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Westlake Financial Services

Westlake Financial Services review: Car finance company fraud 46

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Author of the review
10:38 pm EST
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This company is quite crass and unprofessional. I've been doing poor business with them since 2004 and have regretted it since...
Now I keep track of all my bills each and every month: they are 1st written out, next to the amount due, then followed by the "due date". When the bill has been paid, it is noted, along with the date paid in red ink - every bill is written out the exact same way. So ofcourse I find it hard to believe that I have over $200 in late fees that I have no recollection about whatsoever! In 2007 I fell upon economic hardship and was unable to make a payment in july; because of that I double my payment the very next month. Later in 2007 I received a call stating that I was given a "one-time" chance to pay up any late fees and get myself caught up. I thought about it, and jumped at the opportunity. Now in january 2008 I relocated from la to georgia, when they found out that I no longer resided in la county they threatened to repo my car if I didn't disclose my new address to them. Then suddenly added some fees for what they called "late fees" namimg dates I had paid late from 2005 (but paid late fees for back then) and for leaving the state without their permission. They even began calling my listed references and old employer (what they had on file) asking my whereabouts and telling them that I "am behind on car payments and am hiding my car so that is does not get repossessed"... What? Shortly after that I decided I had enough and signed up for online banking (to ensure they received their payments on time) and started asking for and noting my payoff balance each month. It is now novemver, according to my calculations this month is my last car note, so if comes as a total surprise to me when they tell me my payoff balance is $1000 more than what it should be. And what was their main defense?... According to westlake I am 1 whole month behind due to a missed payment in july 2007 and I have a repo fee on my account. I wonder how is that when my car was never repo'd or out of my possession not 1 time!? These people are ridiculous and i've decided to find as much as I can about then becuz they are well in breach of their legal rights. And I believe a class action law suit in well overdue...

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46 comments
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Rondsheba Ali
, US
Oct 17, 2023 10:33 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Wow I was just about to use them for a car, I guess I am not getting a car yet. Let me try orr Nissan

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Llsbg1021!
New Orleans, US
Oct 04, 2022 9:26 pm EDT

This has literally just happened to me with them, they said it was their mistake and still want to charge me the 700 fees. They also took my payment twice last month without permission. This is by far the most fraudulent company!

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Knicole22
Las Vegas, US
Sep 07, 2022 1:26 pm EDT

Posting this in Sept. 2022, I’m another victim of Westlake Financial horrible schemes. $12,000 paid to them on time (more than what the car is worth, mind you) and they repossessed my car twice. I’m in contact with a lawyer, does anybody know if a class action has been looked into? Has anybody gone further into this?

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Stephanie brown 73
, US
Oct 02, 2022 6:30 pm EDT
Replying to comment of Knicole22

I'm in same boat w them

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Pam NYC
Queens, US
Nov 16, 2022 5:57 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of Knicole22

There have been class action lawsuits against them in several states before with hefty fines. Unfortunately, they continue to conduct "business" in horribly anyway.

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Geeo1
, US
Aug 05, 2022 2:02 pm EDT

West lake financial is a fraud! Their are a family trying to pay business, they lie to their customers knowingly and because it’s a family own business they talk crap about us their customers and manipulate the system to avoid getting calls from customer they don’t want to speak to. I financed two vehicles with the. And paid them off, one over 7 years ago and i still have not received my title. I literally have to sue them to get them, I called and the representative don’t speak clear English so they don’t fully understand our questions, and when they can’t answer your questions, they lie and say that someone will call back.. it never happens! They got their money and now can’t help! This can’t be legal.. so frustrating have to go through all of these, I’ve financed other vehicles before and NEVER been through anything like this before. Uuuuugggggghhhhhhh! Never do business with west lake financial

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Julius Hudson
, US
Jul 28, 2022 9:11 pm EDT

im onboard they swindled me as well class action suit lets do it corybagio@gmail.com

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Chris199375
, US
Jul 13, 2022 4:47 am EDT

2022 and having the same problems. Did anyone sue?

