ComplaintsforFirelands Federal Credit Union

• Initial Complaint

  07/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Starting at the beginning my complaint against Forehands credit union for adding too and constantly changing total amounts due on my vehicle loans. Report of vehicles, refused payments made by me and refusal of Redemption payment. And refusal of making final making my last 2 payments with the money I have held in escrow for this purpose. Now doing I owe 2400 dollars which extends my payments another full year. My pay off for my vehicle after the redemption of my Chevy sonic I was quoted by **** at firelands collection's my total pay off was now under 1000 dollars on Feb 26 , 2022. No matter how much I pay my about keeps going up every time I would ask about this amount. Firelands repossessed both of my cars on January 7th 2022 mind you refusing a payment that was okd and approved by again **** at Firelands Collection's Department located in same branch They sold my 2011 Ford Fiesta 2 payments totaling 390.dollars paid on for 6 years. A copy will be sent showing amounts they ended up taking. Because they still owed me 1,640.82 from selling my car. ****** was upset that I would not let them keep the check and made them send it to me to pay my rent because I lost my job due to taking both my cars the same day. Her reply to me was fine we will take your sonic again in 60 days. Which they are now putting me in a situation to lose my car due to them refusing me to use my 2 payments saved in escrow, defaulting me again. I then call main branch Bellevue Ohio asking to speak with ***** the CEO they directed me to ****** Mgr. He informed me I now owed 2400.00 on my Sonic. When questioned him why. After this ******* the District Mgr called me. He couldn't figure it out and contacted collection's. He tried to intimidate me into believing I owe this when I know I don't. I've been dealing with collection's all this time. He then wanted me to meet with him and person from collection's department. He got mad and said no to me having a witness with me. I asked to hav

  Business response

  08/03/2022

  [BBB transcription via email from business; see files]

   

  Thank you for your letter and notice of complaint filed with ID ******** on 07/21/2022. Here is a timeline of events and facts- supporting documents will be included (may need redacted for public posting) in their entirety where appropriate. 

  1) On January 7, 2022 the complainant's vehicle was repossessed due to default of the security agreement and promissory note and per the terms of those agreements. 

  2) Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code the complainant was sent a Notice to Cure Default letter via certified mail (attached to email as 'Notice to Cure'). This notice describes the terms under which the vehicle could be redeemed from its repossessed status and gives 15 days from the date of the letter (January 7,2022) or 20 days from the date of repossession (January 7, 2022)- whichever is later. 

  3) Since the property was not redeemed at the end of this period, on February 10, 2022 Firelands FCU sent complainant a Notice of our Plan to Sell Property for the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic, in accordance with Ohio Revised Code. This letter explains the date, time and location that we intend to sell the property as well as an explanation as well as an explanation that the property could be redeemed up until this date and time by paying the entire balance owed. 

  4) On February 25, 2022 the complainant expressed the ability to redeem the property but did not have the funds to pay the loan in full as were the terms of the letter. As a sign of good faith and in the effort to resolve any potential disputes, Firelands FCU agreed to process the redemption for a lower amount. This amount did not include the expenses of the repossession, nor did it include the expenses of preparing the property for sale as we had intended to sell on March 2, 2022. 

  5) Because of the facts in #4 above, advances were made to the loan, per the loan agreement, to cover our actual expenses in this case. These totaled $1,194.09 and were our actual and true expenses (see CFAA Invoice, Title Invoice 1, Title Invoice 2, Key Fee and Repo Fee). These advances are what increased the remaining balance due on the loan. 

  6) Firelands FCU is holding in escrow, in accordance with Ohio Revised Code, an amount equal to 2 installment payments which may be returned to the borrower upon the payoff of the loan, applied to the loan in the event of repossession and sale or applied to the loan as the final 2 payments upon borrower request. borrower is requesting these funds be applied but these are not the final 2 payments of the loan contract. 

  7) The borrower's payment history and balance have been reviewed and is a true and accurate representation.

