Sonic Payday, Coastline Credit Ltd. rip-off! Extreme scam artists! Beware these people! Internet
Avoid these people like the plague if you're in need of a short-term loan. There are other, more reputable Internet lenders if you're in need of this type of service. I had a loan with these folks that I notified in a timely manner prior to the due date for an authorized debit on my checking account that the funds would not be available. Their response was that it could not be stopped (incorrect, an ACH debit CAN be stopped if timely notice is given), and they proceeded to hit me with more than one debit attempt over a several-day period at $30 per instance of my bank's NSF fees. They also split the amount due into 2 separate debits which incurred additional NSF charges.
I was phone-contacted at my place of employment by an Ivan McKinnon who identified himself as being with Coastline Credit and representing the Sonic Payday loan account. He provided a call-back number of 866-838-4213. This fellow was extremely harassing, used profanity, and threatened me with wage garnishment and seizure of bank assets if the loan amount was not paid in full via Western Union Quick-Collect. He refused to give a mailing address for sending the funds by certified postal mailing of a bank cashier's check, where there would be proof of payment. He put a Mrs. Reed (or Reid) on the phone who also refused to give a mailing address, and stated that she would speak to my Human Resources Manager and "everyone in the office" about my account if not paid by Western Union.
I called Sonic Payday twice, and was transferred to mystery people each time that initially refused to give their mailing address or that of a business address for funds payment mailing. In both cases I was finally given a mailing address (after a long delay) that checked out to be other businesses not related to these companies when doing an Internet search.
I received a letter from Ivan McKinnon yesterday listing Coastline Credit Ltd. as the creditor, with the same contact number that he had given me on the phone, and with a return address of 234 North James Street, Newport, DE 19804. When Internet-searching for this address, it lists as being Pettinaro Relocation, a corporate housing and relocation firm.
At this point I have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, the Delaware Better Business Bureau, and the FBI's internet fraud division. The Sonic Website lists Ireland as the company address, and their Website IP address is 217.75.7.70 and points to Cork, Ireland when doing a route trace. My issue is that all representatives of these two "companies" refuse to give mailing addresses for funds payment, and specify that funds due can only be paid via Western Union. Credit and debt collection folks have told me that it it illegal to refuse a mailing address or to specify that payment be made only by Western Union, although I can't verify this.
Lest someone reply to this with a "rebuttal" detailing how stupid it is to deal with online lenders, "payday" loans, etc., I'd like to point out that many reputable people use these services nowadays for short-term loans, provided they can stomach the high fees for doing so, due to banks becoming increasingly ridiculous in making small loans and finance companies charging the same sky-high interest rates as online lenders. However, when using another company a time or two in the past for this sort of thing, there was no issue whatsoever in making easy arrangements for funds repayment.
J
M, Tennessee
U.S.A.
STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!
10 Updates & Rebuttals
Christina
Hayward,California,
U.S.A.
Another Victim
#11Consumer Comment
Thu, February 16, 2006
I am like many other people, and stuck with a loan from sonic. They have used scare tactics, saying that a collections enforcer would come to my work, and issue wage garnishment papers. They said they would call my employer, demanding payment. I was unable to pay, and they didn't care, just wanted their money. I haven't heard back from them, waiting for them to send papers to get their money. I wish I never decided to loan from them. They are the worst experience with a payday loan I have ever had. I tried to work with them, but they refuse to budge. As soon as I can I will pay them off, and never loan from them again. They go after their money at any means necessary. NOt understanding that if you work with the people you would get farther.
Dave
Warren,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Sonics tactics
#11Consumer Comment
Thu, February 09, 2006
It is not very professional to harass someone in collecting debts especially that soon after defaulting. We are used to being given a few days or even weeks to slide if something happends but these Payday co's are different.
Payday loan co's do not have any real legal means to collect. They cannot hit you for check fraud since you technically sent them a post-dated check and the check is for paying off a loan. They are usually not liscenced to practice in your State and thus cannot use the courts. If it is legal in your State and they actually do take you to court ( highly doubfull ) the judge will throw it out if the lendor did not try to work with the lendor via payment plans anyway. They can report you to Telecheck ( or whatever they used ) but thats about it.
All they have is intimidation and scare tactics to get you to send in payment before you have much time to think about it.
