When I was 19 I bought a new car. After a few months, things started to go wrong with the car and I took it back to the dealer. When confronted with the problems, the dealer told me that these things were not covered under warranty and that the guy that had the car before me must have contributed to these problems. This was a surprise to me because I was told the car was brand new when I bought it. When I asked the man why he sold the car to me "brand new" when in fact it wasn't, he said "what are you gonna do about it?"

Then after I lost the job I had I fell behind in payments. My car was repossessed. (not that I cared)

This was 11 months ago. I was called last Wednesday AT WORK by the bank who financed me and was told that the car was sold for $4,000 so I owed the balance which was $8,000. She told me that I needed to pay it by Monday. The woman said that she had been sending letters to a bogus address and they were returned. I told her this was because I no longer lived at that address. Then she says "so you still live at the 7th avenue address?" That was funny because she just told me that she didn't have my current address but yet she just told me where I live!! I asked her how she got my work number. She said that was her job to obtain info about me. I asked her why it took so long for her to call me at work if she had the phone number and she knew that I hadn't been contacted. She got upset and told me that this was not a personal issue and that if I didn't want to pay the money that she could go ahead and get a judgement from the court to garnish my wages.

I was freaked out all weekend.

Today (the following tuesday) I was called again (I work the front desk)to verify employement for someone. I asked who and the man said my name. I told him who I was and etc. and he said that I could settle right now for a lump sum of $5,000. I DON'T HAVE IT. But I don't want my wages garnished. Help!! What do I do??

Roni Bonds Seattle, Washington

-- Roni Jeigh Bonds (ronibonds@hotmail.com), September 14, 1999

Answers

It's a little difficult for me to help you on this one because this site is for people living in the UK who are having problems with their homes. We don't really have the expertise to deal with US problems.

Sorry about that, but good luck.

Lee

-- Lee (repossession@bigfoot.com), September 14, 1999.

Dear Roni, Depending how long you had the vehicle from the garage,it would be down to the finance company to sort out any problems with vehicle as the dealer sold veh to finance firm & you purchased it from them under a finance agreement. \in regards to the finance company ringing you for settlement etc,that must be a sub prime company or a broker who introduced the deal,who has an agreement with the main finance company to sort out any deals himself should thay go wrong. She would not be able,at this stage,to put a garnish on your wages. I am in the repossession field in the UK,but basically the same law applys where-ever you are regarding repo/possession. Also,I would think that you had personal items in the vehicle when it was taken,specially without your knowledge,these items may had up to more than you owe them?.If I can be of any further help,let me know,as we are thinking of setting up a sight like this one for person in situation like yourselves,once finance has been sought, Regards Harry.

-- david goode (harry@templesoutheast.free-online.co.uk), September 16, 1999.