  (Please see files for additional information sent from the business)

  Customer response

  08/03/2022

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ****

  Customer response

  08/04/2022

  [BBB transcription via phone message and screenshot from consumer; see file]

   

  Answer to Documents and Letter of explanation from ***** CEO Firelands Federal Credit Union. The Facts Stated in Reply are False. I do not Agree with Answer to complaint ********. I have Documents that show that statement is incorrect. I do believe it possible that they are combining totals of 2011 Ford Fiesta they sold on March 2,2022 with my redemption of 2015 Chevy Sonic. At this point I need professional advice as how to proceed in this matter. I do appreciate ***** CEO contacting me. I truly hope we can resolve this issue as soon as possible Thank you

  Business response

  08/08/2022

  [BBB transcription via email from the business; see attachment]

  This letter is in response to the further response from complaint ID ********. Ms. **** alleges in her response that the facts stated in the reply are false and that she does not agree with the answer. She also alleges documents that show the statements are incorrect but has not provided such documents. Firelands FCU restates all of the facts and the timeline stated in the first response and confirms that the statements included therein are true and accurate.

  Since the original response, Firelands FCU has received several emails from Ms. **** which have been responded to. A summary of these conversations is below:

  Began with an email and attached copy of response to BBB stating that Ms. **** believes our reply to be false. FFCU responded by reiterating that nearly all of the documents provided include the VIN number for the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic and could not be confused with her Ford Fiesta loan.

  Follow-up email claims that the full redemption amount was paid on 2/24/22. FFCU responded with a breakdown of the redemption paid with the following information:

  o    On 2/25/22 an amount of $1,139.70 was paid for the redemption broken down as follows:

  ·         $334.20 (2 payments) put into repo escrow account to secure further payments

  ·         $805.50 put towards to the loan balance which included $25 towards the expenses (as explained in the Notice to Cure).

  o    Also as explained in the Notice to Cure - $25 was not our true and actual expenses —only the amount required to be repaid in order to redeem (per Ohio Revised Code). Borrower still responsible for the true expenses of repossession.

  -         Ms. **** asked for explanation as to what "late redemption" meant and FFCU explained that the timeline to redeem is the later of 15 days after the date of the Notice to Cure letter was sent or 20 days after the date of repossession. Both of these occurred on January 7, 2022 so the date to redeem was January 27, 2022. Ms. **** did not redeem until nearly a full month later on February 25, 2022 — which resulted in additional expenses for transportation of the vehicle to the auction and other sale preparation expenses. 

  Ms. **** also alleged again confusion with the Ford Fiesta which was repossessed and sold in

  March 2022. She alleged we "took" $2,400.72 from the sale of her Fiesta which was not accurate. The following breakdown of the sale was provided:

  o    Payoff as of the date of sale $1,099.28

  o    Vehicle sold for $3,500 on date of sale — resulting in a credit balance of $2,400.72

  o    From the credit balance of $2,400.72 — we recovered our expenses of repossessing and selling the Ford Fiesta of $759.90 which left a balance of $1,640.82.

  o    This balance was refunded to Ms. **** on 3/4/2022 as check number *****

  Ms. **** further responded to the redemption period question regarding the Chevrolet Sonic saying that she was never asked to payoff the loan in full. FFCU responded pointing out that in our Notice of our Intent to Sell — the following language is present: "You can get your property back at any time before we sell it by paying us the full amount you owe (not just the past due payments), including our expenses." However, Ms. **** was permitted to redeem for less than the full payoff.

  Ms. **** sent images of text messages with FFCU collections department, however, there was no relevance in this information as it simply showed communication regarding the redemption amount and how to claim the vehicle back as well as information needed to transfer the title back to Ms. **** upon redemption.

  Ms. **** again stated that she doesn't agree with our totals, however, FFCU pointed out again that she has failed to provide any information which would support that position. Instead, FFCU has provided documentation showing our totals and that the information provided is true.

  Unfortunately none of these communications have been productive towards a resolution and FFCU maintains its position that the balance and payoff are accurate and that all actions were in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code.

   

   

  Customer response

  08/08/2022

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because statements made being false as well as totals shown on invoices not coinciding with added charges after the fact of questioning my final payments.  At this time I would like to make arrangements with the clerk of courts to make my payments to them until this matter is agreed on.  
  I assure you I was in constant contact with Firelands Collection's via **** as well as Columbus Auction.  The statements I received from credit union are absolutely a mess compared to copies sent to my threw BBB.  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ****

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