{"took":218,"timed_out":false,"_shards":{"total":5,"successful":5,"skipped":0,"failed":0},"hits":{"total":{"value":11,"relation":"eq"},"max_score":null,"hits":[{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"11317083","_score":19.009249,"_source":{"product":"Credit card","complaint_what_happened":"First Progress Bank did not disclose the necessary information for me to make a sound decision on the credit card I was opting in to. The company failed me. As a consumer, the XXXX ignored the law. The disclosures were not set conspicuously and they ignored the principal 's credits and the application appropriately. The consumer was conhersed, intimated, and pursuaded to be everything other than a beneficiary. The XXXX social security number provided serves as the full faith and credit confirmation through the U.S.acting through the United States Treasury to settle the debts. The law has not changed. They did not balance the books lawfully and then claimed the credit. Now after theft and collection of credits, consumer is currently left with a defemation of character as if there are no collateral associated with the application in itself .Confusing or misleading advertising or marketing credits or application fulfillment. The ability of fulfillment of every credit / consumer obligation is already written into law. The entity failed me, the consumer. For having left unlawful slander on consumer/ credit report. Disgrace to commerce. Unacceptable in law. The consumer is the original creditor, tricked and cohersed to take on the role of debtor. As a child of XXXX, all my debts are paid in full.","date_sent_to_company":"2025-01-07T17:27:32.000Z","issue":"Problem when making payments","sub_product":"General-purpose credit card or charge card","zip_code":"95842","tags":null,"has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"11317083","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"Synovus Bank","date_received":"2024-12-29T16:33:05.000Z","state":"CA","company_public_response":null,"sub_issue":"Problem during payment process"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["Now after theft and collection of <em>credits</em>, consumer is currently left with a defemation of character as if there are no collateral associated with the application in itself .<em>Confusing</em> or <em>misleading</em> <em>advertising</em> or marketing <em>credits</em> or application fulfillment. The ability of fulfillment of every <em>credit</em> / consumer obligation is already written into law. The entity failed me, the consumer. For having left unlawful slander on consumer/ <em>credit</em> report. Disgrace to commerce. Unacceptable in law."],"product":["<em>Credit</em> card"],"sub_product":["General-purpose <em>credit</em> card or charge card"]},"sort":[19.009249,"11317083"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"16592983","_score":15.07074,"_source":{"product":"Student loan","complaint_what_happened":"I am filing a complaint regarding MOHELA, who services my private student loans. \nSince repayment began, MOHELA has repeatedly refused to provide affordable or realistic repayment options, despite my ongoing financial hardship and serious medical circumstances ( including a XXXXXXXX XXXX and an upcoming XXXX XXXXXXXX ). \nI have reached out multiple times asking for affordable or income-based payment plans. Instead, MOHELA has : Sent misleading emails advertising affordable payment options, but then offered only plans that were well above my actual income. \nTold me their plans are step-up plans, meaning payments only increase over time, which is impossible for me given my financial and medical situation. \nAdvised that if I am paying on one loan, that same loan becomes ineligible for any reduced-rate or hardship program, effectively punishing me for trying to stay current. \nWhen operating under XXXX they Failed to make clear that interest would capitalize during deferments or reduced-payment periods unpaid interest was added to my principal, drastically inflating the total amount owed without my informed consent. \nIgnored my documentation of medical hardship and limited income. \nRefused to recognize a legitimate financial hardship after my car was stolen and I had to incur major unexpected expenses related to this. Their representatives stated that insurance should cover everything and dismissed the hardship entirely. \n\nThese practices have kept me trapped in debt and in poverty, despite my good-faith efforts to pay. The terms, capitalization practices, and payment options have been confusing and misleading, and MOHELAs representatives have been dismissive and unsympathetic to both medical and financial hardship. \n\nI have contacted MOHELA by phone and email many times and spoken to supervisors, but they have offered no meaningful assistance. My credit has been damaged, and my account balances have continued to rise because of unclear and unfair capitalization of interest.","date_sent_to_company":"2025-10-15T23:29:05.000Z","issue":"Struggling to repay your loan","sub_product":"Private student loan","zip_code":"18020","tags":null,"has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"16592983","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"MOHELA","date_received":"2025-10-15T23:04:37.000Z","state":"PA","company_public_response":null,"sub_issue":"Can't get other flexible options for repaying your loan"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["These practices have kept me trapped in <em>debt</em> and in poverty, despite my good-faith efforts to pay. The terms, capitalization practices, and payment options have been <em>confusing</em> and <em>misleading</em>, and MOHELAs representatives have been dismissive and unsympathetic to both medical and financial hardship. \n\nI have contacted MOHELA by phone and email many times and spoken to supervisors, but they have offered no meaningful assistance."]},"sort":[15.07074,"16592983"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"11410110","_score":14.933711,"_source":{"product":"Student loan","complaint_what_happened":"I signed a Master Promissory Note. The application was submitted and the credits have not and were not and still are not being applied to the principal 's account. All debt is the responsibility of the government and the U.S. Treasury issued credits for the necessity so I can pursue happiness. I requested them for. All promissory notes and bills of exchange fall under acts allowed by Congress. As a consumer first, then secondly a beneficiary, I have had my character on my consumer report has been defamed since the beginning of the note I signed in XXXX. The application was submitted and the consumer was also forced to sign the application electronically without the ability to reserve any rights. Consumer obligation is already written into law. The company is in violation of 15 USC 1692d ( 1 ) for having left unlawful slander on the consumer/ credit report. Unacceptable in law. The consumer is the original creditor, tricked and forced to fulfill the application without full disclosure. The subsidiaries of the parent corporation continue to profit from the lack of attention to the account. The transfer of personal information is a violation of privacy.The company failed me. As a consumer, the company ignored the law. The disclosures were not set conspicuously and they ignored the principal 's credits and the application appropriately. The consumer was coerced, intimated, and persuaded to be everything other than a beneficiary. The SSN social security number provides and serves as the full faith and credit confirmation through the U.S. acting through the United States Treasury to settle the debts.\n\nAs an American consumer, the past 8 years have consisted of several requests of removal of this account for this company to merely \" verified by credit grantor '' response. This also contributed to a blinds shut -home denial in XXXX when I had my first son. The student loan on my report was too high of a debt that I should take care of first before becoming a homeowner. The company shall right their wrongs for the error that has manifested on the consumer credit profile and record unlawfully and is illegitimate. The law has not changed. They did not balance the books lawfully and then claimed the credit. Now after theft and collection of credits, I, the consumer is currently left with a defamation of character as if there are no collateral associated with the application in itself.Confusing or misleading advertising or marketing credits of application fulfillment.","date_sent_to_company":"2025-01-07T22:23:17.000Z","issue":"Dealing with your lender or servicer","sub_product":"Federal student loan servicing","zip_code":"95842","tags":null,"has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"11410110","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"Nelnet, Inc.","date_received":"2025-01-07T21:07:48.000Z","state":"CA","company_public_response":null,"sub_issue":"Don't agree with the fees charged"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["Now after theft and collection of <em>credits</em>, I, the consumer is currently left with a defamation of character as if there are no collateral associated with the application in itself.<em>Confusing</em> or <em>misleading</em> <em>advertising</em> or marketing <em>credits</em> of application fulfillment."]},"sort":[14.933711,"11410110"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"3746651","_score":13.779712,"_source":{"product":"Credit card or prepaid card","complaint_what_happened":"Capital One Sent me a Platnum Visa pre-approved invitation along with a specific approval number with an allotted amount of time to respond. \n\nOn XX/XX/XXXX I applied using Their own CapitalOne platform for said card and was was denied that card based on a lie. First lie that was told to me was my score was too low and it was not low. Second lie was, they did not have my accurate information. That can not be true because I have a MasterCard with them since XX/XX/XXXX. \n\nBecause of that direct denial my scored dropped 14 points and dropped my scored with XXXX, XXXX  and XXXX. \n\nI called and mail them correspondence to fix the issue but all I've received from CapitalOne are lies and misleading information. \n\nI spoke with someone name XXXX ( not sure of the spelling of her name ) on XX/XX/XXXX to fix the pre approved issue and remove the hard inquire from all there bureau and to get a credit increase with my card on file with Capital One, but not only did she lied and try to confuse me. \n\nShe told me that I can not get a credit increase because I'm not being proactive and requesting a credit increase. That is a lie because I've been doing so for almost a year and continue to be denied. I asked her what am I doing that does not qualify me to get what I am asking for and she had no answer for me because I am doing everything right. I make my payments on time and my debt to ratio is exactly where I should be to qualify me for the card I applied for and the credit increased I keep asking for. She advised me to apply for a credit increase and of course I was DENIED! \n\nHere again, is another company that offer FALSE services to improve my credit and once again instead of doing what is being advertised and offer specifically to me. They did the opposite and destroy my credit instead. \n\nI've done everything they ask of me but they are not doing what is right and what they are advertising they will do.","date_sent_to_company":"2020-07-15T18:34:25.000Z","issue":"Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers","sub_product":"General-purpose credit card or charge card","zip_code":"10001","tags":null,"has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"3746651","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION","date_received":"2020-07-15T16:21:08.000Z","state":"NY","company_public_response":null,"sub_issue":"Didn't receive advertised or promotional terms"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["I called and mail them correspondence