Kathryn of Rockford, IL, writes:
I doubt I have much of a case here. I am a credit counselor for a local non-profit and am just appalled that I can't get any action from Chrysler. They apparently would rather I quit my job and become a deadbeat debtor. Here is a letter I sent to Chrysler:

I am behind on my 1999 LHS payments. It started when my husband unexpectedly abandoned me and my children. Then my mom got breast cancer and I helped to care for her. The final straw was when the motor of this LHS went out with only 60,000 miles on it. When the motor went out, I was already one month past due. I had planned to make a double payment on November 15th because I had taken my husband to court to sell something of his and won. So, then, my motor blew on November 13th.

I commute to work and need a vehicle to get back and forth. The Chrysler dealer said a new motor would be $5,000. I just about died. $5,000 is a lot of money for a newly-single parent with no set court-ordered child support as yet.

Now, on November 15th, 2000, I spoke with Miguel at Chrysler Financial who told me that he could extend one payment if I made a full payment. At that time, I needed to either buy a beater car to get back and forth to work in or I needed a motor, so I told Miguel I needed two payments extended so I had the $1200 for transportation. At that point, I was totally willing to pay for the lemon car even if it was never going to run again. Miguel said he wasn't authorized, so I asked to speak with his supervisor, Kathy. Kathy was rude and uncooperative and accused me of being a deadbeat.

If I was a deadbeat, I wouldn't have initiated the call. I never would have even considered paying $600 a month for a car that did not run. I asked to speak with her supervisor, which was Ed Silban at extension 2460. I left him a message and he never returned it. On November 28, Miguel called my mother-in-law. He did not try to reach me during the day at my place of work where he knew I could be reached and have always been willing to talk to him.

It is uncalled-for to call my relatives when I have been honest, upfront, and available for your company to abuse at will. I called Miguel immediately and made him aware of my frustration. He suggested they could come get the car. I told him it would be useless. The car has no motor in it. It does not run. You would think recovery of the price of the loan would be his main goal, but he wants to repossess.

I deal with debtors every day. I know people who purposely do not want to deal with their debts. I am not one of those people. I am willing to do something. I just need a break. I think I have been very honest. I have been totally upfront. I have been available and willing to talk when contacted. I have unusual circumstances (unless you get a lot of blown motor complaints in the 1999 LHS?). I am willing to repay the loan in its entireity regardless of the crappy circumstances. I do not see why extending two payments instead of one is such a bad deal for Chrysler Finance. I cannot seem to get anyone who has a higher authority to talk to me.

It's terrible that your customer service and collection people have acted without any compassion, sensitivity, or humananity whatsoever. I would like someone who actually has a heart and has authority to call me or something. Miguel, Kathy, and Ed Silban obviously could care less if Chrysler Financial loses money on this deal. Why put the company at loss as well as a struggling young family? If you repossess, I will absolutely lose my job. In that case, you will never ever get any money recovered and will take a huge loss since the car has no motor. In fact, I cannot even authorize that a motor be put in until I resolve this situation. PLEASE HELP! I am not asking for the world here.....just two measly payments that you get paid the interest on anyway! You won't lose any money that way! I am cashing in a retirement account. I will have enough left over after installing a new motor to pay you $1000. Unfortunately, I will owe about $1900 in payments by then. My November and December regular payments have been going for used car rental to get me to my job. I will be set to resume normal payment action January 1st, 2001. CAN YOU HELP OR AM I TALKING TO DEAF EARS?

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