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Shereje
Moreno Valley, California, US
Dec 29, 2021 3:38 pm EST

This company stole my car. It was totally paid off and they came with some ridiculous fees & repossessed it. How do you you repossess a car that's been paid off. When trying to get my cat back the demanded 1/2 of the car worth to get it back. Intried for years to try and find an attorney to fight this illegal company. Now K see they are finally getting what's coming to them.
Don't sign up with them beware...

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Kourtney Mcgowan
, US
Jan 18, 2022 8:03 pm EST
Replying to comment of Shereje

Omg! This is insane! They need to be stopped now

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VB Roni A.G
, US
Sep 06, 2019 12:23 am EDT

i am going to contact the corporate tomorrow. My car valued at 15000 dls and in 3 years I have paid about 8k in just interest. I reviewed my payments and the interest is higher than the monthly principal. I monthly pay 346 and it pays more the interest than the principal. I will be contacting them tomorrow to apply my payments correctly if not I will be contacting a lawyer. I will definitely email every email on the contact list and internet until they go our of business. I will never again use them for finance lender

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Jennifer03
, US
Nov 01, 2019 1:44 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I would like information on lawsuit

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Kourtney Mcgowan
, US
Jan 18, 2022 8:04 pm EST
Replying to comment of Jennifer03

Me too please kourtneymcgowan@gmail.com

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Will2022
Oklahoma city, US
Feb 18, 2022 5:05 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I had a truck financed through this company. Made on time payments for a year. I sold the vehicle to a private party who sent them a check for the pay off amount. Westlake financial claims to have never received the check and have proof of them receiving and cashing the check. 4 months later and after sending multiple checks we have still accomplished nothing. They are destroying my credit and refusing to give me the title. Everytime i call i get the run around or hung up on. I don't know what to do. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place and on the hook for 25k on a truck im not even in the possession of. Can someone help? Navjones16@gmail.com

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ron haynes
, US
Apr 19, 2022 11:13 am EDT

They are a crooked company. Contact the US attorney general in your district and explain to them what happened. They have jurisdiction over banks , car lots and loans.

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Ki Milton
, US
Jul 14, 2022 7:20 pm EDT
Replying to comment of Jennifer03

I would like the information also.

Kkmilton06@gmail.com

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Taneil j
, US
Jan 11, 2019 7:22 am EST

I know my car has to be paid off by now. These people fraudulently add late fees and charges even after you paid the fees. I'm so tired of it. I can't even trade my car because i still owe more than it's worth. There needs to be an investigation against this company.

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Being real
, US
Nov 04, 2018 5:43 am EST

They over charge two months in told me that because change my do date there going over charge in charge my with permission. That ashame alee49148@gmail.com

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Michele Crank
, US
Oct 17, 2018 4:58 pm EDT

Hello all, am sitting here reading all complaints and hope someone might be able to guide me to help with this finance company. I purchased my car in Sept 2015 purchase priced $22, 000.00 A week ago I took the car to a car dealership to try and trade out now mind you as I read each of your stories how this company calls the very next day after payment of $649.00 is due and they consistently call 4 and 5 times a day. Okay back to taking car in for trade. I discovered I was not ever 30 days late until just this month and my credit rate in good not the best but good. Just to discover I still owe $20, 000+ on this car that I have been making payments on, in talking with one of the CSR for Westlake he told me I have paid over $16, 000+ in interest. I will never see the light at the end of this tunnel. The car is not even valued at $10, 000. I got screwed during a desperate time needing a vehicle to care for my dying father (he passed in Sept 2016). Please if there is someone out there who knows of a class action lawsuit and or an attorney please contact me. How can people get away with this type of activity. my contact email is nishoni@yahoo.com Please help. Thank you and may our God bless each of you.