to fix the issue but all I've received from CapitalOne are lies and <em>misleading</em> information. \n\nI spoke with someone name XXXX ( not sure of the spelling of her name ) on XX/XX/XXXX to fix the pre approved issue and remove the hard inquire from all there bureau and to get a <em>credit</em> increase with my card on file with Capital One, but not only did she lied and try to <em>confuse</em> me."],"product":["<em>Credit</em> card or prepaid card"],"issue":["<em>Advertising</em> and marketing, including promotional offers"],"sub_product":["General-purpose <em>credit</em> card or charge card"]},"sort":[13.779712,"3746651"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"6927736","_score":13.377047,"_source":{"product":"Credit card or prepaid card","complaint_what_happened":"American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card provides misleading advertising and could put people into debt/financial distress for money they have thought they earned. \n\nNot providing verbal agreement wording : When requesting the wording in my verbal agreement to open and close the account, American Express would not supply this information. If I am entering a contract with them, how can they not provide me with a copy of the verbal agreements ' wording? \n\nWhen speaking with American Express, there is inconsistent naming practices. The Cash Back statement credit was referred to a number of different ways : welcome bonus, bonus, points, and awards. It is confusing and does their legalese really cover this agreement switching back and forth in wording and not being clear that the \" cash back statement credit '' as referred to in the flyer will need to be paid back. \n\nMisleading information : American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card promotional flyer is quick to point out a \" {$150.00} Cash Back '' but fails to equally bring attention to the fact that you need to keep your account open 12 months. After 12 months, American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card charges you an annual fee. If you do not keep the account open for the 12 months, they reverse the promotional credit and you will owe {$150.00} back to American Express. This is shady. Little did I know the {$150.00} bonus was a short-term loan to pay back and I assume I'm charged interest if I do not pay. \n\nThe promotional flyer should state front and center \" {$150.00} Cash Back with minimum 12 month Account ''. \n\nUnfair Business Practice : American Express provides the {$150.00} Cash Back after fulfilling ONLY some of the requirements : spending {$1000.00} in the first 6 months, but it doesn't not wait for the account to be open 12 months before providing the {$150.00} cash back statement credit. This is an unfair business practice and calculative in taking advantage of customers. \n\nIn the end, it is an amount of money in the form of a statement credit that can be given prematurely having NOT fulfilled the requirements of earning it and then asked to be paid back. Sounds like a loan to me. \n\nThe Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express promotional flyer also has the fine print XXXX XXXX XXXX wording on the back : If you cancel or downgrade your account within the 12 months after acquiring it ... .we may not credit the statement credit to, we may freeze the statement credit credited to, or we may take away the statement credit from your account. Why is it not we will either? \n\nI have tried to resolve directly with American Express, but not only did they not provide me with wording of the opening and closing of the account that I verbally agreed to, they are requiring me to pay back the statement credit.","date_sent_to_company":"2023-05-03T17:31:00.000Z","issue":"Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers","sub_product":"General-purpose credit card or charge card","zip_code":"950XX","tags":null,"has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"6927736","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY","date_received":"2023-05-03T16:14:56.000Z","state":"CA","company_public_response":null,"sub_issue":"Confusing or misleading advertising about the credit card"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card provides <em>misleading</em> <em>advertising</em> and could put people into <em>debt</em>/financial distress for money they have thought they earned. \n\nNot providing verbal agreement wording : When requesting the wording in my verbal agreement to open and close the account, American Express would not supply this information. If I am entering a contract with them, how can they not provide me with a copy of the verbal agreements ' wording?"],"product":["<em>Credit</em> card or prepaid card"],"issue":["<em>Advertising</em> and marketing, including promotional offers"],"sub_product":["General-purpose <em>credit</em> card or charge card"],"sub_issue":["<em>Confusing</em> or <em>misleading</em> <em>advertising</em> about the <em>credit</em> card"]},"sort":[13.377047,"6927736"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"6510374","_score":12.703801,"_source":{"product":"Credit card or prepaid card","complaint_what_happened":"Chase bank is advertising to their existing customers, balance transfers up to $ x amount, @ 0 % APR for 24 months. In exchange, the customer pays a 5 % balance transfer fee. \n\nHowever, in small print, they say \" Prior to taking advantage of this offer, if you did not have a balance or you paid your balance in full each month, you did not pay interest on your new purchases. This is referred to as an interest-free period. If you take this offer and do not pay off your entire balance each month ( including the promotional balances that you add by using this offer ), you will lose that interest free period. This means that you will begin paying interest on all new purchases, even if you pay your purchase balance in full each month. '' HOWEVER, they also say, and have on their FAQs regarding this particular offer, \" Here 's how we credit your payment to your account- The minimum payment will be applied in the following order, interest charges, fees, and principal from the most recent statement from the lowest to the highest APR balances. Any amount over the minimum due will then be applied from the highest to lowest APR balances. \n\nThese 2 statements are completely contradictory. The first statement they say you have to pay the entire balance, including the amount of balance transfer, in full, in order to avoid getting charged interest on your current charges. The second statement they say, they will apply minimum pay to interest, fees, principal from most recent statement from lowest to highest APR balances. This means the minimum payment would go to interest/fees first, then to the balance transfer, then anything OVER the balance transfer SHOULD go to the balance with the highest APR ( current charges ) since the balance transfer is at 0 % APR. I called and spoke to several people, and they all said the same thing, there was nothing they could do, the entire payment will go to balance transfer, and you will get charged interest on any current charges. I can't say that they are blatantly lying, because they had that \" small print ''. But what I can say is that they have 2 completely contradictory statements regarding their methodology of payment allocation, and even if somehow their methodology that violates section 1026.53 of the credit CARD act of 2009 isn't illegal, it is at bare minimum confusing to the customer.\n\nThe smaller print statement, I believe is illegal, as it violates section 1026.53 of the credit CARD act of 2009 allocation of payments. The part that contradicts the small print is how payments should be allocated based on section 1026.53. \n\nSo to summarize : I believe Chase at best misleading their customers, into believing they will have 24 months @ 0 % APR of their balance transfer, as they are not making it clear that unless they pay off the entirety of their balance transfer + any current charges, they will be subject to interest on all of the current charges. Again, at best, Chase is intentionally confusing their customers by stating 2 different methodologies of payment allocations depending on where you look. Lastly, I believe because they are enforcing their allocation methodology of what was in the small print, that they are in violation of the allocation of payments set forth in the Credit Card act of 2009. \n\nIn addition to these thoughts, I can't help but feel that this product is predatory, as it appears to be offering relief to consumers who may have credit card debt, thinking they will have the opportunity to pay down debt without accruing interest, but in reality it is just shifting the bucket in which their interest will be charged.","date_sent_to_company":"2023-01-31T21:24:55.000Z","issue":"Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers","sub_product":"General-purpose credit card or charge card","zip_code":"198XX","tags":null,"has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"6510374","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.","date_received":"2023-01-31T20:47:01.000Z","state":"DE","company_public_response":null,"sub_issue":"Confusing or misleading advertising about the credit card"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["In addition to these thoughts, I can't help but feel that this product is predatory, as it appears to be offering relief to consumers who may have <em>credit</em> card <em>debt</em>, thinking they will have the opportunity to pay down <em>debt</em> without accruing interest, but in reality it is just shifting the bucket in which their interest will be charged."],"product":["<em>Credit</em> card or prepaid card"],"issue":["<em>Advertising</em> and marketing, including promotional offers"],"sub_product":["General-purpose <em>credit</em> card or charge card"],"sub_issue":["<em>Confusing</em> or <em>misleading</em> <em>advertising</em> about the <em>credit</em> card"]},"sort":[12.703801,"6510374"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"19952209","_score":12.485726,"_source":{"product":"Credit card","complaint_what_happened":"Formal Regulatory Complaint : Barclays Bank Delaware To : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB )/ Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ( OCC ) Date : XX/XX/year> Subject : Systemic UDAAP and FCRA Violations : Deceptive Advertising, Detrimental Reliance, Phantom Debt Reporting, and Predatory \" Dark Patterns '' Targeting XXXX Consumers I am filing this formal regulatory complaint against Barclays Bank Delaware for systemic Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices ( UDAAP ) and blatant violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). The bank is utilizing deceptive \" Obscurity by Design '' to intentionally confuse account terms, failing to honor binding verbal contracts, reporting known inaccurate data to credit bureaus, and actively weaponizing customer service scripts to harass and obstruct consumers with XXXX and mental health challenges. \n1. Deceptive Advertising & \" Obscurity by Design '' Barclays utilizes deceptive marketing tactics by prominently advertising a 0 % APR in high-visibility, \" huge letters '' while intentionally obscuring the material limitations and real terms in microscopic or non-existent fine print. This lack of transparency is a deliberate attempt to mislead consumers. Under CFPB and FTC standards, disclosures must be \" Clear and Conspicuous. '' Barclays \" Obscurity by Design '' creates a non-linear and confusing digital environment where the consumer-facing interface directly contradicts verbal agreements made by the bank 's own agents, effectively impeding consumer choice and accountability. \n2. Breach of Verbal Agreement, Detrimental Reliance & Financial Entrapment On multiple occasions, most recently on XX/XX/year>, Barclays representatives explicitly confirmed on recorded lines that my account is subject to a 0 % APR for 12 billing cycles. I explicitly asked this