Question: I have a delinquent account with a former auto financing group. It was last paid in late 2017. However, I wanted to start making payments again – because once a month, the account is reported as a delinquent loan. I spoke with my lender and they said that I can pay any amount per month, but my account won’t be reported as current, and it won’t stop being delinquent until it is paid in full. Why is that? Even if I paid the $162 a month they’re asking for, it won’t stop being delinquent until paid in full. I am a college student with very little money. It’s a collection/charge-off for $5,800, but I can only pay $60 a month. There is also more than a dollar of interest accruing per day. How am I supposed to pay off this car collection and have it reported on my credit report as being paid? – Kristina in Florida
Gerri Detweiler, Credit Expert, responds…
There’s no reason the payment history should report you as being current when in fact there would be missed payments. To bring your account current, you would need to pay the past due amount. Then, continue to make your timely agreed-upon monthly payments. However, this will not remove your past delinquent history.
From your description, it sounds as if the car was either repossessed, or the delinquent loan was accelerated so the full balance is due now.
If the car was repossessed, then it would have been sold at auction for a low amount, and you would be responsible for the remaining balance of the delinquent loan – even though you would no longer have access to or the use of the car.
I’m worried you’re confusing what you’re able to afford now with what you contractually agreed to when you financed the vehicle. Contracts are absolute. Life is not.
What you can do
If you’re worried about the delinquent loan being satisfied – and being reported as paid – then paying the full balance the lender is demanding in accordance with the financing agreement is the logical way. Another alternative would be to file bankruptcy to eliminate the debt and others you may have.
Alternatively, you can attempt to negotiate with the lender to come to a settlement you can both agree to. In rare cases, you may be able to negotiate for the lender to re-age the account to remove the negative credit history, although this is not guaranteed to work. However, the lender has the right to stick to the terms you legally agreed to in the initial financing agreement.
All of that being said, if you feel the lender has acted illegally, then you should absolutely consult with a consumer attorney who is licensed in your state.