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Comanci
, US
Nov 23, 2015 6:24 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I paid my car off in 2013 with Willshire consumer credit and received two months later a credit collection notice stating I owe 2000 and something dollars to westlake financial services. Westlake doesn't know what's going on and transfers me over to Willshire however Wilshire will not communicate with me verbally. Paidoff notice and DMV pink slip in hand, Need a lawyers, please help?

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Stephanie Thomas 1
, US
Oct 27, 2015 3:12 am EDT

This company is very rude. When I've become late on a payment they have threatened me with repossession and the have also forced me to pay overdraft fees on my checking account when I gave them no permission to run transactions. They have tricked me into paying these fees back also. I really hate this company and they do not believe people are faced with hardships. I wish I would have done research before taking on this deal. They have piled so much interest on me, I don't think I'll ever pay this car off. I've had it for 2 years and looking like I've only knocked off 1k and I've paid every month with the exception of 2 deferred payments. This company needs to be looked at closely. I've been mistreated, threatened and have been faced with some serious stress levels trying to avoid getting a car I worked so hard for taken.

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Jt327
Bronx, US
Dec 27, 2013 7:35 pm EST

westlake is nothing but a scam all they do is take advantage on people with no credit or bad credit i paid my car loan a few days late after i paid it a week later they came and repo my car i was up to date with all payments i contacted a lawyer and i will be suing for a illegal repossession i called the bank and they said my car has been sold and i can't get refund smh

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ErinSam
Point Pleasant Beach, US
Oct 17, 2013 9:21 pm EDT

Westlake has been impossible. My husband owned his truck with an old girlfriend. When we married and he took over the truck the completely they refused to allow his name to solely be on the loan. His ex girlfriend is a drug addict and refuses to sign any paperwork for him without him giving her money to do so for her drugs. She has even been arrested for her part in drug dealing. We offered this information to westlake and they simply didn't care. His ex did tons of damage to the truck while they were together and during the process of their break up. Dents, dings, etc. The made an agreement that she would make a payment towards the vehicle and she did. Several months later she decided to take the payment back and westlake reversed the payment and didn't tell my husband until months later when he fell behind a payment and they told him he was two payments behind. He was confused and they explained her reversed payment. Here we are several month later and he fell behind again but westlake was also supposed to contact motor vehicle and put his name first on the loan and title so he can receive his registration. (the ex won't give it to him) So repo shows up today and my husband tells him to leave our property and he refuses. He argues with my husband and keeps putting his vehicle up to my husbands telling us he is taking it no matter what. My husband stands between the two vehicles and tells him he knows the laws and westlake has not kept up their end. The man tells us he does not care. After about 10-15 mins the guy realizes we are not backing down and he decides to pull away. He sees that my husband is still between the vehicles and he pulls out of my driveway really fast injuring my husband. Ambulance has to be called, cops come and off to the hospital my husband goes. Nobody wants to default payments...things happen. We are victims of hurricane sandy and lost a lot. It's a slow process but we are getting back on our feet. This company could care less. We have read so many horrible things about them. Even from people that have paid off their vehicles and still get repoed or the company holds their title anyway. It's all about how a company runs their business and they run it like CRAP!

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Naffyrules
, PH
May 01, 2013 11:06 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I do respect all their thoughts and opinion but in the very first they should not be late on any payments, right? Companies have different types of policies and that is written in their contract. I think they should read and analyze first the contract before they sign it.

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radar45
, US
Mar 05, 2013 3:47 pm EST

We aren't getto monkey's. I am a retired navy chief w/o and I bought a car for my daughter. I can make payments but to be on the safe side we are going to a credit union that I deal with for years. I am not going to let them give me any guff and play their games.
I called them and they told me that the only people that complain are those that can't really pay or never had the intentions to make their payments on time. so if I were you people I would look for a good credt union.

radar45

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BrooklynBred
, US
Jul 05, 2018 6:08 am EDT
Replying to comment of radar45

You're not a Ghetto monkey. Just poor white trash.