question to verify the terms, and the answer was an unambiguous \" Yes. '' Based on this material misrepresentation, I engaged in Detrimental Reliance. I adjusted my entire household budget around this promise. I chose to use this specific card for purchases and deferred aggressive payments under the explicit belief that no interest would accrue. Had the bank provided accurate disclosures or told me \" No, '' I would have proactively paid off the balance and avoided putting further charges on this card. Because Barclays failed to honor this verbal contract, my entire budget has been disrupted, and I am now facing unexpected debt and interest charges. Barclays deception has effectively \" trapped '' me into a high-interest debt cycle I did not consent to. \n3. Admission of Error through Conduct ( Interest Rate Reversals ) Barclays ' own internal accounting proves the validity of my claim and their breach of contract. The bank has repeatedly issued \" Interest Rate Reversals '' in the exact amounts of the interest incorrectly charged ( e.g., a reversal of {$23.00} ). These are formal accounting corrections, not \" Courtesy Credits. '' By reversing the exact amount of interest charged, Barclays is formally acknowledging a systemic billing error. If the interest were validly charged, a reversal would not be justified. However, they refuse to correct the root cause, forcing me into a predatory \" refund-then-recharge '' cycle every month. \nXXXX. Credit Damage & `` Phantom Debt '' Reporting ( FCRA Violation ) Barclays has been unlawfully reporting \" phantom debt '' specifically the interest charges that they have already admitted are incorrect via the aforementioned reversalsto the major credit bureaus. This inaccurate reporting has artificially inflated my balance-to-limit ratio ( credit utilization ), directly damaged my credit profile, and artificially lowered my total spending power. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), reporting known inaccurate data is a severe violation of the requirement to utilize \" reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy. '' 5. Weaponized Scripting & \" Exhaustion by Design '' ( Abusive Practices ) To resolve these admitted errors, I have been subjected to a predatory tactic I define as Weaponized Scripting. Barclays representatives maintain a facade of extreme politeness while refusing to engage with the actual facts of the dispute, instead reading the exact same irrelevant scripts over and over again. \nThis is a calculated \" Dark Pattern '' intended to wear the consumer down and induce \" exhaustion-based compliance. '' To be heard, I am forced to repeatedly interrupt representatives who are trained to ignore specific questions in favor of their script. For any consumer, this is infuriating ; for a consumer with mental health challenges or XXXX, this is a profoundly abusive practice. It creates a hostile environment specifically designed to make the individual \" snap '' from cognitive fatigue or abandon their rights entirely. \nXXXX. Disregard for Accessibility Boundaries & Harassment Barclays ' complete disregard for consumer welfare is further evidenced by their direct violation of my explicit, documented communication boundaries. I provided a formal notice to Barclays that I was not to be contacted via telephone on Monday, XX/XX/year>. Barclays knowingly ignored this boundary and placed a call to me on that date regardless. This refusal to respect a \" no-call '' request is a violation of my privacy, constitutes harassment, and demonstrates an abusive disregard for the accessibility needs and mental welfare of XXXX consumers. \nFormal Demand for Final Resolution & Restitution On XX/XX/year>, I negotiated specific resolution terms with a representative, which the bank has failed to fully implement. I demand immediate corrective action as follows : * Contractual Alignment & Rate Override : Immediately implement the permane\n\nnt, portfolio-level 0 % APR override for the agreed-upon 12-month cycle, updating all digital and physical disclosures to reflect this accurately. * Credit Correction ( FCRA ) : Immediately update all credit bureaus to remove the \" ph\nantom debt, '' correcting my utilization ratio to reflect the accurate balance based on a true 0 % APR. \n* Financial Restitution : A full reversal of the XXXX ( {$24.00} ) and XXXX ( {$26.00} ) interest charges, totaling {$51.00} ( in addition to the previously reversed {$23.00} ). \n* Service Recovery & Goodwill : Immediate implementation of the negotiated {$250.00} Service Recovery Credit, plus an additional {$250.00} Goodwill Credit ( totaling {$500.00} in requested restitution ) to compensate for the significant administrative burden, credit damage, mental distress, and \" pain and suffering '' caused by their systemic deception and Weaponized Scripting. \n* Cease and Desist / Accessibility Compliance : Permanently mark my account for \" Written Communication Only, '' provide a formal written apology for the XX/XX/XXXX contact violation, and end the cycle of manual, scripted obstruction.","date_sent_to_company":"2026-03-04T03:13:38.000Z","issue":"Fees or interest","sub_product":"General-purpose credit card or charge card","zip_code":"97302","tags":null,"has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"19952209","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"BARCLAYS BANK DELAWARE","date_received":"2026-03-04T02:52:48.000Z","state":"OR","company_public_response":"Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response","sub_issue":"Problem with fees"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["Deceptive <em>Advertising</em> & \" Obscurity by Design '' Barclays utilizes deceptive marketing tactics by prominently <em>advertising</em> a 0 % APR in high-visibility, \" huge letters '' while intentionally obscuring the material limitations and real terms in microscopic or non-existent fine print. This lack of transparency is a deliberate attempt to <em>mislead</em> consumers."],"product":["<em>Credit</em> card"],"sub_product":["General-purpose <em>credit</em> card or charge card"]},"sort":[12.485726,"19952209"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"1437458","_score":9.921554,"_source":{"product":"Credit card","complaint_what_happened":"I purchased a computer from the Best Buy Store on XX/XX/XXXX at the XXXX Mall, in XXXX, New York for a total price of {$970.00}. During this time i was persuaded from their sales men to open up a Best Buy \" rewardzone ' credit card and by doing so i would gain reward points. Believing this would be to my advantage i agreed to applied and i was tolded i would receive my new card in the mail. Immediately, they wasted no time sending me my XXXX bill statement in the mail. I started to make my monthly payment of {$73.00} per month which was way over the {$25.00} minimum payment ; however, i seemed to noticed i was n't making a dent and my \" total balances '' were not decreasing XXXX bit because when i looked at the monthly statements i noticed high interest rates brought it up higher. So, i called the Best buy customer service and complain that my payments were not making a difference and these high interest rates are the cause. The customer service representative was very nice on the phone and suggested a solution by putting me on a \" Promotion Allocation plan '' she said i can keep the same amount of monthly payment of {$73.00} which she said is definitely above the {$25.00} minimum payment and this should be sufficient enough to bring my total balance down as long as i keep these steady payments recurring monthly at {$73.00} per month. That was all the information that was relayed to me by this customer service representative nothing else was included or said to me by this person. Every month i sent in the steady payment of {$73.00} and did noticed i was finally seeing my balance decreasing from {$970.00}. Until XX/XX/XXXX, when i received a shocking Best Buy bill account statement stating : \" Your Promotion Allocation plan has expired. The application of payments will now revert back to applying funds according to the terms and conditions of your account. To set up a new plan, please contact customer service ''. I was slammed with a interest charged of {$230.00} that brought my ( monthly hard work ) balance of {$520.00} which now jumped to {$680.00}. Totally shocked and confused and wondering what happened i called their customer service asking why are they slamming me like this and i was tolded because i did n't pay off my balance within allocated time limit. I asked, \" What time limit? '' I was not informed of no time limit. They then asked me if i have the {$400.00} plus dollars available to pay it off? I said of course not. I am on a fixed income and can not afford to come up with that kind of amount of money. She had the nerve to ask me if i could borrow it? I said, \" are you serious? ' Can they offer me a new set up plan which is stipulated on the account statement instructing me to what to do? They said sorry they have no new plan available. I said the statement says otherwise? They said not available at this time. I said i wish to speak with a manager then. They claimed they are a specialist and there is no one above them to speak to. I said is this how you treat long time, loyal customers leaving them in debt without offering no resolutions except trying to drain {$400.00} plus more dollars and keeping their customers trapped in debt. All you are to gain from this as a end result a destroyed creditability. This Best Buy credit services is a very, very misleading company with their \" rewardzone '' advertising. Where is the reward? Where is the customer benefiting on this credit card? I see where they are benefiting by slamming and draining their loyal customers of their hard earned savings. This is totally uncalled for and unethical! I was absolutely deceived by a incompetent Best Buy employee and not properly informed at the time. As a result of this, i am a senior citizen on a fixed income and will never be able to manage these high interest charges and find myself at their mercy of a never ending cycle of debt.","date_sent_to_company":"2015-06-25T02:27:47.000Z","issue":"APR or interest rate","sub_product":null,"zip_code":"142XX","tags":null,"has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"1437458","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with monetary relief","submitted_via":"Web","company":"CITIBANK, N.A.","date_received":"2015-06-25T02:27:46.000Z","state":"NY","company_public_response":"Company chooses not to provide a public response","sub_issue":null},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["I said is this how you treat long time, loyal customers leaving them in <em>debt</em> without offering no resolutions except trying to drain {$400.00} plus more dollars and keeping their customers trapped in <em>debt</em>. All you are to gain from this as a end result a destroyed creditability. This Best Buy <em>credit</em> services is a very, very <em>misleading</em> company with their \" rewardzone '' <em>advertising</em>. Where is the reward? Where is the customer benefiting on this <em>credit</em> card?"],"product":["<em>Credit</em> card"]},"sort":[9.921554,"1437458"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"18651239","_score":6.9571614,"_source":{"product":"Vehicle loan or lease","complaint_what_happened":"# CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU # # FORMAL CONSUMER COMPLAINT -- - # # COMPLAINT SUBMISSION INFORMATION * * Date of Submission : * * XX/XX/XXXX * * Complaint Category : * * Auto Loan / Vehicle Financing * * Sub-Categories : * * Elder Financial Exploitation, Fraudulent Reporting, Debt Collection Violations, Deceptive Trade Practices, Contract Fraud * * Complainant Information : * * * * Name : * * XXXX XXXX XXXX * * Date of Birth : * * XX/XX/XXXX * * Age at Time of Violations : * * XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX ) * * Status : * * XXXX  Beneficiary * * Representative/Trustee : * * XXXX