Toyota Financial

Tina of Kennwick WA (6/26/02):
My 18 year-old daughter purchased a used car from a Toyota Dealership in Eugene, OR last year. Her father co-signed the loan for her. He is a Navy Seal. He was sent to Afghanistan after the purchase of the vehicle. My daughter became delinquent in her payments. She made payment arrangements and was in the process of catching up. She didn't get a payment in on the day promised, due to their insistence that she wire the money combined with banking hour limitations.

The car was repossessed, in spite of the fact that the "Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940" clearly states that if a Service Member is unable to comply to financial obligations due to military service, all legal actions must be supspended until such time that the Service Member is no longer materially impaired by active duty. Upon contacting them, I was told that they really couldn't do anything about it.

Now, my daughter doesn't have transportation to and from work (I live in a different state and am unable to provide transportation). Her father's credit has been adversely (and illegally) affected. It amazes me that a man can go to another country and participate in a war to protect our nation's way of life - and the very people he is protecting will stab him in the back because he isn't here to defend himself.

Toyota has no choice in the matter. It must abide by the law. Tina should contact her Congressman -- Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA 4th) -- and ask that he assist her in communicating forcefully with Toyota.

Back to the top |