In early 2010, Santander Consumer purchased my auto loan from HSBC. I never had any issues with them until 4Mar11. In Feb, I purchased a new new vehicle and they recieved a payout on 27Feb. On 4Mar, I noticed that Santander deducted my normal monthly payment. I called that day in regards to this and they acknowledge that it was an overpayment. The CS rep told me that it could take up to 45 days to get it back. On 9Apr, I called just to make sure that my refund would be applied to my account on scheduled and I was told that a check was issued 6 Apr, instead of it being automatically placed back into my account like told a month earlier. No problem I thought, considering I was not in need of the money. I recieved the check 28 Apr. Since my bank do not have a branch at my present location, I had to wait for deposit slips. On 11May, I recieved an email stating that the company placed a stop payment on the check because I did not cash the check in sufficient time and that they re-issued another check dated 9May. This is where the confusion ultimately began. Stated on the 1st check, it is valid for 90 days, which means the check was less than 40 days old.
On 25May, I called Santander inquiring about the "2nd" check that they'd re-issued because I had yet to recieve it. The CS rep told me that a 2nd check had not been re-issued and that I would have to mail in the 1st one in order to recieve the 2nd check. Errrr??? I asked the CS rep, why would I mail you a bad check to get another check? She replied that was company rules. I asked to speak with a supervisor and was told the same thing. I told her that I will not mail in that check, I would shred it and then she told me she would contact the accounting dept to see what they would like to happen. She called me back the next day saying that they would issue out the 2nd check that they'd supposedly issue out. I proceeded to tell her that I would not be at my mailing address for a long time since I do alot of travelling. She told me that she would see if the accounting department place the funds back into my checkings account, if I didn't see the check by 29May. She gave me her direct line to let her know. I did like she told me and called her and left a voice message letting her know I did not recieve the check.
I then proceeded to call CS. The rep I spoke to said that there was no record of them re-issuing a 2nd check. She had to get into contact with the Acct dept and place a note in the records. I told her I would call everyday until I get the refund. She laughed as she thought that was hilarious. I have called EVERY DAY since. Today, I spoke with a sweet older lady in regards to my refund and she has on record 37 phone calls. She felt bad for me, but she couldn't do anything about it as it has to be routed up to the Accounting department.
The accounting department sucks!!! I get a different response on how I will get reimbursed and when I will get reimbursed. Had I actually deposited that check with the stop payment placed on it, I would have incurred bank fees for the "bad" check. Regardless of whether the check wasn't deposited in sufficient time, I had 90 days to do what I wanted with that check, they had NO right to put a stop payment on it!!!! They acknowledge they owe me money, but when will they actually do it. I have read some posts regarding thier overpayment, its unfortunate that some people accts was overdrafted from unauthorized payments.
Oh, I also tried to stop the automatic payment that I set up initially through HSBC. I tried to log in but my account was already closed. Also, when I called inquiring about the draft, my SSN or account number no longer worked. I had to jump through hoops to even speak with a rep. Sounds suspicious to me...shame on you Santander Consumer USA.
If anyone else is having issues with this company, call 817-605-4911. Its a number to a manager there by the name of Christy Walker. She's pretty much useless but call and harrass her. Maybe if enough people call her, it'll light a fire up her a*s to actually do something.