XXXX XXXX * XXXX XXXX XXXX * * XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX * * XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXX, Texas XXXX * * Telephone : * * ( XXXX ) XXXX * * XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX * * * Primary Respondent : * * XXXX Honda Financial Services XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Location : * * XXXX, Texas * XXXX Industry : * * Automotive Dealer and Financing * * Associated Entity : * * Honda Financial Services XXXX XXXX # # I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT This formal complaint is submitted on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX, an XXXX  consumer and XXXX  beneficiary born XX/XX/XXXX, who has been the victim of serious misconduct, fraudulent practices, financial exploitation, XXXX  abuse, and systematic violations of federal consumer protection laws perpetrated by XXXX Honda Financial Services and XXXX XXXX ( collectively referred to herein as \" Respondent '' or \" XXXX XXXX '' ). \n\nThe XXXX engaged in a coordinated scheme of deceptive, unfair, and abusive acts and practices that targeted XXXX XXXX, an XXXX  and vulnerable consumer, resulting in substantial financial harm, damage to her creditworthiness, denial of essential services, ongoing harassment through illegal debt collection practices, and severe emotional distress. The misconduct detailed herein constitutes egregious violations of multiple XXXX  consumer financial protection statutes and represents precisely the type of predatory conduct that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was established to prevent and remedy. \n\nThe violations enumerated in this complaint include, but are not limited to : XXXX  financial exploitation under XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ; violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act ; systematic violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq. ; violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act ( FTC Act ), 15 U.S.C. 41-58 ; and violations of the Consumer Financial Protection Act 's prohibition against unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices ( XXXX ). \n\n-- - # # XXXX. DETAILED FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS # # # A. The Fraudulent Vehicle Transaction ( XXXX ) In or around the year XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, then approximately XXXX  years of age and qualifying as an XXXX  person under applicable state and federal law, engaged in what she believed to be a legitimate vehicle purchase transaction with XXXX XXXX for a XXXX XXXX Ridgeline, Vehicle Identification Number ( VIN ) XXXX. \n\n* * Critical Defect in Transaction - Lack of Legal Possession : * * The foundational and fatal defect in this entire transaction, which renders all subsequent actions by Respondent fraudulent and unlawful, is that the subject XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was sold to XXXX XXXX with a defective title that failed to convey full legal possession and ownership rights to the purchaser. This defect in title was not disclosed to XXXX XXXX at the time of sale, constituting fraudulent concealment of a material fact that, had it been known, would have prevented the transaction from occurring. \n\n* * Fraudulent Possession Processing as Trade-In : * * Compounding this initial fraud, the dealership processed paperwork representing that the vehicle was being acquired as a trade-in transaction, despite the complete absence of any lawful possession by XXXX XXXX that could have XXXX such a characterization. This fraudulent documentation was created and processed by XXXX despite having actual knowledge that XXXX XXXX did not possess legal title to any vehicle that could serve as trade-in collateral. This deliberate misrepresentation in the transaction documents constitutes fraud in the inducement and documentary fraud. \n\n# # # B. Fraudulent Credit Reporting and Account Creation ( XXXX * * Creation of False Credit Account : * * In a separate but related act of fraud and identity misuse, Respondent caused to be created and reported to consumer reporting agencies a fraudulent account in XXXX XXXX 's name bearing account number XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. This account was placed in XXXX XXXX 's credit file and associated with her personal identifying information without her knowledge, authorization, or consent, and was fraudulently dated with a creation year of XXXX. \n\n* * Temporal Impossibility - Fraudulent XXXX Date : * * Critically, this fraudulent account was created and double-reported with a purported origination date in the year XXXX, a temporal impossibility given that XXXX XXXX had XXXX business relationship, transaction, or contact whatsoever with XXXX XXXX XXXX Honda Financial Services in or around the year XXXX. This six-year temporal discrepancy between the fraudulent account creation date ( XXXX ) and the actual transaction date ( XXXX ) evidences the deliberate and calculated nature of the fraud perpetrated against XXXX XXXX. \n\nThe fraudulent forward-dating of this account to XXXX served multiple improper purposes : ( XXXX ) creating confusion regarding the actual timeline of events and obligations ; ( XXXX ) potentially manipulating credit reporting to show recent account activity when none existed ; ( XXXX ) confusing and misleading the consumer as to the actual origin and legitimacy of the purported debt; and ( XXXX ) creating documentary confusion to frustrate dispute resolution efforts and making the fraudulent nature of the account less immediately apparent. \n\n# # # XXXX Severe and Ongoing Credit Damage * * XXXX XXXX Destruction : * * As a direct, proximate, and foreseeable result of Respondent 's fraudulent reporting of the nonexistent XXXX and the subsequent reporting of negative payment history, collection activity, and derogatory information associated XXXX, XXXX XXXX 's XXXX XXXX suffered catastrophic damage. Her XXXX XXXX, which had previously been in the range above XXXX ( indicating exceptional creditworthiness ), plummeted precipitously to a score below XXXX, dropping her from the highest credit tier to a substantially lower tier. \n\nThis destruction of XXXX XXXX 's creditworthiness is not merely a numerical abstraction but has resulted in concrete, quantifiable, and ongoing financial harm. The degradation of her XXXX XXXX has directly caused and continues to cause : XXXX. * * Denial of Essential Services : * * XXXX XXXX has been denied access to food assistance programs and hardship assistance programs for which she would otherwise qualify based on her age, income, and circumstances, but for which she has been rendered ineligible due to the artificially depressed XXXX XXXX resulting from XXXX 's fraudulent reporting. \n\nXXXX. * * Increased Borrowing Costs : * * XXXX XXXX XXXX seek any form of credit in the future, she will be subjected to higher interest rates, less favorable terms, increased down payment requirements, and potentially outright denial of credit, all attributable to the fraudulent derogatory information placed in her credit file by XXXX. \n\nXXXX. * * Reputational Harm : * * The presence of collection accounts, delinquencies, and negative payment history in XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX credit file, all stemming from XXXX 's fraudulent conduct, has damaged her reputation and standing in the financial community. \n\nXXXX. * * XXXX XXXX Increases : * * In jurisdictions where credit-based insurance scoring is permitted, XXXX XXXX faces XXXX insurance premiums across multiple lines of coverage as a direct result of her artificially XXXX  XXXX XXXX. \n\nXXXX. * * XXXX and XXXX Consequences : * * The damaged credit profile created by XXXX 's conduct potentially impacts XXXX XXXX 's ability to secure employment ( in positions where credit checks are conducted ) and housing ( where landlords routinely review credit reports as part of tenant screening ). \n\n# # # XXXX Unlawful Debt Collection Activities and Harassment * * Repossession Threats Despite Ongoing Disputes : * * In flagrant violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and in conscious disregard of XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX rights as a consumer and XXXX, XXXX, acting in its capacity as a debt collector or through agents acting on its behalf, engaged in aggressive, threatening, and unlawful collection activities. Specifically, XXXX made repeated threats to repossess property and take adverse action against XXXX XXXX despite : XXXX. The existence of ongoing, unresolved disputes regarding the validity, amount, and legal basis of the purported debt ; XXXX. The complete absence of any legal basis for collection activity given the fraudulent nature of the underlying transaction and account ; XXXX. XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX status as an elderly consumer entitled to enhanced protections under state elder protection statutes ; XXXX. The clear evidence of XXXX  financial exploitation that should have triggered mandatory reporting obligations rather than continued collection efforts. \n\n* * Harassment During Vulnerability : * * These collection threats and harassment activities were particularly egregious given their timing and context. They occurred during a period when XXXX XXXX was experiencing financial vulnerability, was attempting to access hardship assistance programs, and was being actively harmed by the very credit reporting that XXXX had fraudulently generated. This conduct demonstrates a callous disregard for XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX welfare and a willingness to exploit her vulnerable status for financial gain. \n\n* * Failure to XXXX XXXX Upon Dispute : * * Upon being notified of the disputes regarding the account validity, the defective title, and the fraudulent nature of the transaction, XXXX failed to cease collection activities as required by law. Instead, XXXX continued its collection efforts and threats, failed to provide required validation of the debt, and failed to correct the fraudulent credit reporting, all in violation of mandatory statutory requirements. \n\n# # # XXXX Systematic XXXX  Financial Exploitation * * Targeting of XXXX  Consumer : * * The totality of Respondent 's conduct toward XXXX XXXX constitutes systematic elder financial exploitation as defined under XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX and analogous federal standards. XXXX  financial exploitation encompasses the unlawful appropriation of property or financial resources of an elderly individual through deception, intimidation, undue influence, or breach of fiduciary duty. \n\nXXXX XXXX, as an individual over the age of XXXX at all relevant times, qualifies as an XXXX  person under applicable statutory definitions. XXXX 's conduct demonstrates the hallmarks of elder financial exploitation : XXXX. * * Targeting XXXX on XXXX : * * The selection of XXXX XXXX as a victim and the particular methods employed suggest targeting based on her XXXX  status and perceived vulnerability. \n\nXXXX. * * Deceptive Practices : * * The fraudulent title, the misrepresentation of the transaction as a trade-in, and the creation of the false XXXX account all constitute deceptive practices designed to extract money and property from an XXXX  individual. \n\nXXXX. * * XXXX of XXXX : * * XXXX exploited the trust that elderly consumers typically place in established automotive dealerships and financial institutions, using that trust to facilitate fraudulent transactions. \n\nXXXX. * * XXXX XXXX : * * The scheme resulted in substantial financial harm to XXXX XXXX through the vehicle transaction itself, the ongoing payment obligations on a fraudulently structured loan, the destruction of her creditworthiness, and the denial of benefits and services. \n\nXXXX. * * Ongoing Nature : * * Unlike a discrete incident of theft or fraud, XXXX 's conduct represents an ongoing course of exploitation that continues through the