With Sonic they will contact your references and Employer. Even though its illegal to discuss personal loan issues with your Employer they will try to do so anyway.
Sonic is one of the rare Payday loan co's that will make good on their threats. Not legally binding to garnish your wages but it will cause much embarrasement with your Employer when they ask for this. Most payday loan co's will not go this far - Sonic is not one of them. Simple public shame.
If you have a loan out with Sonic its best to avoid all this hassel and embarrasement and pay the loan back before it gets to that. Pay if off and never deal with them again.
Matthew
San Diego,California,
U.S.A.
Pursue Legal Action
#11Consumer Suggestion
Sun, September 11, 2005
All-
Please note, there are certain laws that may be specific to your State that will allow you to seek recovery from Coastline. I would recommend checking these laws and then taking appropriate action to file a claim.
I would also recommend that you send any documentation to them via certified mail. Also, they are using a company in Texas name universal fidelity. They can ask as an agent for Coastline and sonic that you can serve directly.
Good Luck!
M
Ann Arbor,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Sonic who???
#11Consumer Comment
Tue, August 09, 2005
I have all these names now, and Sonic is shocked. I told them I got the names from my attorney, and then they said I needed to speak to someone else.
Well...David Ash seems to be the head guy over at the Canada office
13696 104th Avenue
Surrey, BC V3R-1V9
this is by the Guildford Office Park
...quite possibly a shared complex too.
Tammy
Clarksburg,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
SONIC HAS NO COMPASSION FOR ANY SITUATION!!!!!!!!!!!!
#11Consumer Comment
Fri, August 05, 2005
My husband was recently a victim of id theft and internet fraud, we had to close our account due to the fraud and they also cleaned out the account. Sonic Payday has already threatened wage garnishment with my husband after they were told what had happened and no funds would be available til the 26th of August. The response we got from them was, thats not our problem, you signed the contract. These payday loan places are loan sharks making a killing off of innocent people.
Stacy
Milwaukee,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
Contact Info that I have used.
#11Consumer Comment
Fri, August 05, 2005
Firstly, thanks to all who have reported information regarding this company. They are difficult to work with, and I am in the middle of a mess now, so this site has been very helpful. A fax number to their collection department that the calls come from is 888-395-0192. I was given a bad address, and after looking on this site saw what the company really was. Thank you again, and I hope the above number is helpful.
D
San Marcos,Texas,
U.S.A.
Asking help from J in M, Tennesee
#11Consumer Comment
Sun, September 05, 2004
I would really like help and advice from J in M, Tennessee. I've read several of the reports on this about Sonic, and have been "terrorized" as well by them. If J could email me and let me know what to do, I would be very appreciative. I need to know what my rights are. My experience is similar to J's. Thanks
Heather
Shreveport,Louisiana,
U.S.A.
Rebuttal for the rebuttal
#11Consumer Comment
Mon, August 30, 2004
You forget something that is absolutely necessary in any legitimate company: It is never professional nor does it make a company look more "legitimate" for a collector to use profanity, threats, etc. That is just plain silly and no one should have to deal with that.
J
M,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Dear John Letter ..issues from the rants of your rebuttal, perhaps a frustrated debt collector?
#11Consumer Comment
Fri, August 20, 2004
Dear John in San Jose. Me thinks you have issues from the rants of your rebuttal, perhaps a frustrated debt collector? There is absolutely no doubt that your response of a debt being owed and not paid on time is not a good thing. However, neither is a creditor refusing to allow full payment to be made within a four-week period from the agreed-upon due date. All businesses that lend money, from the scurviest Internet payday loan company to the largest bank in the nation, have to follow the law. Period. It doesn't require a lot of thought or debate to realize that any lender that refuses to give a mailing address for payment, that when repeatedly asked for that gives addresses of other businesses, and that demands that payment be made only through Western Union and states that it is not acceptable to certified-mail a bank cashier's check is scam city and teetering on breaking the law, if not doing so.
Perhaps if your mortgage company refused to give out a mailing address of its business for your house payment? Or that of your auto finance bank or company? And demanded that all payments be made only through a wire service where there would be little to no proof of payment? Sounds okay, huh?
John
San Jose,California,
U.S.A.
