Security Finance review: Security Finance - How to Deal with Rude Local Store 5

Y'all, here's what you do: call the Corporate Office in Spartanburg, NC [protected]) BUT FIRST, DO THE FOLLOWING:

I think this only works if you are not very behind, but it WILL WORK to stop harassment calls. :-)
If you are having trouble with your branch office and are behind:

1. Call your branch, ask for the Manager (not any other employee), get the Manager's name, and explain your current situation.

2. Ask the Manager for your current balance (not the pay-off, unless that is what you want to do. This blog is for people who want to stop dealing with rude branches for their monthly payment). Write down the balance.

2. Tell the Manager that you are not allowed to get calls at your place of employment, that it is disruptive and not allowed.

3. Ask the Manager to note your account that you will be late paying the due date, and tell him or her when you will be able to make the payment. Very important: tell him/her to NOTE YOUR ACCOUNT of this.

4. The Manager may want you to "come in" in order to extend the date you say you will be making your payment. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS. THERE IS NOTHING TO SIGN. They only want you to come in so they can try to talk you in to refinance your loan. Do NOT do this!

4. Then, if you are not satisfied or the Manager is rude to you, call the 800# above for Security FInance, and choose option 2 "Customer Service". It is helpful if you have your account number but CS can also look it up via your Social Security number.

5. Ask Customer Service what your account balance is (again, NOT the payoff). If it is different from what the local branch told you, add that to your list to go over with this Customer Service person.

6. Tell C.S.: a. your balance is different from what branch told you (if it is); b. the branch is harassing you/being rude c. give C.S. name of manager that you JUST spoke to; and - THIS IS CRUCIAL - d. tell C.S. that you want a "Cease and Desist" on your account e. ask C.S. to have the Regional Manager call you.

A "Cease and Desist" WILL STOP S.F. from calling you, your employment, your contacts/references, and from going to your house (they can't do that in my state anymore anyway, I don't know if it is nationwide).

When the Regional Manager calls you, make sure you take that call as it will come from an unknown number, or call them back, and tell that R.M. the issues you have with your local branch, the manager's name, etc. Then alert the R.M. that thru Corporate you have a Cease and Desist in your file. The R.M. will probably already know this, but it can't hurt to show that you are on top of your information and want to be sure all points are covered.

Here is what happened to me: I have been late 3x in a row due to circumstances beyond my control. I am due on the 24th of the month but now I cant pay it comfortably until the 15th of the month. I had told the branch and the branch manager this information every month, a couple of times each month.

The Manager tried to get me to come in. I said, for what? She said "we can't extend your payment more than 2 days unless you come in". I said, "for what?" and she was vague, said that I just needed to "show (my) face". I asked, do I have to sign anything? She said no. So I said well I am not going to come in, I have told you I will pay it (plus extra) on the 15th.

The Manager HUNG UP ON ME. I called back, said Okay, I'm going to assume that it was an accident and you did not just hang up on me. And then I said something like, Now I am going to tell you something. I have told you I will pay this mid-month, so note my account (turns out she says she did not have any notes about that, even though yes, every month, several times, told the callers I couldn't pay it until the 15th of the following month).

Anyway, I said to this RUDE manager: I have told you I will be paying this on the 15th...I have also spoken to Customer Service about this branch and I am waiting on a call from the Regional Manager. I have gotten Customer Service to put down a "Cease and Desist" on my account and it is my understanding you will not call me at home, will not call my cell, will not call my references, will not call me at work, will not go to my work, will not go to my house.

The Manager will probably be curt with you and you probably won't want to ever get another loan with this people

Also, as far as establishing credit: Security Finance is not a grade A credit reporter. Yes, it may show you as late. If you have financial hardship and have to be paying late, this does NOT MEAN YOU ARE IN COLLECTION.

Again, I think if you are in collection, like owe 2 or 3 or more payments, the "Cease and Desist" request may still work. However, please call your City or Municipal City Clerk of Court (or go online if available) and check for your name as a defendant. All S.F. has to do is sue you, so you want to know if that is happening.

If you are going to be sued, evading the process server WILL NOT WORK. All S.F. has to do is file a document saying that service was left or you evaded it, and they can still get a Judgment against you.

They then take that Judgment, file it in the County Clerk's, and then file a Garnishment action because they have the Judgment.

THAT's the worst they can do.

Good luck. CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE! :)