ComplaintsforAmerican First Finance, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  04/22/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  1/13/2024 Thiefs "ported" my mobile phone number ************ from ATT to Visable.com a ***************** without my knowledge or permission. I only discovered this problem when my phone wouldn't work. ATT and their fraud group, worked in the next 48hrs to bring my number back to me - but once the Thiefs had my number, they then took over my email account, started changing passwords in my mobile banking, ********************* Zelle, Venmo and transferring money to individuals. All Transactions came thru NY - when looking at the transactions. Patelco was notified on 1/13/2024 and shut down my account and open a fraud claim. All monies from Bank transactions have been refunded. The thiefs openened accounts at ********************* Target and all those have been shut down. The Thiefs attempted to break into my 401k account with ******************** all those accounts have been changed and extra security meausres have been applied.On 1/17/24 I received an email from American First Finance that my payment was due - I immediately called them to understand what the payment was for - they researched and said the I bought a ring from a **** Shop on 1/15/24 "Oscars Gold Diamond" for $3,500.00 I immediately opened a claim with their fraud departmment and emailed electronically all documents that they require - Drivers License, notarized documents, Police Report, Documents that show billing at my home address in ********** etc. I have followed up every 30 days since 2/9/24 with no support or help. 4/17/24 I spoke with ****** at American First Finance and she stated they the "fraud" group found the transactions valid. I asked to talk with the fraud group, but she replied that they don't allow that. She then asked if I had filed a police report - Yes. She said she would escalate and I would hear in 30 days. This company is difficult to work with, they claim they send me in Mail Letters explaining their findins, I have received none.

  Business response

  05/03/2024

  *******, thank you for bringing this to our attention. Your feedback helps us do better. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I currently have a loan through American First Finance that is set to come out every other Friday. I had arranged a payment plan which was satisfied April 18th for $180.06. Yesterday morning April 19th I woke up to a charge being placed by them for upwards of $300. I immediately called and they couldnt find any reason it was taken out and refunded me. This morning April 20th they decided to charge me $180.06. The reason I am even writing this is because I was assured no payment would be taken out until May 3rd and I have previously had issues with them and I just would like answers honestly.

  Business response

  05/06/2024

  Thanks for being a valued customer, **********. We would appreciate the opportunity to address this matter as your satisfaction is very important to us. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I'm not liable for any of this debt with American First Financial , I do not have a signed contract with my consent with American First Financial.I requested AFF to investigate every single matter and upon completing their investigation to provide me with evidence that the account belongs to me as I could be a victim of Identify Theft.They did not provide me with a copy of the original signed contract or any proof.American First Financial Failed to conduct a proper investigation. I have attached a full detail explanation letter along with other attachments to be used as proof

  Business response

  05/03/2024

  ******, thank you for bringing this to our attention. Your feedback helps us do better. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/18/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I contacted their returns department over the phone to initiate a return in order to terminate the agreement. I was told that since the furniture store doesnt accept returns that I would need to donate the merchandise to a nonprofit charity organization. Okay, sounds pretty straightforward right? Well, except the fact that no charity in my area will accept mattress donations of any kind. I was told its for sanitary reasons. I emailed the company and they responded once again that I can donate or take to a recycling center. I shouldn't have to pay to end my leasing agreement. The original leasing agreement states terminate it at any time by returning the merchandise AND the return of the merchandise shall be of NO COST to me. I shouldn't have to keep paying $99 a week because I can't donate the items like they requested. I just want to end this lease and get rid of the items without paying to do so

  Business response

  04/30/2024

  Hi, *****, thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you are dissatisfied with our product. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

  Customer response

  04/30/2024

  I am rejecting this response because they just keep telling me the same thing. I get home from work around 4:30/5:00 6 days a week. I have tried calling and even rented a trailer to take the furniture only to be told they won't take it.. I will take the chair tomorrow when I get off from work but still do not know what to do with the mattresses. I can't afford to pay $99 for furniture that is not even being used and can't miss work trying to figure out what to do with it. It's a shame that because they are lease to own instead of finance they get away with predatory tactics.

• Initial Complaint

  04/17/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  American first finance is trying to charge me $1,500 to take $736 out of my account they have told me multiple times that I have to authorize $1,500 to pay the $736 that I owe even though I've already paid $950 for a down payment that they did not take for a down payment and made it a deposit and then I tried to pay $600 and they wouldn't take the full amount and I received an email saying I owed $1,220 and change but they are completely ignoring it telling me that they didn't send me an email even though I have the email and they are still trying to make me pay the $1,500 that I do not even owe I only owe $736 left

  Business response

  05/02/2024

  Thanks for being a valued customer, ****. We would appreciate the opportunity to address this matter as your satisfaction is very important to us. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

  Customer response

  05/02/2024

  I am rejecting this response because:   they have lied to you my deposit is not refundable they have told me that many times and I have given them $950, $600 and I only owe $736 left and they are trying to tell me that I need to authorize $1,500 to come out of my account just to pay the $736 they're trying to steal money from us and trying to get us into a position to where we can't pay and have to be put into a payment arrangement to pay $3,000 extra dollars on top of what I've already paid and they won't do a single thing about it so I'm going to have to contact a lawyer

