I too, although I am ashamed to say, am a customer of Drive Time. I am certain anyone reading this has experienced their rudeness.
They consistantly call, even before your due date and were even calling and harassing my listed references and literally arguing with them to the point my friends and family thought that it was their debt that they were arguing about!
Well...they messed with the wrong customer this time....and PLEASE... all Drive Time customers should do this.... They no longer call me and they are NOT ALLOWED TO CONTACT ME UNLESS I GIVE THEM WRITTEN PERMISSION!
YOU CAN WRITE A LETTER AND TELL THEM TO CEASE ALL TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION WITH YOU AND YOUR REFERENCES!! YOU CAN EVEN HAVE THEM STOP CONTACTING YOU BY MAIL TOO... BUT I SUGGEST JUST STOPPING THE TELEPHONE CALLS.
It is even illegal for them to discuss the fact that you owe money with anyone outside of yourself or your attorney if you are represented by one!
Also, file a complaint against them at www.ftc.gov look under the link consumer - and goto the file a complaint link.
I have done both things that I am asking you to do....and I haven't heard one peep since!
PLEASE READ....the following is from the Federal Trade Commission's Web site -
Your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:
Debt collectors may contact you only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Debt collectors may not contact you at work if they know your employer disapproves.
Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you.
Debt collectors may not lie when collecting debts, such as falsely implying that you have committed a crime.
Debt collectors must identify themselves to you on the phone.
Debt collectors must stop contacting you if you ask them to in writing.
-------------------------------------------------
805. Communication in connection with debt collection [15 USC 1692c]
(a) COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONSUMER GENERALLY. Without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt --
(1) at any unusual time or place or a time or place known or which should be known to be inconvenient to the consumer. In the absence of knowledge of circumstances to the contrary, a debt collector shall assume that the convenient time for communicating with a consumer is after 8 o'clock antimeridian and before 9 o'clock postmeridian, local time at the consumer's location;
(2) if the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by an attorney with respect to such debt and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain, such attorney's name and address, unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to a communication from the debt collector or unless the attorney consents to direct communication with the consumer; or
(3) at the consumer's place of employment if the debt collector knows or has reason to know that the consumer's employer prohibits the consumer from receiving such communication.
(b) COMMUNICATION WITH THIRD PARTIES. Except as provided in section 804, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than a consumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector.
(c) CEASING COMMUNICATION. If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt, except --
(1) to advise the consumer that the debt collector's further efforts are being terminated;
(2) to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor may invoke specified remedies which are ordinarily invoked by such debt collector or creditor; or
(3) where applicable, to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor intends to invoke a specified remedy.
If such notice from the consumer is made by mail, notification shall be complete upon receipt.
(d) For the purpose of this section, the term "consumer" includes the consumer's spouse, parent (if the consumer is a minor), guardian, executor, or administrator.
-------------------------------------------------
You can download a complete copy of these "debt collection practices" at www.ftc.gov
Don't be fooled! Just because you purchased your car from them doesn't exclude them. Remember, they are a finance company - and that makes them fall under the rules of collection agencies or any other debt collection business!
PLEASE TELL EVERYONE THAT YOU KNOW! WE HAVE RIGHTS AND DRIVE TIME IS HOPING THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THEM!!!
LET'S STOP THEM NOW!!!
Khymberlee
Encino, California
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Fleet BankClick here to read other Rip Off Reports on Drive Time, formally known as Ugly Duckling which is registered under the same ownership.