I financed my vehicle purchase through this company in December 2008, because they were the "in house" financing company at the dealership. I had an auto-pay feature set up through my bank that provided payments twice monthly to Tidewater. The combined total of the monthly payments were equal to more than the monthly payment on my vehicle. I never missed or was late for a single payment through May 2011.

In June of 2011, I called the company to ask if they could slide my monthly payment to the end of my loan, as I was unemployed and trying to shore up my finances. I was informed that I was a full month ahead in payments, due to three years of being financially diligent, and I was assured I could skip my payment for June.

Between June and September, I would occasionally be a day or so late, but the payment was always made in full. If I was even so much as 24 hours late, I began receiving threatening phone calls and emails from a number of different representatives of the company - each time a different person. When I made my payments over the phone, I was charged an additional "processing fee" of $10, which is outrageous, since I'm confident their software makes over-the-phone payments easy and there is almost no work involved.

By the end of September, I was just under 30 days late to pay, but still making the monthly payment thanks to help from my boyfriend. Tidewater called me several times a day, leaving vaguely threatening messages, and emailed me constantly - I have emails from at least 5 different people who were sending me vague threats regularly.

In November, my boyfriend and I refinanced the car in his name through Wells Fargo, and though payment in full was sent to Tidewater, they continued to threaten to repossess the car if I didn't give them additional payments. They told me they could not "continue to secure my account" without paying them more money because they had no proof the vehicle was being paid off, even though all the documentation was signed and Wells Fargo sent them a check for payment in full.

Tidewater finally confirmed the account was paid in full weeks after the funds were actually received by them, but it's now December 20, and Wells Fargo still has not received the title to my vehicle. My registration expires at the end of December, and since the financing is in my boyfriend's name and we have moved out of state, we need to register the vehicle in the new state, but we cannot do that until Tidewater sends the title to Wells Fargo. After December, if the car can't be registered, it won't be legal to drive.

Currently, Tidewater has had yet another person send me an email informing me they will not communicate with me any further because I am not the person who paid off the vehicle. They state they will only speak with Wells Fargo. When I logged into my online Tidewater account, it shows I have a negative balance and am owed a credit, but they will not respond to my requests for them to process the refund and send it to me.

At this point, we are considering meeting with an attorney to determine if we can take legal action. I will NEVER do business with this company again. I recommend YOU do NOT do business with them. I will be filing a report with the Better Business Bureau, and spreading the word wherever I can that they are a bad business.

Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on Tidewater Motor Credit

10 Updates & Rebuttals

Maven

FONTANA,
California,
United States of America

You're right. You don't matter.

#2Consumer Comment

Fri, March 30, 2012

>>> You didn't get even one thing right on your portrait of my life. >>>

Sure I didn't. *yawn*

>>> How's it feel being a dead beat and blaming EVERYONE but yourself for it? >>>

You should know, so why ask? Here's my advice, Bucko . . . stop projecting your failures and inadequacies on other people because you're not happy with your life or your fifth wife (the others were smart enough to bail). It's really pretty sad which makes you . . .?

Ken

Colorado,
USA

Gee, Maven, not that it matters, but...

#3Consumer Comment

Fri, March 30, 2012

You didn't get even one thing right on your portrait of my life.

How's it feel being a dead beat and blaming EVERYONE but yourself for it?

Maven

FONTANA,
California,
United States of America

Oh, okay. I get it. You're BORED and need attention.

#4Consumer Comment

Fri, March 30, 2012

>>> The ONLY one I ever sold out to for a wink and a kiss was my wife. >>>

Nope. That position contradicts your own self-righteous posts, calling people "deadbeats" because they don't bend over and spread'em for the "almighty U.S. Corp" like you're used to doing. Try again, Einstein.

>>> What "failed background" would that be concerning me? I had a very successful personal and corporate life. >>>

Sure ya did, Bucko!

>>> I don't even have a pedestal >>>

Yeah. I know. That doesn't stop you from pretending as if you do.

>>> and have N-E-V-E-R made a late or partial payment in over 50 years of credit history. Sometimes sacrifices were made, but I have always, and still do, honor my credit obligations. >>>

Sure ya did and do, Bucko!

>>> Uh-oh, the ink on my check from Tidewater wasn't dry and I smeared it.

Guess they'll send me another. >>>

Hey! No hand-outs for you! Take your own advice and take personal responsibility for your own mistakes and not depend on the charity of your Corporate Masters or anybody else but yourself. Remember?

Ken

Colorado,
USA

ANOTHER, of over 30 companies I shill for...grin..

