Tesla Owner Claims His EV Was Repossessed Because The Automaker Failed To Cash His Check

No one likes having their car repossessed, but if you fall behind on your payments the true ‘owner’ of the car has every right to take it back. However, one Tesla driver claims the automaker electronically disabled his car remotely and then sent a tow truck to recover it despite him paying for the EV in full.

The Incident

Writing on Reddit, u/hmelon explained that a couple of months after he and his dad had purchased a new Tesla he found that the car was immobilized and was demanding a password when he tried to select a gear. He also noticed that he couldn’t log into his Tesla account and that his car was no longer linked to the app on his phone. Unable to get an answer as to what was going on via calls to the automaker outside of working hours, the owner left his car at his own workplace presuming he’d be able to sort the situation out in the morning.

But the owner says that while he was at work the next day his boss informed him that a tow truck had arrived and was attempting to repo his car. He claims that his dad, who had been apparently working out of the country for a couple of months, then received a call from Tesla Financial during which they told him they had been calling and emailing about a missing payment on the car.

The Check Drama

This appears to be true because the Reddit poster’s dad had received a couple of emails from Tesla asking for full payment to be made. But he’d ignored them thinking that they were phishing emails because he’d already paid for the car in full via a combination of bank card and cashier’s check.

So you might be willing to lay some blame on the dad…until you learn that Tesla appears to have suddenly discovered that it had already received the payment, but had not cashed the check. The father and son were subsequently told to pick the car up from the tow yard, but they claim that Tesla offered no compensation or even apology for what appears to be an internal balls-up.

Shoddy Customer Service

We should bear in mind that we only have the poster’s side of the story, but if it’s true, that’s some shoddy customer service, and probably the last time Tesla will get any custom from this family.

Conclusion

The incident described by the Tesla owner raises concerns about the automaker’s customer service and handling of payment issues. While it’s important to note that we only have one side of the story, if the claims are true, it reflects poorly on Tesla’s ability to resolve payment disputes and communicate effectively with its customers.

Repossession is a serious matter, and it should only be carried out after all attempts to resolve payment issues have been exhausted. Disabling a car remotely and sending a tow truck without proper communication and verification of payment status is a drastic measure that can have significant consequences for the owner.

Tesla should take this incident as an opportunity to review its internal processes and improve its customer service. Clear communication channels, timely responses, and proper verification of payment status are essential to avoid such incidents in the future.

As for the Tesla owner, it’s understandable that they feel frustrated and disappointed with their experience. Being caught in a situation where their car was repossessed despite having paid in full is a distressing ordeal. It’s crucial for Tesla to address their concerns and provide appropriate compensation or resolution to regain their trust.

In conclusion, this incident serves as a reminder for both consumers and automakers about the importance of clear communication, transparency, and diligent handling of payment matters. It’s essential for automakers to prioritize customer satisfaction and ensure that such incidents are avoided through effective processes and procedures.