CONSUMER ALERT: American Car Center Closure May Complicate Consumers’ Ability to Make Payments

Griffin: ‘I advise consumers to continue making their vehicle payments’

LITTLE ROCK – American Car Center’s two dealerships in Arkansas – in Jonesboro and North Little Rock – closed on February 24. Upon learning that many consumers who purchased vehicles from American Car Center have been unable to make their regular loan payments using the company’s payment portal, Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement:

“Westlake Financial Services is purchasing the loans issued by American Car Center. Consumers should expect to hear from Westlake soon and should prepare to pay any required payments from past to present. In the meantime, I advise consumers to continue making their vehicle payments, or setting aside money to make the payments later, even though the dealership you purchased from may have closed down. Payments to Westlake may be made through Westlake’s payment portal on their website.”

Griffin offers these tips to affected consumers:

• Westlake’s website is now live, with the ability for consumers to create an account and pay through a variety of options, including an online payment portal. That website can be found at: https://myaccount.wpmservicing.com/accWelcome/.
• The closure of American Car Center, and the difficulties consumers may have with their loan payments, should not affect the registration of one’s vehicle with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
• However, this loan issue could affect Arkansans’ ability to obtain their vehicle’s title.
• If you are having trouble obtaining the title of a vehicle you paid for, please file a consumer complaint with the Office of the Attorney General.
• For other matters relating to the closure of American Car Center, consumers should consult a private attorney to determine their rights and whether further legal action is necessary.
• There is a potential for scammers to use the closure of American Car Center to elicit sensitive personal information from consumers. While consumers should openly communicate with Westlake, they should also be on the lookout for scammers who might impersonate Westlake. Consumers should not disclose sensitive personal information such as bank account numbers, birthdays or social security numbers, unless they are confident, they are connected to Westlake.

For more information about the closure of American Car Center or other consumer-related issues, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at Suite 200, 323 Center Street, Little Rock, AR 72201.  The office can be reached by calling (501) 682-2007 (Little Rock) or (800) 482-8982. The web address is www.arkansasag.gov.

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