Can car finance comp w/a key to my car access it to remove gps after the car is payed off w/out my knowledge?

Question

My finance company of my car when I purchased it installed a GPS system in it and kept an extra set of keys (just in case you don't pay). I payed my car off completely in less then a year and right after I noticed wires hanging out of place by the foot pedals. I believe the company used their key and gps to locate the car and remove the gps all without my knowledge! The company is local, asian owned, and very unprofessional. I am bringing it in to the local dealer so they can verify the gps has been removed. Once I verify it, what can I do?

PS The company later mailed me the Certificate of Title almost one month after payoff in a regular envelope with the extra key in the envelope. On the front of the envelope was written "keys inside". Needless to say when I received the letter it was torn at the bottom and the keys were removed. Now I have extra keys floating around that was in a letter with my address on it and the title exposed due to the letter being ripped. I asked the company to pay for me to re-key the car but they refused to. Anyone out there has any suggestions on what I should do? I'm very upset about this.

Answer 1

You are making a lot of assumptions.  Just because you noticed wires does not mean that that evil dealer came in the still of night and removed the GPS box.  They MAY have, but its not certain.  Add to that, as you said, there is an extra key floating around out there.  Couldn't it be that the person who HAS that extra key came and tried to steal the car, or something in it?  After all, you have no idea where that key is.

If you still have the envelope, hang onto it.  Make an appointment with a lawyer and explain the details to him.  See if he thinks there is grounds to take action.  You can get the car re-keyed, and if there is standing to sue, recoup from the dealer.  Initial consultations with most attorneys are usually free of charge, so you can get some solid advice rather than a bunch of us speculating.

Good luck

Answer 2

Can they?  Sounds like they did, doesn't it?  It also sounds like you were using a 'buy here-pay here' lot, and those type businesses often do things that border on being illegal.

As to the key being mailed, it could be it ripped the envelope going through the machine if they didn't write "Hand Cancel" on the envelope, and it got thrown away.  But I think I would consider changing the key if it were my car.  Talk to any lock smith about the costs of doing that.

You've already asked them about paying for it, and they said no.  You could report them to the agency that licenses car dealers about them removing the GPS, and the chances are they will deny it.  What then?  It will be your word against theirs.  Do you have any proof it was even there to begin with?

I'd drop it, perhaps have the ignition key changed, and move on.  I'd also never use a 'buy here-pay here' lot again.