Complaint Review: Chrysler Financial

I, too, purchased a vehicle through Chrysler Financial in January of 2001. I traded in a '97 Sable Wagon, (also financed through C.F.) for a '99 T&C Van.

I then experienced 2 Minor problems and then 1 MAJOR Problem with C.F.

1st (Minor): Within 45 days of purchase, on a SUB-ZERO March day while driving 4 little preschoolers to school 20 miles away, the engine literally JUST STOPPED! I was barely able to make it to the side of the road, (out in rural area), and because the engine WOULD not start AT ALL, we were left with NO HEAT!!

After being towed to closest dealership, it needed to have the ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACED!!!! MY extended warranty covered it, but not the $100 deductable. When I contacted MY dealership, I was guaranteed that they would reimburse me the $100 since the repair should be covered by their own 30-60 day Warranty.

The Good News is: It only took them 13 MONTHS, (by numorous calls & visits from me) to send me that check!

2nd (Minor): Since I was trading in my Wagon for the Van on 1/22/01, the Chrysler Dealership Finance agent called Chrysler Financial for PAYOFF Amount on the Wagon. It was then calculated in with my new Van loan, I signed the papers, gave them the Wagon and a check and drove off in my new(to-me) Van!!

Then, a year and a half LATER, C.F. sends me, by registered mail, a letter DEMANDING an additional payment of $3XX on the traded-in WAGON!! When I contacted Chrysler Financial to clarify their request, I was told that the dealership had not turned in their paperwork to C.F. until 1/29/01, and probably another payment came due that week.

I advised C.F. to contact the dealership directly to clear up this matter since I was no longer financially responsible after trade-in for this vehicle. They REFUSED, saying that they are separate from the dealerships, and therefore, cannot call them.

The Bad News is: C.F. said I had to prove that the Wagon was sold to the dealership on that date, even though they have copies of the records themselves! And even after the dealership contacted them themselves to try to help, they wouldn't take their word either. C.F. informed them that it was MY problem, not theirs!

And last, but not least, my MAJOR problem is: Last May, 2002, I made a check-by-phone Van payment with C.F., (as I had done a few times before) and not until a week later, found out C.F. took out an additional, UNAUTHORIZED $670 amount from my checking account, unknown to me.

It took me days of calling to C.F. to have them explain what happened. They ADMITTED guilt immediately, stating it was a "comupter error" and they would "overnight" the money, AND any overdraft fees, to me immediately.

THE BAD NEWS IS: That was 8 MONTHS ago, and I not only DO NOT HAVE the money back they ILLEGALLY took out of my checking account, or the $5XX in OverDraft Fees, I DO NOT HAVE MY VAN!! They came out one night and REPOSESSED IT!!!!

All this because they won't return my numerous phone calls to try and clear this up! It's as if they think if they don't return customer calls, that we'll give up and just stop calling!

That's an interesting approach to Customer Service! (Kind of reminds me of that "Roger and Me" documentary--this sounds like the perfect sequel!!)

P.S. I'm a solo-mom of 2 special needs kids, and got the van specifically to suit the medical needs of the older child, and during the time the van was reposessed, this child was in and out of Children's Hospital and Emergency Rooms for 3 MONTHS, ALL WITHOUT A VEHICLE!!!! I would have never made it without the generous help of nurses and friends lending me their vehicles!

K.C.
Mahtomedi, Minnesota
U.S.A.