Ford Motors helps in the relief: customers can defer 2 car payments

[cynatnite]

Ford Motor Credit Company is offering customers affected by Hurricane Katrina the opportunity to defer up to two vehicle payments.

Under the Disaster Relief Program, Ford Credit, Jaguar Credit, Land Rover Capital Group, Mazda American Credit, PRIMUS Financial Services and Volvo Car Finance customers have the opportunity to defer these monthly payments without paying extension fees. The program is open to customers living in counties that FEMA has declared federal disaster areas as a result of the storm.

"Customers living in the path of the storm have enough to worry about," said A.J. Wagner, President of Ford Motor Credit North America. "This program provides customers some breathing room while they rebuild."

Ford Motor Credit customers who are eligible for the Disaster Relief Program should receive letters next week with instructions on how to register. Customers must register within 60 days to qualify. Deferred payments are due at the end of the contract term. Customers who have not received a letter, but believe they qualify, may call the toll-free number listed for their brand to register.

http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/business/press/08/30/4946020/index.html

[eleny]

1. Maybe they should just go and repossess

:sarcasm:

[cynatnite]

5. This is just disgraceful

I couldn't believe it when I read it.

[madeline_con]

2. Gee, do they offer underwater salvage, too?

:crazy:

[madaboutharry]

3. Well, in many cases they won't

have much luck reposesing them.

[growlypants]

4. gee, thanks Ford Motor company. Two whole payments???? Thanks

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. delete

[silverlib]

7. Are they sending the notice to the shelters?

Gee - how to they know where these people now reside?

[gizmo1979]

8. I'd tell them I don't

want it anymore come and get it!

[LiberalFighter]

11. Not that easy...

if they repossess or can't get the car they will still expect the difference after the vehicle is sold.

[txindy]

13. True, but they have to find the car's owner first

And those people have a lot more on their minds then paying Ford.

[gizmo1979]

17. report it stolen.

[cynatnite]

9. Sent this to Raw Story and Huffington Post

I'm so offended by this. I hope they are shamed into doing more. I'm disgusted.

[jackster]

10. I heard a reporter saying this on the news a couple of nights ago

and the anchor fruitlessly try to make the point that since there was no communication and people were just trying to survive that it would almost impossible for people to do this.

The reporter seemed to miss the irony.....

[mcscajun]

12. Hmmm...let's see now...

...the cars are underwater; they'll probably be removed wholesale from the streets and crushed for scrap after the water finally recedes a few months from now. Maybe some VIN records will be kept, maybe not.

Flood-damaged cars won't be covered under most policies with 'Acts of God' clauses.

So, the owners will have no cars, and no insurance to recover, and no address at which to receive mail of any kind.

But gee, Ford will be mailing letters to the owners who are a) dead, b) in shelters, c) in hospitals, or d) permanently relocated out of state. In the cases of both b, c, and d, long-term unemployed as well.

So, Ford figures that a two-month "Disaster Relief Program" will do the trick? And Customers Must Register to Qualify? Yeah, if I was homeless, wiped out, and living in filth, with family members either dead or missing, the first thing I'd be thinking about would be how to make a car payment on a car I may never see again, and can't afford gas for anymore. Yup, I'd be EVER so grateful that Ford cared. :sarcasm:

PS: the last thing lenders want to do is repossess cars, they'd rather harass you to death for the cash. But sure, let them try repossession...Or Collection. Blood...Stone...good luck.

[cynatnite]

14. You reminded me of that bankruptcy bill n/t

[mcscajun]

15. Yup...these folks have slim chances to get anything filed

before the new law takes effect.

If ever a new law needed to be put in abeyance, this is the one. If we can't overturn it, at least they ought to delay its application for one year.

[EC]

16. How come people at these large corps

are so STUPID? Where exactly are they going to deliver those letters to offer them this "great deal"? They really think the people are going to be paying any payments now? What do they have to lose? Besides the fact that their auto insurance should cover this (if the cars are still financed, insurance is a requirement) And if they evacuated, would they admit to still having the car or would they say it was lost in the flood? So SCREW YOU FORD...



(That's a brand I'd never buy anyway, always had transmission problems on all Ford's I've ever owned)

[MadeinOhio]

18. Ford Motors does not care. They are a disgrace.

As usual Ford Motors and its oil buddies are only doing this to prevent civil uprising. :eyes:

Money before well....anything.