***UPDATE*** Honda Leasing Recon Help PLEASE!!!

[iamdetermined]

Hi everyone. I cosigned a leased Honda for my relative 3 years ago. He makes good money, and is financially responsible. He needed a cosigner because his profile wasn't strong enough yet. He had perfect payment history for the life of the lease.

He turned in the car but was never told about the lease turn in-fee, which was less than the monthly payment. *Please keep in mind this is both our first experience with leasing* They did not tell us about it when we signed the contract either. If I knew about it, I would've made sure he took care of it, and he would've the same day.

Honda did attempt to contact him, but he thought it was a telemarketer trying to reel him back in so he didn't follow up<<-- I hold him responsible for not following up...that's neither here nor there at this point. The damage is done.

We found out afterthefact that the dealer is not obligated to tell you about the fee, because they don't collect it. It would be a nice courtesy when you return a car that they tell you to reach out to the finance company to ensure everything is in line.

Well, when the "late" payment reported on day 35, I received alerts from all credit monitoring services, and started panicking. LIVID is an understatement!!!

The salesman is supposedly trying to straighten this out with the finance dept. but we're now in week 2...and I'm still crying. I need the late payment gone!!

My scores all dropped - I am in the LOW 600's across the board now. All of my hard work rebuilding down the drain. I'm scared my CL's will get reduced.... now I can't refi my car, or applying for anything. I truly wanna give up. It's going to take forever to rebound again. I don't have the energy for this.

Does anyone have Honda CEO/recon contact info?? Email preferably. I need to try to recon this. Has anyone experienced this & what was the outcome??

Someone please give me some hope & help (( This is the only derog affecting my CR.

Thank you!

*****UPDATE: HONDA REMOVED THE "LATE" PAYMENT!!! ONLY WAITING FOR EQ TO UPDATE! 

[chelo]

I find it surprising that he did not receive a letter from Honda reminding him about the return date and inspection. Did Honda not send those or did he just discard them?
Have you called Honda financial directly? In my case, although through chrysler, thay kept telling me to wait to make the lease return fee. This was in part because they also wanted to get a vehicle inspection. I got hit with late payment, credit score went down but they cleared it up the next month. They were friendly and even asked if I was going to lease again with them they would wave the return fee.

[iamdetermined]

Thx for responding chelo!

He admitted to ignoring because he thought that he was done with them. He thought it was their sales dept./telemarketers trying to get him to sign a new lease. Nothing in the mail, but ignored emails/voicemails, so yeah, mainly his fault.

Sidebar: I'm upset that they don't reach out to cosigner when negative activity occurs. If I had the heads up this could've been avoided. I take responsibility for not researching the turn-in part of a lease. I learned something new...the hard way.

The inspection was fine, but he's swearing no knowledge of the turn in fee. I believe him because he has great credit now (just bought a house too), and wouldn't risk not paying $350, when he was paying over $450 monthly for the lease.

You are giving me some hope - THANKS! I have not reached out yet, but will tomorrow. I wrote a GW letter as well that I am sending out. Congrats on your success as well!

[Appleman]

Another cautionary tale on many levels. I am sorry you are having to deal with this and hopefully Honda will help.

If you find the original lease documentation it will list all payments and fees, that is the law. Now, most of us do not read it nor can many readily find it at the end of a 3 year lease.

[iamdetermined]

Thank you Appleman, I sure hope Honda will too. I'm going to look over the contract. In my research, it appears that Honda charges the fee when you don't lease a new vehicle with them, otherwise they would've waived it. Makes me wonder how many people have dealt with this issue.

[iamdetermined]

*UPDATE* Honda is pretty much telling us to kick rocks - they're not removing it because it's accurate.

Over the past few days, I've sent certified letters to multiple Honda offices, and now (im)patiently awaiting a response.

I hate to sound redundant but does anyone have any contact information at Honda Finance, or corporate??

[scarfa21]

---

@iamdetermined wrote:
*UPDATE* Honda is pretty much telling us to kick rocks - they're not removing it because it's accurate.

Over the past few days, I've sent certified letters to multiple Honda offices, and now (im)patiently awaiting a response.

I hate to sound redundant but does anyone have any contact information at Honda Finance, or corporate??

---

Just a FYI, as I have Honda lease also, from the website

At your lease end, because you're a valued HFS customer, you'll receive these exclusive benefits:

• $500 Excessive Wear and Use Waiver
• Additional $500 waiver1 for loyal customers2
• $350 turn-in fee waived for loyal customers2
• Automatic Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP)3

And here is the number to call, good luck they can be pricks lol. Gave me a hard time on extending a payment last year.

Dealer did not tell me about the 350 fee either, but as soon as i created my account, it was right there.  I feel thats horrible to pay 350.00 to turn in a car if you dont lease another from them.  No more Hondas for me.

I wish you luck.

1-800-708-6555 

[iamdetermined]

Thank you scarfa21! I only cosigned for the lease, never logged on their site or made a single payment, so I never saw that message lol. It was my relative's car that I was helping out with. I wish I did kniw, would've saved me some tears lol. I agree, they definitely are pricks. I used to praise Honda...Never again! I was actually able to have the late removed & now telling everyone about my experience & their sneaky practice that can affect cosigners )