Geeze, you are dealing with a PAY DAY TO PAY DAY company
#11Consumer Suggestion
Thu, August 19, 2004
First off, you are dealing with a PAY DAY TO PAY DAY company. Sonicpayday.com issues you loans and they are due on the repayment date scheduled, which would be your PAY DAY. IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET A LOAN AND CANNOT PAY IT OFF ON YOUR PAY DAY, THEN WHY GET THE LOAN????.
LETS PUT THINGS THIS WAY.....Its like knowing you have a report/essay due in high school, you know its worth most of your final mark BUT still manage not to hand it in on the date due. Where does this leave you? With a bad final mark and a teacher who does not feel bad as he/she told you the date that it was due and he/she informed you of the effect it would have on the final mark. Here is what I am getting at. The teacher(sonic) tells you that you have report/essay(the loan) and give you the due date(repayment date).
Since you didn't hand in the report/essay(the loan), you do not get a good final mark(you go NSF and got Collections all over your a$$). Now keep in mind, Collections is exactly that, they collect money that was promised to them. (Don't think you promised them that??? Go read your loan agreement online) Why would they be nice about trying to get something back that was promised to them and was never received??
Like that teacher who you go up to and ask about the bad final mark...of course hes not gonna care. He/she told you the due date and that it was important, yet you still decide not to hand it in. WHOS FAULT IS THAT??. Honestly, you made the mistake of not paying it. Live with it. Of course you are going to get Collections agents all over your a$$. You pretty much stole money and are refusing to pay it back. How does that make sense? You are mad for not paying back money you owe?????? COME ON PEOPLE!!!! And yes, it is just like stealing.
I know a lot of you crooks in these here United States would LOOOOVVVEEE to argue that its not, but IT IS. Its like your employer not giving you your check on pay day for some reason. You, the person who worked hard for that money, is going to be mad. WHY? Because YOU were told that was YOUR pay day and that YOU were going to be given money on that day. MAKE SENSE? NO? READ IT AGAIN AND THINK.
I know I'll get replies to that about "SONIC SAYS 24 HOURS THEY PROMISED ME MONEY ON A CERTAIN DATE AND THEY DIDN'T DELIVER, I SHOULD BE MAD"...BLAH BLAH BLAH. Ever read what documents are needed? If you read it carefully and get it through your thick head that that is what you are to be sending, then yes it could be 24 hours. LET ME BREAK IT DOWN FOR ALL YOU SIMPLE MINDED PEOPLE AGAIN...here we go..READY?........
Say you were to send in all the parts for a car(documents) and the mechanic(sonic) were to build it and give you a brand spankin new car(loan). So lets say you get pretty much everything...BAH..you don't know if its all there but who cares, send it anyway. 2 tires, 1 seat, hmmm no motor but everything else is provided. Oh well, lets send that to the mechanic(sonic), he'll get us a car(loan). DOES THIS MAKE SENSE??? NOOOOOO. The mechanic(sonic) can't make a car(loan) without the proper parts for a car(documents), so hes going to call you. ring....ring....."Hello Mr/Ms. Stupidface, you didn't send 4 tires and theres only 1 seat, we need a drivers and a passengers along with the back seat that you sent...OH...and a MOTOR MIGHT BE IMPORTANT".....now here you are...MAD. Mad at what? You sent him car parts(documents). Were they the right parts(documents)? Some yes! Able to make a whole car(loan)? NOOOO. So why don't you guys read/listen to what is needed and send it like the smart people you are.
Oh and if you are going to reply about faxes. Please remember, the faxes are run through a computer system and 1000's upon 1000's are received daily. Faxes that are too light or too dark *pretty much useless* get deleted automatically. Yes, it can happen alot. No, there is no ink on their end. Yes, you should probably get a scanner and try to use the internet. 99.9% of emails are received. The 00.1% that don't get received, are either too big or are not allowed to be sent as the attached files are rejected from the email provider *which happens alot* Spam control, virus control. YES email providers do do this. If it happens to you, don't stress, send it from a different provider and your problems can be solved. Emailing is less than 5 minutes. So people of these UNITED STATES, please get your daughter/son/nephew/neice/grandchild to show you how, you'll love it!!!!!
ATTENTION! PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU REPLY, I MAY HAVE COVERED WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.
Any more questions class? NO. Thank you.