Auto Receivables Trust Agrees to Better Loan Terms for Dan Nelson Customers

Auto Receivables Trust is providing a lower interest rate, $500 off the amount owed, and continued aid to consumers with non-maintenance repairs.

DES MOINES.   Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced today that "Auto Receivables Trust" has agreed to significantly improve the interest rate and other terms of Dan Nelson consumer auto loans that the Trust bought from Nelson's financing company, South Dakota Acceptance Corporation, also known as Car Now Acceptance Company, or CNAC. The Trust purchased the loans from CNAC, and the loans are being serviced by EMCC, Inc.

Miller said the agreement between his office and the Trust will provide better loan terms to about 250 consumers whose auto loans were purchased by the Trust from Dan Nelson's financing company. The improved terms of consumers' loans will be applied automatically. The loans were originated at Nelson dealerships located in Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Sioux City.

"We appreciate the Trust's cooperation in providing better terms for consumers," Miller said.

The Trust's Dan Nelson customers serviced by EMCC, Inc., will benefit in several ways under the agreement:

• The annual interest rate on loans will be cut to 17.95%. (Almost all now are at 24.95%.)
  
  
• The principal amount owed will be reduced by $500 at the end of consumers' loans. (When consumers reach the last $500 in principal owed, their loans will be satisfied and the lien will be released.)
  
  
• EMCC, Inc., will continue its current practice of aiding consumers with non-maintenance repairs to vehicles on a case-by-case basis.
  
  
• All active contracts serviced by EMCC, Inc., will be deemed current. Even if consumers haven't made payments for months, they won't have to pay late fees or past-due interest.

"This will provide significant relief and savings to consumers," Miller said. The agreement applies to vehicles purchased in Iowa, regardless of the buyer's state of residence. South Dakota is expected to conclude a similar agreement on behalf of its consumers.

"Our office will continue to work with other financial institutions that now own loans originated by the Dan Nelson companies, to seek improved loan terms for consumers," Miller said.

The Trust is based in New York, and EMCC, Inc., is based in Pembroke, Mass.

A similar agreement was reached with FSB Financial, Ltd., in September, benefiting about 1100 consumers. Before that, MetaBank agreed to provide improved loan terms to about 1400 customers as well.

Information for consumers:

Consumers do not need to take any steps to participate in the agreement, and the agreement does not take away any private legal rights or remedies of consumers. The terms of consumers' loans will be changed automatically, and a letter is being issued to them with detailed information about the agreement. Consumers will continue making the same payment amount at the same location, but the interest rate reduction and $500 credit will reduce consumers' total payments and shorten the length of loans.

Consumers with questions about the agreement with the Trust may call EMCC, Inc., at 1-866-523-4455. Consumers also may call the Iowa Consumer Protection Division at 888-777-4590 (toll-free) or 515-281-5926. Consumers also may write to the Iowa Consumer Protection Division, 1305 E. Walnut St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319, or send e-mail to consumer@ag.state.ia.us . The Attorney General's web site is www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.org.

Background:

In January, Miller's office sued Dan Nelson Automotive Group, its financing company South Dakota Acceptance Corporation, and business partners Dan Nelson and Chris Tapken. The lawsuit, filed in Polk County District Court, alleged that the defendants engaged in violations of Iowa consumer fraud and consumer credit laws, and engaged in ongoing criminal conduct in connection with their sales of used motor vehicles in the three cities. (Neither the Trust nor EMCC, Inc., is a defendant in the suit.)

The agreement with the Trust does not affect Iowa's consumer fraud lawsuit, which remains pending. "We alleged in our lawsuit that the defendants substantially harmed consumers," Miller said. "They are out of business now, but they still need to be held accountable for the alleged violations."

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