Ally settlement administrator will contact eligible borrowers soon

In December 2013, together with the Department of Justice (DOJ), we ordered Ally Financial Inc. and Ally Bank to pay $80 million in damages to consumers harmed by Ally’s auto loan pricing policies that resulted in discrimination. We found that Ally had a policy of giving dealers the discretion to increase or “mark up” consumers’ interest rates, and paying dealers for those markups. We found that between April 2011 and December 2013, Ally’s markup policy resulted in African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander borrowers paying more for auto loans than similarly situated non-Hispanic white borrowers. Ally agreed to a settlement and is paying a settlement administrator to distribute the $80 million in damages to harmed borrowers. Ally will also refund affected borrowers who it overcharged after December 2013, and Ally has already started paying some of those borrowers.

For Ally auto loans obtained between April 2011 and December 2013, the Ally Settlement Administrator will locate and send checks to affected borrowers who were overcharged. Over the next weeks, the Administrator will mail packages to identified borrowers with instructions for how to participate in the settlement. Borrowers who are African American, Hispanic, Asian, or Pacific Islander and who obtained an auto loan from Ally between April 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013 may be eligible for a payment from the Administrator. If you think you are eligible, you should look for a package explaining the specific minimum amount of money that you may be eligible to receive. Your actual payment amount may be greater, depending on how many borrowers participate in the settlement.

How to respond if you receive a package

The packages will tell you what you must do to receive your payment. To get your payment, you should follow those instructions, including returning any required forms. You can return any forms by postage pre-paid mail, fax, or through the Administrator’s website. Just follow the instructions on the form. Be sure to submit any required forms by October 24, 2015. Only those eligible consumers who return required forms by October 24, 2015, will receive their payment.

What to do if you think you are eligible but do not receive a package

If you don’t receive a package in the mail by July 15, 2015, but you think you should receive a payment, you can call the Ally Settlement Administrator to ask about your eligibility. You can also fill out a claim eligibility form and submit it to the administrator by mail, fax, or through the administrator’s website.

Participating in the settlement is free

Watch out for scammers claiming that they will help you for a fee or asking for your personal information in order to get your check. When large numbers of consumers receive settlement money, scammers sometimes pop up. The scammer may charge you a fee or try to steal your personal information. While you are of course free to speak with an attorney, you do not need to hire a lawyer or pay anyone a fee in order to participate in this settlement.

As part of this settlement, the Ally Settlement Administrator, the CFPB, the DOJ, or your local U.S. Attorney’s office may contact you. Ally is paying Heffler Claims Group to serve as the Administrator. You should treat any other contact claiming to be related to this settlement as a scam. Please immediately report any scam to the Administrator at info@autofinancesettlement.com.

Still have questions?

If you have any questions, check out the Ally Settlement Administrator’s website or call the Administrator, starting on June 26, 2015, at 1 (844)-271-4780.

Learn more about how you can protect yourself from credit discrimination.