persistent fraudulent credit reporting and collection harassment. \n\n-- - # # XXXX. LEGAL VIOLATIONS AND CAUSES OF ACTION # # # A. XXXX  Financial Exploitation - Texas XXXX XXXX XXXX * * Statutory Framework : * * Texas XXXX XXXX XXXX criminalizes the exploitation of elderly individuals, defined as persons XXXX years of age or older, through the unlawful appropriation of property or resources through deception, coercion, or breach of fiduciary duty. While this statute establishes criminal liability, it also provides evidence of violations of public policy and statutory standards relevant to civil consumer protection claims. \n\n* * Elements Established : * * XXXX. * * XXXX XXXX : * * XXXX XXXX, born XX/XX/XXXX, was over XXXX  years of age at all relevant times, establishing her status as an elderly individual. \n\nXXXX. * * Unlawful Appropriation : * * XXXX appropriated funds and property from XXXX XXXX through the fraudulent vehicle transaction and associated financing arrangements. \n\nXXXX. * * Deceptive Means : * * The appropriation was accomplished through multiple deceptive acts including fraudulent title conveyance, misrepresentation of transaction terms, and creation of false credit accounts. \n\nXXXX. * * Knowledge and Intent : * * XXXXXXXX XXXX conduct demonstrates knowing and intentional exploitation, evidenced by the systematic nature of the fraud and the creation of deliberately false documentation. \n\n* * Aggravating Factors : * * The exploitation of XXXX XXXX is particularly egregious due to : - The substantial monetary value involved in automotive financing - The long-term nature of the harm through ongoing credit damage - The vulnerability of the victim as an elderly consumer- The sophistication of the scheme involving multiple fraudulent elements- The continued exploitation through collection harassment despite known disputes # # # XXXX Texas XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Violations * * Statutory Authority : * * The Texas XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX. XXXX. & XXXX. XXXX XXXX et seq., prohibits false, misleading, and deceptive business practices in consumer transactions. The XXXX  provides enhanced protections and remedies for elderly consumers. \n\n* * Deceptive XXXX Practices XXXX : * * XXXX 's conduct violates multiple specific provisions of the XXXX, including but not limited to : XXXX. * * Section XXXX ( b ) ( XXXX ) : * * Representing that goods or services have characteristics, uses, or benefits that they do not have - specifically, representing that the vehicle sale conveyed full legal title and ownership when it did not. \n\nXXXX. * * Section XXXX ( b ) ( XXXX ) : * * Representing that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade when they are not - representing that the transaction complied with legal requirements for valid title transfer when it did not. \n\nXXXX. * * Section XXXX ( b ) ( XXXX ) : * * Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised - advertising and purporting to sell a vehicle with clear title while knowing that clear title would not be conveyed. \n\nXXXX. * * Section XXXX ( b ) ( XXXX ) : * * Representing that an agreement confers rights, remedies, or obligations that it does not - representing that the financing agreement created a valid security interest when the underlying title defect vitiated such interest. \n\nXXXX. * * Section XXXX ( b ) ( XXXX ) : * * Failing to disclose information concerning goods or services that was known at the time of the transaction with intent to induce the consumer into a transaction - failing to disclose the title defect and the fraudulent nature of the trade-in XXXXXXXX XXXX \n\n* * XXXX and XXXX XXXX : * * The systematic and sophisticated nature of XXXX 's conduct, including the creation of false documentation, fraudulent credit reporting with impossible dates, and continued exploitation despite disputes, establishes that the XXXX  violations were committed knowingly and intentionally, supporting claims for treble damages and attorney 's fees. \n\n* * Enhanced Protection for XXXX XXXX : * * The XXXX provides specific enhanced protections for consumers XXXX  years of age or older. XXXX XXXX 's elderly status at the time of the violations entitles her to these enhanced protections and remedies. \n\n# # # XXXX Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) Violations - 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.\n\n* * Applicability and Covered Conduct : * * The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to the collection of debts arising from consumer transactions. XXXXXXXX XXXX conduct in attempting to collect the purported debt arising from the vehicle transaction, either directly or through agents, constitutes debt collection activity subject to the FDCPA 's requirements and prohibitions. \n\n* * Specific FDCPA Violations : * * * * XXXX. Section XXXX - Harassment or Abuse : * * XXXX violated 15 U.S.C. 1692d by engaging in conduct the natural consequence of which was to harass, oppress, or abuse XXXX XXXX in connection with the collection of the purported debt. This includes : - Threatening repossession despite ongoing disputes- Continuing collection efforts despite knowledge of elder exploitation - Engaging in aggressive collection tactics against an elderly consumer- Failing to respect the consumer 's vulnerable status * * XXXX. Section XXXX - False or Misleading Representations : * * XXXX violated 15 U.S.C. 1692e and its subsections by using false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with debt collection, including : - * * Section XXXX ( XXXX ) : * * False representation of the character, amount, or legal status of the debt - representing that a valid debt existed when the underlying transaction was fraudulent and the debt therefore void or voidable. \n\n- * * Section XXXX ( XXXX ) : * * Representation or implication that nonpayment will result in repossession when no present legal right to such action exists due to the defective title and fraudulent transaction. \n\n- * * Section XXXX ( XXXX ) : * * Threats to take action that can not legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken - threatening repossession without legal basis. \n\n- * * Section XXXX ( XXXX ) : * * Communicating credit information known or which should be known to be false - reporting a the fraudulent XXXX account and associated negative information to credit bureaus. \n\n- * * Section XXXX ( XXXX","date_sent_to_company":"2026-01-12T16:20:33.000Z","issue":"Repossession","sub_product":"Loan","zip_code":"76010","tags":"Older American","has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"18651239","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"AMERICAN HONDA FINANCE CORP","date_received":"2025-11-18T01:00:21.000Z","state":"TX","company_public_response":null,"sub_issue":"Company communicating payment assistance or payment extension options"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["Section XXXX - False or <em>Misleading</em> Representations : * * XXXX violated 15 U.S.C. 1692e and its subsections by using false, deceptive, or <em>misleading</em> representations in connection with <em>debt</em> collection, including : - * * Section XXXX ( XXXX ) : * * False representation of the character, amount, or legal status of the <em>debt</em> - representing that a valid <em>debt</em> existed when the underlying transaction was fraudulent and the <em>debt</em> therefore void or voidable."]},"sort":[6.9571614,"18651239"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"8750152","_score":6.72475,"_source":{"product":"Student loan","complaint_what_happened":"Back in the early XXXX  of XXXX I did a campus tour of The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. I was given a campus tour of the cafeteria, the dorms, and the industrial design lab. From the outside everything looked normal. They even did a seated introduction to the programs, telling us about the 90 % job placement and work-study programs that they always had available. The tuition rates posted up on a poster were not even close to what I ended up paying. \nAfter the tour I headed back home to Delaware. Little did I know that the school tour consented to the financial aid offices, XXXX XXXX ( The Dean ) personally calling me and not just once or twice. The financial aid offices and the student advisors called me three to four times a week for five months until I finally consented and talked my parents into attempting to cosign for me. I had no credit and was told after running my credit that I would not be able to get a loan by myself. That is when Sallie Mae/Navient was pushed on to us. No other loan program was offered, it always seemed to be Navient that made it work. I was in the student financing office every three months for the three and a half years I was there. It was the most stressful process ever. We were applying for loans so often that my mother could no longer qualify to co-sign for me to finish school. My dads girlfriend at the time decided to help me for one semester ( Three Months ) and I was back in the office again trying to figure it out. They hounded me daily to come up with financing. At one point during my 3.5-year term I somehow managed to get a loan all by myself without signing any documents or being made aware that I was on the loan without a co-signer. I never made over {$10.00} an hour consistently the whole time I was in school. How I qualified for a loan by myself with barely any income and no credit does not make any sense. \nI went to XXXX XXXX to attempt to get a work study to find out that there was not any available. I was in the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  and with all the XXXX  companies in the area they had nothing available for me. With no work studies available I requested information on available jobs that they may have been aware of or that I could apply for that was within my scope of work. The lady told me that at this time there were no XXXX XXXX opportunities, but she has heard that XXXX was hiring down the street and I should go ask them. I couldnt believe it. The school that told me that they had a 90 % job placement rating and work study programs available at all times had nothing for me but to check out the XXXX down the street. \nBy this time I was struggling financially, I had to go in to my financial advisor again to once again try to get a loan with a co-signer only to find out I had completely tapped out my Moms credit, My dads girlfriends credit and was in no position to be able to get one by myself and was eventually kicked out of school due to funding issues. I had managed to get 3.5 years in with XXXX credit and could not finish my degree. I was at the top of my class, on the deans list and honor society and I had nothing to show for it. I tried to hit the ground running and get a job but after the six-month mark when the student loans were not allowed to be charged, I was required to pay {$1500.00} a month in eleven separate loans at 13-17 % interest rate back. I hit rock bottom. I lost my apartment, I was homeless, my credit was destroyed and the only thing I could do was defer my loans with the accrual of interest rate over time. By XXXX I was over XXXX XXXX dollars in debt, with no home of my own, no car and a job that I was making {$16.00} an hour at. But Navient and Sallie who gave me these loans could have cared less. That hunted me, they called my family, my friends, anyone they could contact that could contact me. They called me 5 times a day. \nI fell into XXXX. Ended up having to take XXXX to keep my head up from all the negative thoughts that were running through my mind. I could not get an apartment because my credit was destroyed, I couldnt get a loan for a car, I was scared to get into a committed relationship due the how bad off I was financially and worst of all I was couch surfing. I had no home. This school was a fraud that prayed on me from the beginning. They sold me big dreams, easy payback schemes and the ease of getting