#5Consumer Comment

Thu, March 29, 2012

"You're correct, Ken. You see black and whiteAUTHOR: Maven - FONTANA (United States of America)SUBMITTED: Thursday, March 29, 2012POSTED: Thursday, March 29, 2012

as in the ink on the paychecks you get from this horrendous fiance company to defend their unfair collection practices. The law is the law. There are always those who sell out for a wink and kiss. I guess you're one of them. Does that make you feel good about your own failed background? You do know those who blow from the highest pedestal have THE WORSE payment history themselves, right?"

The ONLY one I ever sold out to for a wink and a kiss was my wife.

What "failed background" would that be concerning me? I had a very successful personal and corporate life.

I don't even have a pedestal and have N-E-V-E-R made a late or partial payment in over 50 years of credit history. Sometimes sacrifices were made, but I have always, and still do, honor my credit obligations.

Uh-oh, the ink on my check from Tidewater wasn't dry and I smeared it.

Guess they'll send me another.

Maven

FONTANA,
California,
United States of America

You're correct, Ken. You see black and white

#6Consumer Comment

Thu, March 29, 2012

as in the ink on the paychecks you get from this horrendous fiance company to defend their unfair collection practices. The law is the law. There are always those who sell out for a wink and kiss. I guess you're one of them. Does that make you feel good about your own failed background? You do know those who blow from the highest pedestal have THE WORSE payment history themselves, right?

Ken

Colorado,
USA

You're right of course, Tambourine,

#7Consumer Comment

Sat, March 10, 2012

I would have posted that you two deadbeats need to pay on time every time and not even mention the lenders.

But that's just me...I see most things in black and white and don't blame others for my own short-comings.

Tambourine

West Virginia,
USA

Wow two random consumers want to defend Tidewater?

#8Consumer Comment

Sat, March 10, 2012

How did you guys find this conversation? Were you just randomly searching for Rip-off Reports on a company you have nothing to do with and felt compelled to defend it.

Wait, I know! You want to find random people in the Rip-off report database and correct their bill paying habits.

I noticed how you both responded within a few hours of the information you are reacting to. Its almost as if you got a notice like someone who has some sort of interest in the company

If so, both of your replies would be an excellent example of what I was talking about.

Ramjet

Somewhere,
Michigan,
U.S.A.

Try this radical procedure

#9Consumer Comment

Sat, February 25, 2012

Make your payments on time, that's what good Americans do. You will be amazed at the different way you are treated.

Just a suggestion, silly I know, but worth a try.

Tambourine

Frankfort,
Illinois,
United States of America

I have to disagree with that

#10Consumer Comment

Sat, February 25, 2012

I have had car loans with several lenders including Tidewater and Wells Fargo. Trust me the other consumer will be treated differently by Wells Fargo if they get behind or not.

Aside from the fact that Tidewater is a high risk lender that should not be surprised to find some of their customers falling behind from time to time, if I am not mistaken they are in this business to make money not prove a point or teach lessons to
people who have poor budgeting skills. Those people are the reason they can charge a higher interest rate and make more money.

While some of the reps at that company are fine a couple of them have childish attitudes and act like they work at a collection agency. They called my cell, work AND home phone several times a day. Returning their calls was useless because they absolutely would not work with me and would not stop calling if I gave them a date.

If they were not able to push me into doing what they wanted collection agency style they would call my references making it obvious that it was related to a car payment and pretending it was unintentional.

One rep even had what I can only describe as an Ill show you tone to their voice with the explanation of if I hadnt called her back that day they were going to take some drastic measures. The account was three weeks behind. A couple of the reps had ridiculous attitudes when I would deal with them.

TRUST ME - I was not unprofessional with them because I work in a corporate environment where non professionalism is not an option and I know how to handle a bad attitude without losing my composure.

Robert

Irvine,
California,
U.S.A.

It's only a matter of time

#11Consumer Comment

Tue, December 20, 2011

So because you were on-time for a 2 1/2 years you think that "entitles" you to be late? Well unless your loan was only for 2 1/2 years you are wrong. You are obligated to make ALL of your payments per the legal agreement you made.

But notice the pattern you are starting. You needed to skip a month which they let do, but then you were at a day or so late, where right before you re-financed you were just shy of 30 days late. Well here is some news for you. If the same pattern continues with Wells Fargo don't expect to be treated ANY differently. In fact since you don't have as much of a history with them they will probably give you even less leeway.

Don't believe me..well just search out reports on how people who didn't make their payments with Wells Fargo and "felt" like they were being mis-treated.

Not sure if you will get the point, but it is really simple. Finance companies are NOT charities, they are a business. It also really doesn't matter what company you are with but if you are failing to meet your obligation by paying ON-TIME you can expect the same result.

Also, while I can not speak specifically for Wells Fargo Auto Loan payments, most banks DO charge for payments over the phone. So i would suspect that they have a similar charge.

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