(866) 381-7701

Calling after hours daily

Call after legal hours.constant harassment

I called Fireside after receiving two phone calls at around 5 am (which is illegal, no one can call before eight). The call was intended for the person who previously owned my telephone number. The same female who left me a message answered the phone, I told her I was angry about the repeated early morning calls and informed her that the person she was looking for had changed their number. The female then told me that she was not the same person who called, an obvious lie (she has a distinctive voice). Furthermore, when I called I had entered the extension number left on my voicemail and I had been connected with her. She then accused me of being or knowing the person she was looking for. I said I was not and did not know the person, she began to yell at me and then hung up on me. I called back, a male answered, I asked to speak to his manager/supervisor. I was put on hold and then the same guy picked up (now pretending to be a supervisor). I asked his name, it was Mike Arvizu. He told me "I have your name you have mine." I think he w attempting to intimidate me. I Laughed and Informed him that I had never given him my name. He already knew about my previous conversation with the female (probably because their is only two employees, sitting next to each other). Mike Arvizu is a "Collateral Recovery Supervisor at Fireside Bank." After a heated conversation he rudely described himself as a "car repo-man." I laughed at his profession and he became more agitated. I hung up I now knew all I needed.

Mike Arvizu attended Arroyo High School in and Rio Hondo Community College in Whittier, CA (outside LA). He now lives in Glendale, Arizona. Historically, Arvizu is a Basque name from the Spanish/French peninsula, however I believe he is hispanic. More information can be found about Michael Arvizu here: http://pipl.com/search/?FirstName=michael&LastName=arvizu&City=Glendale&State=AZ&Country=US&CategoryID=2&Interface=1

According to their website, Fireside is a subprime auto loan provider. As of 3/24/2009, they are not making loans anymore (http://www.firesidebank.com/AboutUs.aspx). It appears they did not survive the recent banking meltdown. I assume a skeleton workforce remains, attempting to salvage what capitol they can.

What this means to you: Fireside only provided sub prime car loans for extremely high interests rates. They are basically the automotive equivalent to the sub prime housing loans that destroyed the US economy (followed by the worlds economy). Fireside's key demographic is low income and minority car buyers. They use high pressure and legally questionable practices for collecting unpaid (and overpriced) loans because they are betting their customers do not know their rights and/or are too poor to higher an attorney. They appear to have gone out of business and are trying to recoup some losses or have sold the rights of their outstanding loans to a third party.

Here is a link to YOUR RIGHTS, provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a government agency which enforces consumer protections laws like the “unfair and deceptive acts or practices" (1938): http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

Good luck,