Kramer And Frank Lawfirm And Vantage Credit Union Unprofessional, argumentative, and unwilling to help Saint Louis Missouri
Vantage Credit Union loaned us money to purchase a pop up camper in April, 2005. My salary changed as a result of needing to change positions with the company I work for, and I lost my overtime pay.
Eventually, they wanted to repossess the camper - and I was more than ready to let the camper go. What I didn't know, is that they would get rid of it for a fraction of it's worth. We had only used the camper maybe 3 times, and had not had it for a year.
Next thing I knew, I was being contacted by Kramer and Frank, wanting the money for the difference between the loan amount and the amount they 'gave it away' for.
Kramer and Frank refused to work with me on payments that I could afford. I continued to send what I could, when I could. The last conversation that I had, I was told that they were going to garnish my wages. Then, I receive a notice that my checking account had a lien placed on it, and any money in the account was being held for Kramer and Frank. I tried to call Rebecca Conrey with Kramer and Frank to see if we couldn't reach some type of agreement. I had to leave a message, and she never called me back.
I'll give them one thing - they research and know what your pay-days are, and manage to file the papers so that they can hold your paycheck before you can pay any of your bills! However, they don't care if they end up putting people out on the street, or force them into bankruptcy, which is where I am heading.
These people care nothing about trying to work with people who fall on hard times. Today, we went to the Sheriff's office to file a Levy Exemption, so that Kramer and Frank couldn't get my husband's disability payment, or my entire paycheck. I assumed that the exemption that we filed in April 2007 would be good for a year - WRONG! They can turn around and re-apply to garnish our checking account again, and again, and again - and charging us for the filing fees.
I paid them $875.00 last year. I suffer from severe major depression and anxiety. I have a Therapy Dog to help me get through the days, and she was diagnosed with Nasal Carcinoma in November of 2007. I had to throw my pride out the window, and beg some organizations help me get her through radiation treatments.
When I left the Sheriffs office today, I didn't want to live anymore. I was so depressed, and had a migrane headache. This is just about ready to push me over the edge, and if it wasn't for my Therapy Dog, I probably would not be here writing this now. I've told my psychiatrist several times that once something happens to my dog, I'll be gone - one way or the other.
I'm working almost 80 hours a week just trying to make ends meet. I know that it is our fault that we are in this mess, but I also know that there are collection agencies out there that will work with people.
I've got 7 more days until my paycheck hits the bank - it is direct deposited. We have very little food in the house, and our daughter and grandson live with us.
If I die, I want this posted to let people know that Kramer and Frank can push people into suicide. Kramer and Frank should be held responsible for anyone that they push into this direction.
Beware of Kramer and Frank - if you don't do what they tell you to do, with no room for adjustments, they will bleed you dry - in more ways than one!
Debbie
St. Louis, Missouri
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Valerie
Apache Junction,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Change banks or....
#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, August 12, 2008
Either change banks or have your check snail mailed to you along with your husband's disability check. Slower, but, it will prevent them-short term, from stealing your money.
Close the account where they obviously have their "paws" in YOUR bank account.
Shame even after trying to work with them, they resort to this.
Good luck Deb.
Valerie
Apache Junction,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Change banks or....
#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, August 12, 2008
Either change banks or have your check snail mailed to you along with your husband's disability check. Slower, but, it will prevent them-short term, from stealing your money.
Close the account where they obviously have their "paws" in YOUR bank account.
Shame even after trying to work with them, they resort to this.
Good luck Deb.
Valerie
Apache Junction,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Change banks or....
#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, August 12, 2008
Either change banks or have your check snail mailed to you along with your husband's disability check. Slower, but, it will prevent them-short term, from stealing your money.
Close the account where they obviously have their "paws" in YOUR bank account.
Shame even after trying to work with them, they resort to this.
Good luck Deb.
Valerie
Apache Junction,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Change banks or....
#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, August 12, 2008
Either change banks or have your check snail mailed to you along with your husband's disability check. Slower, but, it will prevent them-short term, from stealing your money.
Close the account where they obviously have their "paws" in YOUR bank account.
Shame even after trying to work with them, they resort to this.
Good luck Deb.
Valerie
Apache Junction,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Change banks or....
#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, August 12, 2008
Either change banks or have your check snail mailed to you along with your husband's disability check. Slower, but, it will prevent them-short term, from stealing your money.
Close the account where they obviously have their "paws" in YOUR bank account.
Shame even after trying to work with them, they resort to this.
Good luck Deb.
Bonnielee17
St. Charles,Missouri,
U.S.A.
There must have been a judgment
#8Consumer Comment
Tue, August 12, 2008
Hi Deb, It seems to me that they must have taken you to court and won a judgment against you for the difference. I believe that is the only way they can garnish your wages or bank account. I hope things get better for you.
Pww2552
St. Louis,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Vantage Credit Union Camper Loan Story #323861
#8UPDATE Employee
Thu, July 17, 2008
After reading the report titled Kramer And Frank Law firm And Vantage Credit Union Unprofessional, argumentative, and unwilling to help Saint Louis Missouri, by Debbie in St. Louis, I felt the need to respond on behalf of Vantage Credit Union.
I am currently an employee for Vantage and have, from experience, dealt with many people who decide to take out loans they can not afford. For those who fall behind in their loan and eventually have the item repossessed, it seems plausible to blame the credit union or the collection agency that goes after them. However, as both a member and employee of this institution, I can tell you I'm thankful they do. This institution has every right to protect the assets of those who have built it.
From experience in working with employees from the collections department, I know full well the measures these people take to create feasible ways for borrowers to repay their debts. Collections will work to establish repayment plans, accept partial payments, create new due dates, and allow for extensions on payments. If this doesn't work and the borrower voluntarily turns the item over to the credit union to be sold, it gets sold for what an auctioneer can get for it.
Keep in mind that Vantage is not a dealership, has limited space to store items like this, and has the responsibility to protect the assets of the 100,000 members that were used to purchase the camper described by Debbie. If Debbie was unclear about what would happen with the camper when she turned it in, she should have been more inquisitive. Vantage knows it's a losing proposition for them if they are forced to sell a vehicle, or camper in this case. At a recent event hosted by the collections department, I learned that over the years there have only been one or two cases, out of hundreds, where an auctioned vehicle covered the difference needed for the loan. Vantage isn't in the business of giving away cars at a loss, however in cases like this they are forced to take what they can get.
Overall, if money is lent in good faith, it needs to be repaid. I can tell you from personal experience that Vantage takes steps far beyond what any bank would do to help people who are struggling with their loan. This is obviously a tough situation for Debbie to deal with. However, if Vantage didn't turn cases like this over to Kramer and Frank, there wouldn't be a credit union because debtors would walk away from the financial obligations they have to the families that loaned them the money in the first place.