  Business response

  05/08/2024

  Thanks for being a valued customer, ****. We would appreciate the opportunity to address this matter as your satisfaction is very important to us. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/14/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The date of the transaction was 5/12/23 the account was paid off on 7/14/24. To the early pay off amount of ******. In total I paid $707.19 to American First Finance. Although I paid the early pay off amount in full they have continued to charge me interest and late payment fees reporting it as bad credit to Transunion. I am asking them to change the report to the credit bureau and change it to good credit. Since I made all my payments on time and paid the early pay off amount that was agreed to in the contract. ( Please see photo below account statement and last payment amount made stating pay off for ******)

  Business response

  04/29/2024

  Thanks for being a valued customer, ********. We would appreciate the opportunity to address this matter as your satisfaction is very important to us. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I received a letter from American First Finance with a check attached in the amount of $91.67, for overpayment on a previous account I had with them. I tried to mobile deposit the check, and my bank said it was not a U.S. check. I drove to ***** Fargo, and when they tried to run it through their reader, they said that the numbers at the bottom of the check were in the wrong order, I called the number listed on the check and talked with ******. He said that he has received several calls regarding this issue and gave me a toll free number. The toll free number was for ***** Fargo. They said that they cannot do anything if the numbers on the check are incorrect and advised me to call back to American First Finance, in which I am not going to continue to go back and forth with them. If they owe the money, they need to correct the error and get the checks sent back out to the people they owe it to.

  Customer response

  04/17/2024

  I was contacted by American First on 4/16/24 in regards to my BBB complaint. I was asked to send in images of the check to them. They called me on 4/17/24, and let me know that the refund department is supposed to deposit funds into my bank account over the next 3-7 days. Once that has been done, I will consider the matter settled. 

  Business response

  04/25/2024

  Thanks for being a valued customer, *****. We would appreciate the opportunity to address this matter as your satisfaction is very important to us. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

  Customer response

  05/03/2024

  I have reviewed the business response and accept this resolution. 

  I was contacted by American First on 4/16/24 in regards to my BBB complaint. I was asked to send in images of the check to them. They called me on 4/17/24, and let me know that the refund department is supposed to deposit funds into my bank account over the next 3-7 days. Once that has been done, I will consider the matter settled. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The company offered an early buyout option, and after making the final payment the company charged my account again causing an overdraft. The number provided as the customer service line never connects with an "agent" after going through the prompts. I logged into my account, but it's now closed and I can only see limited information. I tried the chat feature and was connected to ************ He was rude and not helpful at all. I'm assuming he couldn't see my account details because he kept asking questions about the payments. My guess is their customer service is a front, and not a real department. $2,110 is the total amount I paid to the company for furniture that was originally $800-900. I'm looking to be refunded the amount I was overcharged along with overdraft fees that accrue.

  Customer response

  04/19/2024

  I'm still being charged, despite speaking with a rep and being promised a refund for 3 payments. My account is paid off, but I've been charged again after that was acknowledged. Refund is still pending. 

  Business response

  04/26/2024

  Thanks for being a valued customer, *********. We would appreciate the opportunity to address this matter as your satisfaction is very important to us. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/09/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I have no knowledge or liable for this debt with AMER FST FIN. I do not have a contact with this company I have requested original application with signature and they have failed to provide the necessary documents I've requested.

  Customer response

  04/10/2024

  I have reached out to all three credit bureaus about the items and question in the letter and have not heard back Also set the same letter out in February  the one from March Was a resend when I noticed they did not do anything about the first one so its been well over 30 days even 60 maybe

  Business response

  04/19/2024

  *******, thank you for bringing this to our attention. Your feedback helps us do better. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

  Customer response

  04/21/2024

  I have reviewed the business response and accept this resolution. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/09/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  American First Finance provided a loan of under $3300 for the purchase of a couch set on December 27. The furniture seller indicated that if payment was made within 90 days, there would be 0% interest from the delivery date, which was in January 2024. Despite making timely payments and leading up to the 90-day period, no communication was received regarding the interest percentage after the initial 3 months. Approximately two weeks ago, I reviewed the Electronic Bill ****** (EBO) and found an outstanding balance of around $1100.As of April 2024, upon checking my balance, I discovered a debt exceeding $6,700, despite having paid approximately $2600 previously. In April, eight payments were withdrawn simultaneously without authorization. Despite numerous attempts to contact the company, including utilizing the email customer service option on their website, no response has been received and no details on the agreement in the site.I am deeply concerned about the legality of such predatory practices in *****************. I am unsure if this is permissible under the terms of the agreement. While I am committed to maintaining my credit integrity, I am unwilling to pay over $6700 for an amount that was originally less than $1100 owed. Furthermore, I have not received any mailed statements or notifications indicating a reduction in my debt; instead, the balance appears to increase with each payment made.The apparent lack of transparency and sudden escalation of debt has caused significant distress. I am eager to resolve this matter by paying the originally agreed-upon amount and closing the contract. It is my belief that this situation constitutes a scam, and I seek resolution accordingly.

  Business response

  04/23/2024

  Thanks for being a valued customer, ******. We would appreciate the opportunity to address this matter as your satisfaction is very important to us. AFF provided a more detailed response, which you will receive from the BBB via email. Please click on the attachment in that email. 

*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. ↩