Car disabled

[Red Arrow]

One of my co-workers had her car disabled by the "bank".  My co-worker was not delinquent in payments.  The finance company claimed a computer glitch caused a bunch (I don't know how many) to not be able to start.  I have heard of Police being able to shut down a car but a finance company?  This particular car is a few years old Ford Fusion.  Anyone know if this is built-in or did the finance company maybe add something?  If it's built-in, who or what entities are/should be allowed access to the codes to do this?

I guess I'll keep my old cars for a while longer.

[rdj]

This is common among cars financed by unconventional lenders.  Most likely she purchased and financed the vehicle through what used to be known as a "buy here, pay here" lot.  These devices are disclosed in the financing paperwork.  If payments aren't made the care is disabled until they are paid up or they'll come get the vehicle.  Makes life a lot easier for the repo-man.

[Red Arrow]

This is common among cars financed by unconventional lenders.  Most likely she purchased and financed the vehicle through what used to be known as a "buy here, pay here" lot.  These devices are disclosed in the financing paperwork.  If payments aren't made the care is disabled until they are paid up or they'll come get the vehicle.  Makes life a lot easier for the repo-man.

So then is it a device added by the finance company rather than a function of Ford's Sync (or whatever Ford's equivalent of On-Star is)?

[guido911]

Will read the fine print closely if I decide to finance my next pacemaker.

[Red Arrow]

Will read the fine print closely if I decide to finance my next pacemaker.

Like this?

http://www.google.com/search?q=pacemaker+yachts&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=9BiMUrmmCcie2wWJvYGABQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1890&bih=993#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=2gnVUHi5ZIUSZM%3A%3Bycis-Bjp4xafzM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.classicadshop.com%252Fprod_images%252F301cas34.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.classicadshop.com%252Fproductdetails.php5%253Fid%253D485%3B292%3B399

[BKDotCom]

somewhat related and in the news
http://boingboing.net/2013/11/13/renault-ships-a-brickable-car.html

[sgrizzle]

If you make payments to the same place you found the car, you can expect things like this.

Otherwise it would sound like a glitch in an anti-theft feature. Rental cars have such a feature that will kill the car if you drive them out of state.

[Red Arrow]

If you make payments to the same place you found the car, you can expect things like this.

I have been fortunate to not have to have bought a car that way.

[Gaspar]

You can tell if your car has such a device.  Just walk around to the back of the car, kneel down near the bumper and look for an Obama bumper sticker. 

[Red Arrow]

You can tell if your car has such a device.  Just walk around to the back of the car, kneel down near the bumper and look for an Obama bumper sticker. 

I double checked my car.  No Obama sticker there.  (Or any stickers other than the required ones on my license plate).

[DolfanBob]

My Step Son just got screwed financed a car at Jim Norton Chevy with a high interest rate of 21%.
They had him bring it back three day's later to have it wired with the GPS tracking and auto shut down device.

So not just the buy here pay here places are doing it. They all seem to be on board if you're your age and credit come into question.

[BKDotCom]

My Step Son just got screwed financed a car at Jim Norton Chevy with a high interest rate of 21%.
They had him bring it back three day's later to have it wired with the GPS tracking and auto shut down device.

So not just the buy here pay here places are doing it. They all seem to be on board if you're age and credit come into question.

21%?!   Did he pay with his Visa card?

[sgrizzle]

21%?!   Did he pay with his Visa card?

There was a thread on this.

At least with VISA he might've earned an airline ticket.

[DTowner]

I bought my first car with a loan at 21% interest.  Of course, it was 1982.

[swake]

It's called secured credit.  Just more secure than average.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk