I bought a car and had to go through Drive after a divorce ( poor credit rating ), making timely payments and more than the monthly amount. <4/4/09 > 8 months after I bought it a girl not paying attention slammed into me and totaled my car. During this 8 months I never even got a letter stating Drive would be changing to SANTANDER. Of course the next day when I talked to CS he informed me REAL QUICK that they changed names and I did not buy GAP Insurance. I told him that I was not explained the GAP Ins. and ask what it meant and he told me that what ever her Ins. did not pay I owed. I told him that the Ins. was going to pay all of it except about $2, 000. and this amount should be interest not principle. He told me if that were the case I probably would not owe anything. As soon as the Ins. payed ( about a week later ) their amount I called AGAIN. The CS informed me that this was not principle so I asked since it was interest would they consider that payed. NO. So I asked if I could speak with a manager in charge. He informed me that there was not one and I repeated there is not anyone in charge. He said no. I ask if there was a time I could call and talk to one. NO there is not any. I explained this being my only car I needed to get this payed so I could continue my job. Nobody can help you with that and we don't sell cars. So in turn I went to buy another auto and Stupidly went through Drive again because no missed payments and just owing a little amount I thought it might help. I had all the papers signed and the little amount I owed them added into it and getting ready to drive off the lot and they came and told me that we could not do the deal because Drive would not except the loan because I already owe them on an existing auto loan. I told them they were informed of this 2, 000 and appearing as an auto loan and they just escorted me out the door.
This is Oct. and my wreck was in April. I have not received any info from Santander of what I owe, payment address, statements or anything until 10/12 I received a call from a debt collector for Drive/Santander . So since they consider it principle they can still tack on interest mmm, pretty cleaver wouldn't you say.