Tagurit
Plano,#2Consumer Comment
Sun, January 29, 2012
There are things you must do as a responsible consumer. Never trust the finance company to provide you with records. If you are making payments on anything financed whether it is a vehicle, a house, electronics, or furniture, YOU must keep accurate records of every payment made AND when it cleared your bank account. When you sent payment is not as important as when it cleared your account as proof of when it was paid. If you paid in person or via Western Union, keep the dated receipts. You must do this until the loan is paid in full and you have received documentation of this. Without detailed records you leave yourself open to be taken advantage of by any finance company that is not above board (I don't know Triad so I've no idea if they are above board or not). Additionally, without detailed records you cannot defend yourself in civil court when the finance company files suit to get a judgement for what they believe are any amounts still owing - so they can report it to the credit companies and given the type of loan potentially place a lien on other assets you own.
Make sure to read all the details on any loan or finance documents you are asked to sign. Bear in mind almost all of these will have language that states if you are late in paying any future payments are first applied to late fees and interest and then to the principle on the loan. Meaning it can be easy to get even further behind if you miss payments. Bottom line, best to not buy things you can't afford or either find a way to make the payments on time or sell or turn in the asset being financed. If you return the asset (auto, furniture, electronic equipment, house, etc.) be prepared to have to pay the difference between what they are able to resell the asset for and the amount you still owed.