been late on any. One of my credit cards, I have enough income every month to make my car payment, Every time i've been late and they've repo'd my car, Has always been the excuse that they can't process my payment.

  Business response

  06/11/2024

  ID# ********
  Account# *****
  ******, *****
  
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  Your allegations are not true. Our office never hung up on you and we never said you where dodging our calls.
  Our system was down only 1 day. We talked to you after this and you mentioned that you had already mailed out your payment. We waited and check never arrived. We talked to a full week after this and you acknowledged the fact that the check you mailed out must have been mailed wrong because you got it back in the mail. When this happened we talked to you and told you to pay over the phone which you attempted to do but card would not go through.This happened on 5/24/24 so you still had a full week to get your payment to us and you still didnt. Now by your own admission you decided to hold on to the payment until you were ready to pay the next months due. Because you failed to get your payment into this is office is why your vehicle was repossessed.
  There was no lack of communication. We kept telling you we needed the payment. We have no problem taking your payment you simply have to call with a debit card that works
  If I can be of further assistance or need additional clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  05/21/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt with California Auto Finance. I did not a have a contract with the collections agency that auto finance use they did not provide me with the original contract as requested

  Business response

  05/30/2024

  ID# ********
  Account# *****
  ************************************
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  Your allegations are not true. You are liable for the debt with California Auto Finance. We have contract signed by you that makes you responsible for this debt.
  We will not be removing this debt from your credit as we are reporting accurately. There is no correction needed.
  If I can be of further assistance or need additional clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Collections Supervisor

• Initial Complaint

  05/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt with 3G+1, **** I do not have a contract with 3G+1, **** they did not provide me with the original contract as requested.

  Business response

  07/26/2024

  After careful review of our records, we can positively confirm that this debt is legitimate and that it belongs to *******************************. We strongly disagree with Ms. ******* claim and consider this matter closed.

   

  ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  03/14/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  They are a really bad business. They have terrible reviews. They creep your payments up, accuse you of lying, use intimidation tactics saying that they need the money by 5:00 or they will come get the car. I called today to have them come get the car and she said she'll be here today but it still sits in my parking spot. Keys are in it and ready to go. The finance guy called my husband dumb and me a crybaby and not to call him whining and crying. I was not crying and then he refused to talk to my husband because he thought he could intimidate me more because I am a woman.

  Business response

  03/21/2024

  ID# ********
  Account# *****
  ******************************
  
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  Your allegations are not true. Your payment went up because you failed to provide proper proof of insurance so we had to add our own coverage to your loan. No one has accused you of lying. Our intensions have never been to intimidate you so we apologize if this is how you felt.
  In reference to the name calling, we reviewed the call and at no point was your husband called any of those things. And due to privacy issues and for the security of your account we cannot talk to anyone but you in reference to something so serious like returning your vehicle, it was not for intimidation.
  If I can be of further assistance or need additional clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************
  
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Collections Manager

  Customer response

  03/21/2024

  There have been many reviews stating the same complaints I have. Maybe you don't intend to intimidate but you do. The name calling accusation still stands. My husband heard them say it. Your finance person also said I called him whining and crying. I just want excused from the vehicle. I, in good faith, returned it because I couldn't afford it. I thought I would be back to work before now as I am an injured worker and my attorney advised me that I will not. This is all I am asking. I am not asking any monetary settlement.

  Business response

  03/27/2024

  ID# ********
  Account# *****
  ******************************
  
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  Your allegations are not correct. We are sad to know you were not satisfied with our service.What our representative said was dont call here crying. There was no name calling to either you or your husband. But we always strive to do better so we will work on better customer service.
  In reference to your vehicle, your vehicle has been picked up.
  If I can be of further assistance or need additional clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************
  
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Collections Manager

  Customer response

  03/29/2024

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  Regards,
  
  *****************************
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/01/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My car was repossessed by this company after a late payment that I had already spoke to them about & over a smog check that I couldn't take my car to due to a busy schedule. I wasn't given any kind of warning or notice about either of these problems and my car was picked up at 12am on February 28. The towing company they hired opened my closed gate to take my car. Now they want $800+ as a repo fee and to pay my monthly fee if i want my car back.

  Business response

  03/11/2024

  ID# ********
  Account# *****
  ******** ******************************
  
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  Your allegations are not true. Your vehicle was repossessed because your account was past due, without any arrangement.
  Were not asking for $800 plus repossession fee, were demanding your payment amount of $289.42 plus the repossession fee of $440. The total to pick up your vehicle is $729.42
  If the repossession company did any illegal action, you can contact them and take actions against them, theyre an independent company.
  If I can be of further assistance or need additional clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************
  
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Collections Manager

• Initial Complaint

  09/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company repo'd my vehicle with being 23 days past due and talked to them about making my payment to them on the 20th they told me no that is too far past due. It was 3 business days after I talked to them and that same day they sent a repo agent to get the car I had mentioned to them that I'm not gonna hid the vehicle or anything just need a few extra days to gather the money for the payment. Then the following Monday after they came and got the car. They didn't give me any info on where and how much it was gonna cost to get my car back. Then the next day this company told me that there is no way that I'm gonna get my car back and that they no longer have my contract they sent it back to the dealership where I got my car at. Both the car dealership and finace company are not working with me and not giving me any info on my car and pretty much telling me that I have to take the repo and can't do anything about it

  Business response

  09/20/2023

  ID# ********
  Account#*****
  *************************
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  After careful review of this complaint we must say that your allegations are not valid. You have already filed a complaint under complaint number ID# ******** and we have answered that complaint.
  