loans and jobs that would make it all worth it in the end. That did not happen. And for the longest time I struggled emotionally and mentally to recover who I was. Navient/Sallie Mae played a big part in all of this. The XXXX XXXX and Navient/Sallie Mae worked together to get every once of money out of me and my family that they could. \nSo, when I say this CFPB complaint is due to predatory lending, high pressure sales tactics or recruiting. That is just the small part of it that it all started with. There is also the problems with the interest rates that are criminal. The loan opened without my knowledge. The confusing and misleading advertising and the constant issues with financial aid. It should not be this hard to get a solid education. \nWith all that being said I Submitted a Borrowers Defense Application on XX/XX/XXXX, and received confirmation from the Department of Education on XX/XX/XXXX. After researching my prior defense application, I found out my application was lost so I resubmitted my defense on XX/XX/XXXX. Which was part of the XXXX XXXX that happened. XX/XX/XXXX, I made a request for reconsideration. Finally, after all of that time and the accrual of additional stress and interest rate burden the Defense to Repayment was approved. \nWhich was approved XX/XX/XXXX. \nBorrower Defense Application # : XXXX Borrower Defense Application School : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( The ) Pursuant to the Sweet settlement, the Department of Education will do the following : -Discharge your federal student loan ( s ) taken out for your enrollment in the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX The ) ( \" Relevant Federal Student Loan ( s ) '' ) ; -Provide a refund for any payments made to the Department of Education on your Relevant Federal Student Loan ( s ), including Relevant Federal Student Loan debt that you previously paid off ; and -Delete the credit report tradeline associated with the discharged loan ( s ). \nIn addition : I have submitted consumer complaints to both Delaware and Maryland Attorney Generals, in which states I have lived after being rejected from attending the XXXX XXXX. \nI have written my congressmen, The Honorable Dutch Ruppersberger and The Honorable XXXX XXXX I am apart of : The Project on Predatory Student Lending and the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX.","date_sent_to_company":"2024-04-12T03:29:12.000Z","issue":"Getting a loan","sub_product":"Private student loan","zip_code":"210XX","tags":"Servicemember","has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"8750152","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"Navient Solutions, LLC.","date_received":"2024-04-12T01:47:42.000Z","state":"MD","company_public_response":null,"sub_issue":"High pressure sales tactics or recruiting"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["The <em>confusing</em> and <em>misleading</em> <em>advertising</em> and the constant issues with financial aid. It should not be this hard to get a solid education. \nWith all that being said I Submitted a Borrowers Defense Application on XX/XX/XXXX, and received confirmation from the Department of Education on XX/XX/XXXX. After researching my prior defense application, I found out my application was lost so I resubmitted my defense on XX/XX/XXXX. Which was part of the XXXX XXXX that happened."]},"sort":[6.72475,"8750152"]},{"_index":"complaint-public-v1","_id":"3969310","_score":5.898662,"_source":{"product":"Vehicle loan or lease","complaint_what_happened":"This complaint involves myself as the retail-buyer of a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( est. XXXX miles at the time of purchase ; included only basic features : two power windows, a sunroof and CD player ). A 'XXXX  dealership ( herein referred to as the Dealership ) in Ohio was the seller/creditor and was also the location of the credit sale. \nCPS, INC was the purported assignee who purchased the named Retail Installment Sale Contract/Simple Finance Charge ( herein referred to as installment contract ) at issue. CPS is an unlicensed fictitious business entity in the State of California and unlicensed as a foreign entity in the State of Ohio and conducts business interchangeably as or with the name : Consumer Portfolio Services ( herein wholly referred to as Consumer Portfolio Services ). \nThe crux of this complaint boils down to : the formation of this installment contract ; being misled into contracting for this credit sale and the unrelenting illegal enforcement of the same thereto as a result of : intentional misrepresentations ; undue influence ; unilateral mistake ; unconscionable, unfair, unequal bargaining power/contract terms/treatment ; economic duress ; frustration of purpose ; breach of warranty ; material breach ; violations of Consumer Protection Act ( Dodd-Frank Act ), Truth in Lending ( TILA ), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( ECOA ), Unfair and Deceptive Acts or Practices ( UDAP ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) in relation to the advertising, offering, bargaining, financing, servicing and overall enforcement the purported installment contract at issue. \nBACKGROUND I am aware of this complaints length, but I am submitting it in good faith and I dont intend for any part to appear repetitive, but I needed to articulate my claim in a manner that made this complaint well-received and for the most appropriate relief. Therefore, I ask that you refrain from presupposing it as some acrimonious tangent against some company. Rather, this complaint affects the public at large because I am certain I am not the only one that has or is going through this what I am with the company at issue. I did not want to leave any element out, as I was concerned that if I failed to address everything in this complaint that I might waive the opportunity to do so later. Therefore, as a background for my complaint I assert the following : In the year XXXX, in my XXXX I regrettably filed bankruptcy for the first time ( for debt totaling - $ XXXX ). Soon after filing, I received and answered a direct mailer advertisement from the dealership offering to help me reestablish my credit with favorable terms and stating no matter my past credit history ( e.g., bankruptcy, repossession, divorce, etc. ). \nI was not hard pressed for a vehicle at the time. I was a single mother of XXXX children and a XXXX  XXXX for the State. I would drive 90 miles a day in my SUV. Being the only income provider economic stability was important, so acquiring a more gas/money saving vehicle and being able to rebuild/reestablish my credit were two attractive selling points for me. I thought that I was in a good position by not being desperate to buy a new vehicle, because I viewed the lack of desperation as a plus in my buying making decision and protecting my interests. \nTHE NEGOTIATION PROCESS WITH THE DEALERSHIP At the dealership, I was originally steered towards purchasing brand-new vehicles, which I firmly refused because I could not afford it. I was shown a limited selection of used vehicles, which had no visible price displayed on them. I could never receive an immediate direct answer by the dealership regarding the sale price for any one car, because not realizing it -- -each car was tied to a specific finance offer according to my credit, income, etc. and whomever would offer the financing I was ready to leave when I saw the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX which became the subject matter of this installment contract. I test-drove it ; I was offered to keep it for a couple days, but I declined. From here, the dealership told me they would call me to offer the financing terms. \nMANUFACTUTRED & PURPOSEFUL CONFUSION IN RELATION TO CONTRACT TERMS INTERPRETATION The dealership called and offered me terms with the payment amount nearing $ 500/a month and gave vague mentioning to just a couple other terms. I rejected the offer and told the dealership that the monthly payment was too high and I could not afford it. The dealership qualified me for too much, but I knew my limit and thanked them for their time. The dealership immediately began to haggle posing the question Well, what payment amount would you be comfortable with? I told the dealership and they contacted me later to present a new offer with a new lower monthly payment amount now set at XXXX XXXX a month, but now needed a {$500.00} down payment. I provided a provisional intent of acceptance to this offer over-the-phone to the dealership. \nHowever, having been unfulfilled with this phone conversation when time came to return to the dealership to consider finalizing the transaction I had and indeed asked numerous questions. But here is the kicker : I must ask a lot of questions in most situations financial or otherwise because I have a documented XXXX  XXXX. My XXXX  XXXX has nothing to do with my intelligence, but I require more context clues ( i.e., thoroughness in explanation ) and I must ask several questions to grasp a fully comprehensive level of understanding, especially when the information is not familiar. \nUnfortunately, the dealership who believed that my coming back meant that the deal was all sewn up was irritated by my various questions about the transaction and eventually left me alone in a room for an extended period of time, which I assume was to place me in a so ready to leave state to the point that I would agree to anything just to be able to sign and leave. This was not the case for me. I always maintained and had my questions to ask them. \nPRE-FORMATION ANALYSIS OF INSTALLMENT CONTRACT TERMS I had never seen the words RETAIL INSTALLMENT SALE CONTRACT / SIMPLE FINANCE CHARGE before. I asked the dealership if I was making payments or installments?. The dealership told me both.XXXX-month term, with equal monthly installment payments, at {$360.00} a month, all fees and finance charge included. \nI was floored when I saw the length of the contract term XXXX installments/months. This was substantially longer than the contract term provided to me via our previous phone call regarding the offer/terms ; the APR ( 19.45 % ) was omitted during our phone, and I was equally just as surprised seeing the APR rate as well. \nAt this point, I rejected the offer because it had lost its value once again. Everything just seemed to keep changing, despite the dealerships attempts to make everything seem straightforward. \nI was there for a vehicle and the financing was a consequence to the sales transaction. I was not expecting the red-carpet treatment after a bankruptcy, but assuming anything could happen in-between signing and XXXX  months ( XXXX years ) down the line I needed to be comfortable with the finance terms based on my ability to pay and any worse case scenario. This was an integral part of conducting the transaction, and if not for the representations and warranties promised to me the vehicle would not have mattered anymore and I would have simply went to another dealership or have waited for another time later to finance with the credit union, etc. \nNonetheless, the dealership explained that the length in the overall financing term had to be stretched-out to get me to a lower monthly payment amount. At the time, due to my ignorance I did not know that the length of time for financing mattered just as much as anything else if not more ( i.e., time value of money ). \nI argued next about the high APR, on grounds that I had just filed bankruptcy ; therefore, no longer had any debt, so I did not understand why the APR needed to be that high? And I negotiated to have it lowered. The dealership noted that they worked like a dog to get me the best deal. \nThe dealership said that they could not change it that day, but promised that the company being assigned the contract would take care of me and adjust/lower the APR to get me at a better rate and lower payment amount. The dealership reinforced this warranty by pointing to a clause on the very front of said installment contract which stated The Annual Percentage Rate may be negotiable with the Seller as a reassuring reference point to me. \nIn general, the installment contract was explained in a hurried manner. The contract itself was on a huge, long, busy, and purposely distracting form ( 8.5x 24 inches long ) and I had difficultly following along with it. There was absolutely no way to change this adhesive pre-printed LAW Form No. