Legal Question in Consumer Law in California

Repossession of vehicle
I have a 02 Honda Civic DX(stock car).I was charged 433per mo for 6 yrs.I have owned 2 houses 4 23 yrs and have had excellent credit. I feel I have been ripped off, I am a pt employee, my hrs of pay vary from week 2 week, trouble making payments now 3 months behind but have always made payments, most late, many partial, got a very bad deal and harassment from dealer when bought car. Salesman followed me onto parking lot and started cursing me out saying he busted his butt for me and a lot of other obscenities. I contacted finance company to make payment arrangement about 2 weeks ago as usual as have done 4-15 mos They asked if I wanted to keep the car, and said I should call the work out dept the next day, I did this they don't call back I have left messages for a week, with no response. I am now concerned that at anytime I could wake up and find my car not in the parking lot and be stranded at work late at night and can't get home or at home and can't get to work, my job is very time sensitive, if late or absent more than two times a month, I'm out of a job. I'm afraid they will repossess my car, I feel ripped off to begin with and now they won't let me make any payment arrangements, what recourse do I have?

Asked on 11/07/03, 8:41 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Robert Mccoy Law Office Of Robert McCoy

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Re: Repossession of vehicle

Your fears are well founded. Everything you fear can and probably will happen to you. I believe the finance company is playing a game with you. They do this so you will not suspect anything and do not hide your car. "Contact our work-out dept." is code language for "we are getting ready to repo your car, but don't want to tell you this". If you are behind in your payments, your car can be repossessed, regardless of how bad a deal you got. You can temporarily stop a repo by filing bankruptcy. If you file a chapter 13 you can make payments on the past due amount for the next 3 years and still keep your car. Note that if your car is repoed then you will probably get sued, and owe at least another $10k.

Answered on 11/10/03, 5:56 pm

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