Expert: Robin Sexton - 6/11/2008

Question
my financing company call and harass me at work if i am a day late on my car payment now they have hired a private investigator because they say i am hiding out my car which im not my bill is current and up to date but thet tell me it is a felony is this correct.can they still get me as a felony because i was late and moved and didnt tell them right away cause i dont have a permenant address

Answer
Chris,

I obviously don't know all the laws in all 50 states however this sounds more civil then criminal.  Your state may have criminal laws regarding some aspects of loans / mortgaged property.  Example in Michigan it is a criminal act to sell mortgaged property to someone else without the mortgagee being involved.  If the loan company has a writ to repossess your vehicle and you are concealing it that may be illegal in your state.  Best course of action get someone other then yourself to try and work with the loan agency to see what is going on. Maybe an attorney can make a few calls on your behalf for a low fee to advise you what is going on.  Also collection practices are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and your own state, usually your Attorney Generals office.  Check their web sites to see if calling at work etc is prohibited and what steps you may be able to take.

Good Luck

Robin