So, how do you know it’s a scam?

[fbhjr]

Back in December we replaced my car with another car just like it, but with only 1/7 the miles on it.
As the old car had been in my wife’s name, we kept it that way and all the paperwork, loan, registration and all is in her name. (The car she drives is all in my name. So, it evens out.)

When she applied for the loan, there weren’t a lot of yes answers. Most of the bills and such are in my name, so she has much less of a credit rating than I do. Not bad, but mostly empty.
Still a company gave her a loan at a good rate, so we took it.
The office manager at the car plays said “Your first payment will be in February.”

All through January, no word from them. No statements in the mail. No emails. Nothing.
At the start of the month, I started to get worried.
“We’ve got a payment due soon,” I said. “We need to find out how to make it and not have it be a bad mark on your credit.”

As it was all in my wife’s name, I couldn’t get much. The car dealership gave me the company, but I couldn’t get them to tell me anything as I was not their customer.
So, this weekend we hung on hold for the duration, and my wife got through to the company.

Turns out the bill was due on Tuesday. Even setting things up, I was about to get them their money Monday, so we were fine.

But, yesterday, they sent her an email welcoming her and telling her how to set up payments to them.
2 days after it was due.

Do I think it accidental that this company that gave out loans others wouldn’t waits until past due to tell people how to pay so they owe extra?
No, I do not think that accidental.
I think it is a scam.
A quick way to get a penalty fee off new customers.

Didn’t work on us, but that was just luck. If the date had been the 5th, we’d be paying.

Comments

[meowmensteen]

Aw, you're a bad customer. I'm sure they were relying on those late fees. My credit card company hates me because I pay off my card every month, and I collect points. So I'm making money off them. Not a good customer.

[fbhjr]

I do the same with my credit cards. And, they're always trying to get me to spend more...

[threemeninaboat]

We went with a credit union last time for the car loan and it was WORSE.
There was not a time when I wasn't battling with them.

[ravena_kade]

My Dad's most recent lease was like that at the beginning. No bills. No contact. And they sounded so inconvenienced when I set up an automatic payment from Dad's bank account.

[msmidge]

Wow. That's scammy. Maybe you can refinance the loan at a credit union someday.