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Retail Installment Sale Contract form. The contract was printed on a 3-5-page carbon copy form and the dealership used a dot matrix printer to print it, and the installment contract was already printed when I arrived. \nI asked and required more thorough explanations/interpretations for most of it, especially at the very least for the provisions I was bombarded from clearly seeing by the dealerships finance/insurance representative due to his hovering over the contract citing that he was trying to be thorough. The only contact I had with the installment contract was my actual placement of my only two required signatures on the very front. \nWhats more, whether the dealership hovered over that oversized contract or not they could have given me the installment contract ( prior to signing it ) to hold for a week it would not have mattered. \nTake the numbers and the signatures out the equation and to this day I still do not understand most of the boilerplate terms which are an essential part of any agreement and affect the rights and/or benefits under the agreement as much, if not more, as any other terms. Boilerplate terms can be negotiated in the same manner as all other terms in an agreement, however, when you dont comprehend wholly the context of a contracts terms but ask for the contract presenter to explain the interpretation because this is their field of expertise and they should know only to be told and agree to one thing and later the contract be enforced a completely different way is monstrous. \nNevertheless, I never met the people at the dealership and as a person who does not think that way would hate to live believing that everyone was lying to me on approach. I was not nave per se. However, I was by myself during the transaction, but I asked all questions beyond reason that I needed to make the best decision for me and my family. With the APR of XXXX % being a major contributing factor of my monthly payment calculation I only proceeded with the sale and the financing contingent upon the warranty and representations offered by the dealership in my ability to change and lower both the APR and monthly payment as a condition subsequent. \nI relied on this reassurance, as these conditions were extremely material aspects of my decision making, and if the dealership had told me no to any one of these negotiating/bargaining pain points I would have rejected the offer for the third and final time. End of story. \nANALYSIS OF INSTALLMENT CONTRACT CONTENT & FORM ( GENERALLY ) The installment contract was comprised of two-pages total and lacked absolute clarity. It was at times, ambiguous, had confusing term placement, important terms were separated and/or buried within contractual language but not limited to, for example : 1. Wherein the installment contract provision ( s ) on the back where it states : How late payments or early payments change what you must pay We based the Finance Charge, Total of Payments, and Total Sale Price shown on the front on the assumption that you will make every payment on the day it is due. Your Finance Charge, Total of Payments, and Total Sale Price will be more if you pay late and less if you pay early. Changes may take form of larger or smaller final payment. We will send you notice telling you about these changes before the final scheduled payment is due. \n2. The aforesaid contract provision on its face, appears to have been a straightforward representation but it is not. The Total of Payments represents the time balance ( the total finance repayment duration or maturity ) and includes the Amount Financed which is the amount of the vehicle sale by itself ( e.g., principal amount ).\n\n3. That would mean this was never a Simple Interest financing credit sale, rather from the beginning this was a Precomputed financing credit sale with interest bearing qualities. Precomputed financing is where the debt is a sum ( wholly ) comprised of the principal amount and the amount of interest computed in advance on the assumption that all scheduled payments will be made when due.\n\n4. With respect to Precomputed financing, they are repayable in substantially equal and consecutive monthly installments of principal and interest combined, except that the first installment period may exceed one month by not more than fifteen days, and the first installment payment amount may be larger than the remaining payments by the amount of interest charged for the extra days ; and provided further that monthly installment payment dates may be omitted to accommodate borrowers with seasonal income ( which is explained further, but in a completely separate provision from this one ).\n\n5. Wherein the installment contract states in part : How we will apply payments We will figure the Finance Charge on a daily basis at the Annual Percentage Rate on the unpaid part of Amount Financed. My thought to this confusing statement was I thought you did figure the finance charge because its enclosed on the front? This lacked clarity. \n6. Well, with respect to Interest-Bearing financing, interest is computed on the unpaid principal balances outstanding from time to time, for the time outstanding. Each payment is applied first to unpaid charges and fees, then to interest, and the remainder to the unpaid principal balance. \n7. How we will apply payments provision states in part : We may apply each payment to the earned and unpaid part of the Finance Charge, to the unpaid part of the Amount Financed, and to the other amounts you owe under this contract in any order we choose 8. With respect to the Actuarial method '' it is a method of allocating payments made on a loan between the principal amount and interest whereby a payment is applied first to the accumulated interest and then the remainder to the unpaid principal amount. \n9. Notwithstanding, the last statement states in part : in any order we choose looking back was a flagrant play upon the target audiences ( me and other consumers ) low-awareness & and financial ignorance. To the extent, where this standard adhesive XXXX XXXX XXXX retail installment contract, once you put it all together because its all over the place that this installment contract is not only Precomputed, Interest-Bearing, but uses the Rules-of-78s as its accrual & payment methodology.\n\n10. Said installment contract was made for 66 months, the use of Rules of 78s as the accrual method is prohibited for any loan or financing term over 61 months according to federal law, and some states dont allow it at all.\n\n11. The accounting method ( s ) used by Consumer Portfolio Services best explains why my efforts ( many years before now ) to refinance with another company and get away from this contract altogether ( after complaining to the Consumer Portfolio Services about the credit sale formation with the dealership ) was absolutely fruitless. Additionally, it explains why the pay-off amount back then was stated for the entire installment contract amount and not just for what I would have owed up until that point, because again, this installment contract never used a simple interest methodology for accounting and payment allocation. \nThis fact became even clearer when considering the You may prepay provision on the back of the installment contract, which contradicted the Prepayment provision on the front of the installment contract. \nIt was confusing and the provision on the back stated in part that there would not be a penalty for paying all or part of the Amount Financed ( the Principle amount ) but you must pay the earned and unearned part of the Finance Charge and all other amounts up to the date of your payment which was not stated on the front of the installment contract under similar provision. The dealership deceived me. He confused the words prepay with pay-off and those are two separate terms. The material omission that you will not be refunding the finance charge is a prepayment penalty. \nAdditionally, there was an Option box detailing that there would be No finance charge if the Amount Financed is paid in full before. I was told that this provision meant no finance charge if paid in full, as a promotional offer, for example if I was offered a no finance charge for XXXX promotion, etc.. But this was not true. I was duped again. Nevertheless, I never received the refund I should per Ohio law regarding as a result of my efforts to refinance out of this contract years earlier. \n12. This installment contract failed to include a Notice Clause. If notice were to be sent to either party how was this process supposed to be achieved? This installment contract did not require a change of address, a requirement that a partys phone number be updated. This contractual delegation or duty was silent. \n13. This installment contract might have stated that no oral changes are binding, but it did not include no changes in understandings are not binding. Moreover, how do I know that the dealership did not in fact provide Consumer Portfolio Services of our understandings when the boilerplate language is static and already stated that this is the complete agreement prior to anything ever being filled out. \n14. This installment contract failed to explain how deferments and/or payment extensions would work and to what extent because the installment contract does not even provide an explanation. At the time, I didnt understand the words maturity date from the installment contract extensions because this was not a loan it was financing, but I felt that I had no other choice but to always agree to Consumer Portfolio Services terms no matter what. \n15. Many important contract terms were repetitive in wording or were not reasonably close to its analogous context to prevent intent from becoming lost, impaired, or creating ambiguity. \n16. Thus, ambiguity is created by stating the same thing more than once ; rarely is it not possible to say something twice without creating ambiguity. Certain terms within said installment contract were merely stated generally on one document side, only to be repeated and elaborated differently on the other side of the page resulting in contradiction and confusion. \n17. Another installment contract provision states in part : Your Other Promises to Us which was a confusing headline. It created emphasis which implied that other statements in the contract are less important, especially considering the words which followed, wherein it stated in part, This secures payment of all you owe on this contract. It also secures your other agreements in this contract [ sic ] This is how these two sentences within this paragraph began and ended. It did mention a few bullet points before it, but the words after did not lead to nowhere that I could conceive, because I do not know what This or It is referring to. Moreover, the statement, All you owe on this contract is awful to place in any contract. Owe means that I am already obligated. \n18. The installment contracts headline RETAIL INSTALLMENT SALE CONTRACT / SIMPLE FINANCE CHARGE is fraudulently stated because it is contradictive to the payment accrual and allocation method described within it. \n19. The installment contract provision wherein it states : Prepayment. If you payoff all your debt early, you will not have to pay a penalty. To a reasonable person this would mean that there is no prepayment penalty, but it is deceptive when the finance charge already worked into the total installment contract amount in a way that doesnt allow for an incentive to pay early. On the other hand, an installment contract with precomputed interest consists of substantially equal payments