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lj196
Phoenix, US
Jan 19, 2012 1:40 am EST

Westlake financial told me my car sold at auction for 2000 more than what I owed so they were going to send me a check for the remaining balance but I had to send them a payment of auction fees before they can send me a check so being young a naive I sent them the fees and called them back to tell them it was sent and the number was disconnected now after 9 years of not hearing anything from them they are garnising my wages

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stopcarfraud
Marina del Rey, US
Oct 28, 2011 8:17 am EDT

hi

i am filing a lawsuit against this company here is what creditors can not do

1. call you before 8 am or after 9 pm
2. discuss your financial situation with anyone but you or call your contacts
3. contact your place of business if you tell them not to
4. threaten you in any way to pay our debt
5. use abusive language

Car Repo

If your car is in a closed garage in most states they cannot touch it
they cannot take your car if you have posession of it, so lets say you are driving and they try to stop you or chase you
Cannot repo the car if they do not use peaceful means which means no abusive language, no aggressive behaviour etc

please contact me at clarionla@aol.com to talk about coming on board. I am determined to make sure westlake financial, the hankey group and wilshire consumer credit are shut down.

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beyondtired
, US
Oct 02, 2011 11:11 pm EDT

Everyone contact your attorney general and the BBB on West Lake Financial Services. We need to put alert on this company not only are they scams but the dealerships are as well i am going through a deep process on bringing this company down they are hurting families..

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Jason62
Picayune, US
Apr 27, 2011 2:51 am EDT

@spearchucker, that's a typical response by a westlake rep, no need to further discuss your post.
If wlf discloses your info and payment history to a 3rd party they are in violation of the fdcpa.
If they represent themselves as officers of the law they are violating the fdcpa and local law.
If they threaten a minor to extract info or in that regard anyone, they are in violation of the fdcpa and local laws.
They can sell your contract but they cannot add or increase your payment, late fees sure they can add those but this is not a mortgage like an arm.
If you have people following you around like an other poster stated, call the police and I assure you that they will think twice following you again.
There are enough lawyers out their willing to sue these predators and you collect $1000 per incident if the fdcpa was violated, if you can't find an attorney then your nearest legal aid office can assist you.

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spearchucker
Beverly Hills, US
Oct 29, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

Westlake only finances sub prime- meaning ghetto monkey bad credit ###s. What did you expect? Get a real job and go buy your Escalade with a bank loan.

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JESME3
, US
Oct 10, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

I had my truck repoed as well from them, I was actually glad as the damn thing was neading much transmission work. they called and harrassed my neighbors that I didnt even know and saying I had them down as referencess. what? I didnt even know there names. it was so embarrassing having countless people knocking on my door saying that "westlakes financial" called and that they are going to repo my truck. okay so I messed up and couldnt pay but that does not give them rights to do this. now they sold the truck for 8000 I put 4000 down payment made 500 a month payments for 9 months the loan was for 18000 and I still owe 9000? hmmm?

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Vmorale4
Orlando, US
Sep 21, 2009 11:17 am EDT

Well i live in Orlando FL, and this company repo my car this morning. I have never deal or even heard of this company's name before this morning. I bought my car cash from a auction. When i call the police they informed me of West Lakes number, but they never pick up my calls.

