OK, I am also a Southeast Toyota Finance "customer" (or rather sucker). I am not a big fan of theirs either. Now, I have never had to actually deal with their customer service, although we are going to pay off the car this month (13 months early). So, we'll see if I have title issues with them over the next few weeks.

My main point though, is that folks, WE have to stop financing cars! First, it is ridiculous what you lose (interest + depreciation). Second, you can really wheel and deal better with the dealer, when you're waving fresh cash in their face...amazing how much that green makes them want to truly treat you right. Third, not financing really is the cure to all of these complaints!!!

When you mention that you will be financing at the dealer, "sucker" is then printed on your forehead. Sure, you may get this $1, 000 off here, but they will make up for it on the financing end (the dealer gets a commission for financing you)...so see, YOU are the loser in the deal.

This also plays a role in continuing to drive vehicle prices up. If they can keep us indebted through our desire to drive a decent vehicle, they will continue to overprice cars (used & new)...why, because you are giving them complete access to your financial standings when you request a loan, so they will give you a loan to "fit your budget."

Therefore, they make two sales: the car & the loan. So, why reduce car prices, when all they have to do is give a little creative financing. If the masses would finally start to pay out right with cash again, watch how car prices will fall...and people will be avoiding phone calls, court dates, and repo men.

So, how do you do this? It's quite simple. You're willing to tie up 2, 3, 400 dollars per month for 3, 4, 5, even 6 years through a car payment to one of the finance slime pits. So, if you're willing to do that, where you have no choice to not pay, then you should be willing to do so by paying yourself. For instance, after our car is paid off, we will be taking the old payment of $231, and placing it into a new savings account for another car in 5 years. 231*60 months = nearly 14, 000 CASH; with no spending change on my budget, except that I can decide not to put that "payment" in savings next month, and instead take my wife out to Ruth's Chris.

Plus, the interest from my savings account is adding to the overall total...not to some finance company's pocket. Oh, don't forget you also have your other vehicle to use as a trade or private sale...thus, that much more to bargain with. (Note: Be sure to not drop full coverage insurance, just so you can get the maximum out of your current car if something were to happen before you save to your goal).

Folks, let's use the power that WE really do have in the market place, to make the finance companies drive into the sunset, and the dealers to drop to THEIR knees instead of us dropping to ours. By the way, this is a grandma-proven method...she hasn't financed a car in 20 years, once she realized the error of her ways.

We traded our car in and signed off on the lease and 9 months later they call and ask us when we are turning in the car. We explained we turned it in 9 months ago and where we turned it in. It is still 13 months later and they are still calling us to say we owe them because there is damamge but when we turned it in it was fine. they even signed off on it. They had it for 9 months and it was who knows where and then they say it is in bad shape. there is no way I will pay for it. When we signed off on it was in perfect condition. We had many emails from the finance to find out where it is and the details of the car. It took them a few weeks to find it.

After filing for an extension in January, I have since been getting 1-3 phone calls almost on a daily basis, because these people fail to look at their updates BEFORE calling me. I paid an agreed amount, faxed a written request with all my insurance information, etc. The problem is, when I tell them this, they put me on hold so they can check!!! Why not check to start with? Now that would be a win-win concept. I'm sure that with the economy, I'm not the only one they're harrassing like this, but come on! This is getting absolutely ridiculous. Is calling me 2 or 3 times a day going to produce their payment any earlier? I will pay it when I agreed to pay it and no sooner. And P.S. How about hiring people who can speak ENGLISH??????????

When you get the car back you will take it to a auction sell it out right and lose money because my son won't pay any more on the bank loan and he has nothing so you can't get blood out of a turnip. However if you would give a young man who served his country a break we were willing to catch him up on payments and see that they were paid on time in the future so you would have gotten all your money and showed a little appreciate for his having put his life on the line for you.

We leased a Toyota Camary for our Daughter.
At the end of the lease, we recieved a payoff amount.
Our daughter and Son in law purchased the veichcle,
from Southeast Toyota. They made their August payment
on the new loan.
We then recieve a bill for August with a late fee, and
to please make our September payment. After several phone calls, They told me it was interest and late fees! I guess
I will make Payment number 49 of 48 and hope it
goes away.