For most Americans, shopping for a new car means shopping for an auto loan. This can be a daunting and confusing experience for most people. Getting the best deal requires calculating the total cost of a loan, comparing offers, and negotiating with lenders. Some lenders provide a reliable experience for consumers, but there are far too many cases where things go wrong. One financier, Chrysler Capital, is receiving adverse reports about its auto loan practices. The complaints against the company cite several illegal practices violating debt collection laws.
Background
Chrysler Capital is the financier behind the Chrysler brand dealerships, providing auto loans for new or used cars. It is a financial giant Santander USA program- a division of Banco Santander, an international bank. The company offers an online application process that, if approved, you can go to the dealership to finalize the offer. While they advertise themselves as a convenient option for Chrysler customers, online reviews identify them as anything but.
FDCPA Violations
Our investigation found consumer reports that Chrysler Capital charged inappropriate fees and even repossessed vehicles violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA is a consumer’s first defense against shady lending practices and lenders. The law holds companies accountable to consumers who make appropriate payments and allows them to recover damages.
Past Wrongs
In 2021, the Justice Department settled with Santander Consumer USA (doing business as Chrysler Capital) after the company violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The SCRA protects active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. It ensures a reduced interest rate of loans, protections against foreclosure, repossession of property, and more.
The 2021 suit alleged that the financier denied early vehicle lease terminations to those who qualified under the SCRA. This suit came after a 2015 suit wherein Chrysler Capital wrongfully repossessed over 1,000 servicemembers’ vehicles.
Consumer Litigation Representation
This article lists only a handful of consumer issues, however, our office has heard more reports. An experienced consumer attorney can identify if Chrysler Capital has violated any state or federal laws.
Reach out to Maginnis Howard with the information about your potential case and our intake specialists will evaluate your information. Our attorneys have obtained millions in class action lawsuits against companies like Chrysler. You can call us (919) 526-0450 or submit a confidential message through our contact page. We may request additional documentation for a staff member to review before speaking to an attorney. While we cannot take every case that comes in to our office, we do our best to serve consumers wronged across the nation.