  We have already responded to the complaint. We have already provided the information you needed.
  Our finance company made the decision to sell the contract back to the dealership. We are no longer the contract holder.  You have to contact the dealership for further information.  We cannot respond for the dealer.
  The dealership phone number is: ************ and if I can be of further assistance or need additional clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Collections Manager

  Customer response

  09/20/2023

  california auto finance and super shopper auto sales the dealer that sold me the car are not giving me any information about this contract that I sighed both businesses are telling me that I need to get ahold of the other business they are making a joke of all of this and are not abiding by the original contract and the rights as me as a consumer. Never gave me any notices prior to the repo and also never gave me a written notice of selling the contract. They have made me loose wages because of this and peace of mind due to there actions. 

  Business response

  10/02/2023

  ID# ********
  Account#*****
  *************************
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  This is the 3rd complaint we get.  This is the last time we are answering this complaint.  Bottom line you defaulted on your loan.  We were courteous enough to wait 23 days for you to pay on your 2nd payment.  Your first payment was late as well.  You left us no choice but than to recover our collateral at 23 days past due.   We gave you the amount to reinstate and you may still do so as long as you are within the reinstatement period.  The fact that we are no longer the contract holder is just simply that.  We are no longer your finance company. We do not work for the dealer so we cannot answer for them.  Please call them directly for further information.
  
  As far as your desired settlement in regards to the refund, we will be refunding the amounts you paid to the dealer as they are now the contract holder.  Please contact them for the refund.
  Once again, here is the dealerships phone number is ************.
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Collections Manager

  Customer response

  10/21/2023

  I do not accept this response from this complaint because this was in fact my 5th payment not the first or second one so they continue to tell lies about all of this. every other payment was made without a late fee nor noted as being late they keep telling me that my contract is back with the dealership but the dealership has no info for me as well. I was in fact 23 days late on my payment and on September 18th I talked to the person who was in charge of my account and told them I was gonna be making my August payment and September's payment all in one on there recorded line. Within 2 weeks after all this occurred california auto finance reported my payments missing and over 60 days late when I was going to resolve the matter 3 days after the 18th of September. They have closed my account and put every derogatory **** on my credit they didn't allow me to reinstate my contract at all in fact they told me to throw my notice of intent in the garage cause it was valid. If they were not my finance company then they need to remove all derogatory ****s and repossession off of my credit. They did all they could to destroy what I worked hard to get and purposely made it a point for me not to get my vehicle back. I would like a full refund of all money put into the car and have everything about them removed from my credit cause what they did was fraud 

• Initial Complaint

  09/19/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company repo'd my vehicle and is not giving me any information on getting my car back or reinstating the contract and telling me I need to contact the dealer where I purchased the vehicle. Both the car dealership and financial institution are not giving me any info on my car or contract

  Business response

  09/20/2023

  ID# ********
  Account#*****
  ****,, ****
  
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made.  You allegations are not true. Your extension was approved on 08/28/2023 but we just asked for a doctors note or any proof that you had a surgery to proceed with the extension, we never tried to violate your privacy, you just needed to send proof of disability and you refused to provide any information, not only did you called our office several times very upset but you were also rude to our representatives and we were never rude to you. We never denied your extension but you just refused to cooperate with us.
  The same day you made this complaint, you sent us the necessary paperwork and the extension was processed and we updated your account until September 20th, 2023.
  We only proceeded through company policies doing our job but if I can be of further assistance or need additional clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Collections Manager

• Initial Complaint

  09/07/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This business has harassed multiple people in my family and people that I cut contact with giving away my address and private information with no regards to my safety or privacy, they call people that were NEVER put on any paperwork I never gave them permission to call these people let alone the phone numbers of certain people that I havent even associate with in years. They make it almost scary to call them to try and reach any type of resolution. When you do call you get yelled at and belittled they have ZERO customer service they threaten you and they call people give out private information and to top it off they ask people who they assume are family ( they arent ) for money if you pay this amount we will stop calling their phone calls have been recorded by multiple people they give out information before they even confirm any type of relationship. To top it off they threaten to not put the money you do pay towards your account god forbid your off by $40 they dont post it to your account and keep the money its never returned and never posted, they lie and tell people the most outrageous things. They mentally and verbally abuse their customers. They need to stop calling my family and harassing them they have been asked and told multiple times to stop calling to remove their numbers and they still call from different numbers. I will not deal with ****** she is rude and unprofessional she yells at old ladies and would give away your social security number if she had it she should be fired!!

  Business response

  09/26/2023

  ID# ********
  Account# *****
  ************************************
  We take every complaint very seriously and investigate every complaint made. You allegations are not true. Your
  account is 74 days past due but always is 4 or 5 months past due and were doing are job, calling you and your
  references to make an arrangement with you, but you never answer our calls and you are also hiding the vehicle,
  you don&#**;t want to return it even though you don&#**;t have the money to pay it.
  We have never given information to third parties, we just ask them to tell you to call us back, but they stated using
  profanity language and they just hung up us.
  We don&#**;t lie to people, we just want you to fulfill your contract that you signed and pay the bill that you haven&#**;t
  wanted to pay in months and you have also given us incorrect information when you signed.
  According to your references, you bought this car for someone else, which is called, a straw purchase, and this is
  why you are angry that we are doing our job of finding our car.
  You can&#**;t say that we abuse our clients mentally if you don&#**;t even answer our calls. Your anger is because the
  references that you approved in your credit application are called, but to avoid this just call us and make your 3 late
  payments.
  ***************** never mentions that they took away their social security or any other comment that has to do with social
  security.
  I hope your complaints have been clarified.
  We only proceeded through company policies doing our job but if I can be of further assistance or need additional
  clarification, please dont hesitate to contact me at ************
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Collections Manager

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