throughout the entire contract so with that information you would know what to expect. \n20. But, when the headline of a contract states, Simple Finance Charge but is in fact a Precomputed Finance Charge the consumer would never truly know what they were getting into. You can not lie about the type of loan you are getting a consumer into, especially when they are concerned, inquisitive and asking every question that should have prevented this fact. \n21. Which is why I have been devastated by the willful deception and misrepresentations told and warranted to me by the dealership. I would not have agreed to a XXXX  month payment term, while paying XXXX XXXX  interest the entire time, no matter if for example, my credit score the 800s ; fresh out of bankruptcy where the chances of rebuilding my credit after 1-2 years later were greater and absolutely would not have justified such awful terms as these. \n22. I was misled into believing that I could merely pay just the Amount Financed ( i.e., principal amount ) and have my performance discharged from this contract if I needed to refinance elsewhere. \n23. Notwithstanding, CPS after I made inquiry about refinancing the APR for a lower rate and payment amount but was refused by them despite my agreement and understanding with the dealership and my reliance of it when asked if I could at the very least make principal payments? CPS told me No they do not do that either ... So, how was this ever a simple finance charge ( lightbulb ) thats because it never was. \nPOST-CONSUMMATION COURSE OF DEALING & TREATMENT WITH ASSIGNEE OF THE INSTALLMENT CONTRACT ( CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES ) Not long after finalizing this installment contract/ credit sale transaction, I missed many calls from Consumer Portfolio Services who was calling me to make first contact with me, but I did not know who they were. This installment contract was assigned solely to a company named CPS, INC who is unlicensed. \nI soon found that Consumer Portfolio Services uses the name CPS interchangeably which has always been confusing, but even more confusing for third-parties ( i.e. family members, friends ) who would receive phone calls from Consumer Portfolio Services referring to themselves as CPS and stating that they need to speak to me about an important matter, to include my XXXX XXXX  where I received oral discipline because of their calls. Consumer Portfolio Services caused distressing urgency and confusing amongst these third-party persons for me, because CPS is not distinguishable from Consumer Portfolio Services. \nThat is because most people consider the combined letters C-P-S as an automatic reference with Child Protective Services. Which was confusing to me when I saw their name on the installment contract and was absolutely disturbing to hear by other third parties on my behalf because they thought I was I XXXX  my children. Coupled with the fact that CPS would call the same or next day as Consumer Portfolio Services third-party persons were all over the place with confusion and didnt know if I was XXXX  my children or having a debt collected it was intentionally embarrassing! \nWhich is why in year XXXX I submitted a partial Cease and Desist on Consumer Portfolio Services to bar them from contacting anyone but me, which they recently violated for the first time in 4 years on XX/XX/XXXX in retaliation of my telling them ( Consumer Portfolio Services ) that I would no longer be subjected to their abuse, mistreatment or this contract. Only days later they pretended as though they were struggling to reach me, however, phone records would show that I have gone months without making actual contact with them\n\n( Consumer Portfolio Services ) because they are absolutely abusive to talk to.\n\nNotwithstanding, once I eventually figured out who Consumer Portfolio Services was and had my first contact with them, I asked if they were aware of the warranties promised to me by the dealership and wanted assurance they would honor it. Consumer Portfolio Services told me that they would not be able to change any part of the contract and that needed to have taken place during the transaction and that theyre just the servicer for the contract. I argued with them and I also communicated with the dealership and they merely passed the buck back to Consumer Portfolio Services. \nI advised Consumer Portfolio Services that I did not agree to this loan as it has been, and only agreed because I negotiated with the dealership and was given a warranty of certain changes by you. \nConsumer Portfolio Services evaded acknowledgment of my claim and refused to address it directly, but provided that if I no longer wanted the vehicle that I could turn it back in. When I asked if the contract would be considered settled from that point if I did return the vehicle, they told me no, it would be considered a voluntary repossession. \nAt that moment, I felt sick. It was clear to me that parties to this installment contract were not on the same page ; 2 out-of-the 3 parties knew exactly what every boilerplate term meant, didnt mean, or could mean and how they could manipulate the context of the contract egregiously more in their favor. And I was the only one who wanted a fair deal. \nMy performance soon after communicating with Consumer Portfolio Services after realizing I was entangled in this installment contract with terms I did not agree to alone and with some I did not understand during the bargain phase ; and which were not going to be honored was poor from the onset and my performance remained poor & impaired throughout the duration of my involuntary servitude against this installment contract. My payment history tells a story, and that story fails to ever show actions of me guaranteeing, committing, or confirming anything but my impaired willingness to make payment. \nConsumer Portfolio Services however, did not care. They were not concerned, surprised or shocked by my claims of being misled. They never once made a good-faith attempt to investigate my claims regarding the dealership. It was rather business as usual for them, and they instead preyed further and continued to exploit my misrepresentations, my perceived ignorance, my contractual burden and inflict undue influence, manipulation, economic duress and mental & emotional abuse upon me by enforcing this installment contract which did not align with neither what I agreed to my detriment or with my understanding in relation thereto.\n\nABUSIVE SERVICING AND COLLECTION PRACTICES Consumer Portfolio Services and I were never on the same page by design. They used the word interest, accrue, and other similar words that the original installment contract never used and was more indicative that this was a loan than a credit sale contract. \nDue to the many nuances and ambiguities within the contract Consumer Portfolio Services flagrantly cherry-picked what they were going to acknowledge, and made the duration of dealing with them both burdensome and frankly most times just extremely awkward. \nOver time, it was clear that the rights I should have had, not only at the onset of the transaction, but during the contract term was not going to be pursuant with Ohios Retail Installment Sales Act ( RISA ) which gives more protection for circumstances like these or should due to partly because the merchant seller is unlicensed and is more susceptible to self-dealing as is the assignee Consumer Portfolio Services. \nMuch like the dealership, Consumer Portfolio Services teetered back-n-forth as to what hat they were wearing within any given conversation with me. One day they were able to grossly modify the installment contract ; or at times when I would attempt to stop paying holding to my claims Consumer Portfolio Services would tell me that we gave you a loan when no one else would. Which is not true, but at the time I believed them because I did not know any better. \nBut I no longer had debt at the time of contracting, and years later I realized that they by law could not have given me a loan, because that is not how a credit sale contract works. Notwithstanding, when I had wanted to change the APR at the beginning or renegotiate any other element of the installment contract I would be told that they ( Consumer Portfolio Services ) were just the servicer and couldnt do anything. \nWhats more, Consumer Portfolio Services used that name as well as CPS in their collection efforts. On top of which they used oppressive, coercive influence and abusive practices and tactics to collect, which included but not limited to : - Engaging in behavior which that menacingly argumentative ; confrontational ; harassing ; yelling at me ; continuous cycle of intimidating me to reinforce my compliance ; - Previously would call my place of employment and/or a third-party everyday using misleading names to the point I was warned of discipline and was forced to place a partial cease and desist on communication with Consumer Portfolio Services to stop them from contacting third-parties which they recently breached ; - Yelling at me, - Forcing me to act contrary to my rights ; and beliefs as they were not present during the credit sale ( silent compliance ) ; - Undue inducement by \" Consumer Portfolio Services '' through intimidation to perform in a manner different than I otherwise would have performed from the beginning based on previous representations made and agreed to, which created a continuous cycle intimidated or threatened ; - Employing undue fear, blame, undeserved guilt/emotional blackmail, and XXXX  as their servicing tactics to distort my sense of events and the reality of what was happening to me ; - Victimizing themselves by normalizing and legitimizing their abuse & behavior to me by attempting to make unreasonable demands seem reasonable ; - Utilizing a cycle of mental and emotional control to support & reinforce economic abuse of enforcing the underlying installment contract ; which acted to limit my actions by restraining my resources to resist the abuse and vulnerable in defending their demands to avoid more harm ; -Numerous unjustified payment extensions against a loan with substantially impaired performance. The cascading interest-bearing effects of these purported daily finance charges, which were allegedly computed based on the outstanding principal balance, in addition to the undisclosed precomputed finance charge improperly increased the principal balance as it steady compou -Gross abuse of contract terms ; creating terms as they went via unilateral modifications of terms and numerous undisclosed changes of the maturity date. \n-Unwillingness to produce request for original contract upon request ( my original was destroyed during a break-in ) -Adverse Selection ; Attempted to solicit me a loan with a misleading advertisement once informing \" Consumer Portfolio Services '' that the maturity had already passed. \n( ( ( I experienced an inability to upload/attach this entire complaint ; breach of contract notice to CPS ; the installment contract itself ; and 'numerous ' exhibits","date_sent_to_company":"2020-11-22T22:04:21.000Z","issue":"Getting a loan or lease","sub_product":"Loan","zip_code":"45414","tags":null,"has_narrative":true,"complaint_id":"3969310","timely":"Yes","company_response":"Closed with explanation","submitted_via":"Web","company":"Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.","date_received":"2020-11-22T22:01:58.000Z","state":"OH","company_public_response":null,"sub_issue":"Changes in terms mid-deal or after closing"},"highlight":{"complaint_what_happened":["), Truth in Lending ( TILA ), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Equal <em>Credit</em> Opportunity Act ( ECOA ), Unfair and Deceptive Acts or Practices ( UDAP ) and Fair <em>Debt</em> Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) in relation to the <em>advertising</em>, offering, bargaining, financing, servicing and overall enforcement the purported installment contract at 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