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RTDH
Lehigh Acres, US
May 23, 2009 3:03 pm EDT

I am having a problem too! I lost my job a few months ago and knew I was not going to be able to get my payments together. I called Westlake and told them I would like to give my vehicle up and they told me that they do not do voluntary repossessions and that it could take up to 2 years for them to repossess the vehicle. Ever since I have received numerous phone calls from Westlake threatening legal actions. I told them to stop the harassment and come pick up their vehicle and they said, "Do you even know the definition of harassment?" Another phone call I received they had told me it would be in my best interest to make a payment and stop being so childish and pay. On both of those calls, I hung up, I am an adult, I tried to make it right, by giving up my vehicle in the beginning and they refused and now all they do is harass me, family, and my friends. I even have people calling me that I never gave for a reference asking me what is going on. How they got other peoples phone numbers is beyond me. Isn't there something about Third Party Disclosure that they are in violation of?! I think so! How come almost all my references and some know about me owing money on my vehicle? Never again will I deal with Westlake and I can not wait until the day all this over!

ryantara85@gmail.com

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Jenn157
Indiana, US
Dec 03, 2008 5:08 pm EST

They have basically done the same to me and even went behind my back and refinanaced my loan that I had down to $9000, it is now $12, 350, after they told me they would give me a deferment. What kind of crap is that? Well, anyhow I am checking into filing a class action lawsuit against. If you would like to join me please let me know.

Jennifer Livingston
Indiana, PA
cherokee15701us2001@yahoo.com

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Charles Flynn
, US
Feb 23, 2018 2:14 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of Jenn157

Hello I'm going thru the same but a lil different in situations. I got into an accident they are on my insurance check cause they are the finance company so I sent the insurance check to them so they can sign but it never returned so I put a stop on it.now they are callinge from my area code when they are located in LA. They call me three times on bothy phones I asked if they do e-sign they refused to answer if u would like more information please call me at [protected] would love to hear from u soon thank you for reading

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Cmorrisey9
, US
Feb 24, 2018 10:12 am EST

My mother has been dealing with company for not even a year an was threatened with repo twice for missing the payment by 3 days. She even told them to take the car because of the treatment by them but then they refuse . please contact me as well at cindymorrisey9@gmail.com

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Destin
, US
May 13, 2018 12:20 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of Jenn157

Westlake reports false information to the credit bureaus. My situation is that my car was totaled and the account balance was paid in full. After the fact this corrupt company went in and charge me false fees of 608.00.

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Destin
, US
May 13, 2018 12:23 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of Cmorrisey9

Westlake Financial is owned by a billionaire and I don't care how much money the owner has because eventually he will be [censored] down by the government for illegal practices. Westlake is the worst company I habe ever dealt with.

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NaniTati
, US
Jun 05, 2018 1:00 am EDT
Replying to comment of Destin

They have done the same exact thing to me. They are a fraudulent predatory lender and must be stopped.

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Jennifer03
, US
Jul 17, 2019 10:58 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of Jenn157

I need help, I'm in ! Jennifer Harrison okolonawindows70@gmail.com please contact !

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VivieR
, US
Sep 15, 2019 11:26 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

This company is absolutely ridiculous. They are rude and have no customer etiquette. I had a 13, 000 loan since October of 2018. Payment of $340 per mo. My balance today is still a maybe $300-$400 less. Made 2 payments past the due date & they applied the whole payment to interest.

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Jarrod Barnes
, US
Oct 03, 2019 6:12 am EDT
Replying to comment of Jenn157

Count me in if this is still active. My payoff went from 5200 to 5800 and I have not missed a payment

Contact me at
jbarn16.jb@gmail.com

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Suz913
, US
Oct 11, 2019 9:55 am EDT

That bc of interest they need to make their interest..what indid was pay dounlentriple for 3 or 4 months and they alson repo when theybshlildnt last year I disputed the 500 in fees just took me 41 days.and threat a lawyer and fingerncrossed jut hung up saod check wa mailed

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Brian Zepeda
, US
Sep 17, 2020 6:29 pm EDT
Replying to comment of Jenn157

Hey did you ever file a lawsuit l, the same thing is happening to me, you can email me @bzepeda650@gmail.com

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Jaclyn Seveland
, US
Apr 02, 2022 2:29 pm EDT

hey if anyone is filing a class action lawsuit PLEASE email me ! jseveland@outlook.com I would love to tell my story and add it to the LONG file of customer complaints!