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11 months ago I bought a car at a buy-here-pay-here place with 00 down and 0 monthly payments. Due to downturn in my business I got behind. I spoke to the man at the lot and explained to him that I should hear something today and would let him know when I could get caught up. he agreed to that.
yesterday he showed up at my office and said he was taking the car, in front of a coworker, and loudly said how far behind I was, even called me (and about 20 others who owe him) a deadbeat and said my word meant nothing. he did give me time to get my personals out of the vehicle. One of his complaints was that he saw me driving the vehicle, and it wouldn’t bother him so much if I’d left it parked at home (if I didn’t need to drive the car, I wouldn’t have ever bought it).
Anyway, he had given me no notice that he was going to repossess and what I’ve read of Missouri law I think he should have. He also gave private information to other people (first time I was late he entered my church and told the first person he saw that he was there to get his van from me because i don’t pay, and he spoke to one of my neighbors about it). He was belligerent and hateful, and had me so stressed out i almost had to go to the ER, didn’t sleep last night, etc.
Was the way he took the car illegal? Does anyone know what my options are at this ppoint? Please don’t simply say "pay the bill" because i don’t have the money to pay the car completely off at this point, tho that’s what he says I need to do. Also don’t have the money for a lawyer right now…By the way, he never gave me a copy of the agreement I signed last year, but I know it was for 12 months and he now says 11 and my "time is up."
Thank you.

3 Comments »

1. 

   Parts of what he did might be illegal, but the question is what are you going to do about it? You can’t take him to court over it because you are behind on payments and he had the right to repossess the car. You might get him slapped on the wrist, but you won’t get the car back and you won’t win a damage settlement because he had the right to take the car.

   Take this as a less on why you should
   1. NOT do business with those types of shady car lots
   2. NEVER make any kind of financial agreement without getting a written copy for your own records

   Personally I recommend that next time you just but a $1000 car with no payments and save $300/month toward upgrading to a nicer car later. That way nobody will show up with a tow truck & call you a deadbeat if you get behind.

   Comment by SmartA$$ — April 26, 2011 @ 1:50 pm

2. 

   Always insist on a copy of anything you sign, especially a contract. If you had a copy of your contract, you would find the contract terms set up that if you miss one payment, they can take the car — no need for any court order. There probably is nothing you can do about the repo. Maybe you can redeem the car, but it might not be worth it.

   Yes, the guy was wrong in announcing your personal business to others. You could waste a lot of time pursuing this or you could just let it all go and move on. You wouldn’t see any real benefit and the guy would get a slap on the wrist at most.

   Buy here/pay here car lots are notorious for selling way overpriced cars …. repeatedly since they often repo them and just resell ‘em to the next sucker.

   Comment by bdancer222 — April 26, 2011 @ 1:50 pm

3. 

   If the car was illegally reposed unfortunately you have no power to enforce the law on your behalf my friend you need an attorney in your hip pocket these days heres how that is done!

   Comment by cessnaflight — April 26, 2011 @ 1:50 pm

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