I used to refer people to CAFCU all the time, then I learned that there wasn't much "family" meaning with the name of this banking union. What others have said is true - all loans are tied together, especially if you have a car loan. I was going through a hard time in life a few years back - I continued to pay my car note every single month. I was not able to pay my CC bills, here, or most of my other ones, but was working on solutions to move forward. CAFCU would call a few times, "its important to call us back" - well, sure, it is the same thing every debt collector says, so I did not return their call. Fast forward about two months. I have continued to pay the car loan with CAFCU, and have started making progress on other debts. The CAFCU CC was next to get paid. Well, one morning I wake up... and my one car that is financed through them is gone from driveway. POOF. Gone. Repo'd. I couldn't believe it. The car I'd pay for EVERY month, not even late once, and they came and took it. After some $800 or so later, I had my car back. The reps never said on their vague collection calls, "please call us back, this could ALSO impact your car loan with us", or anything hinting whatsoever at the possibility of my car being at issue / being taken away from me - but I learned that the hard way. That was the first time it was known that they really don't care about their members, nor the expenses for their firm, if that is how they want to spend money repo'ing cars that are being paid on.
The next time occurred about 2 years later.... I filed for Chapter 13 (TO PAY MY DEBTS), which I did that for about 2 years, but was going through a divorce, then paying child support, and expensive legal fees, thus I voluntarily dismissed the Ch13 case. CAFCU dinged (hard ran) my credit soon after that, like some creditors do. I called up immediately, "Hello, yes - can I set up a payment plan?", "oh sorry, this is going to an attorney..." - "oh.... ok, can you have him / her contact me to discuss settling this?", "oh sure, they will contact you." I later come to find I have been sued some 8 months later. No letters, nothing. No service. Again, who could feasibly want to be a member here with how they treat people, and in this case following my bankruptcy, what a colossal waste of money with a client who WANTS TO PAY... simply unbelievable. Had referred friends and coworkers here for years, will no longer do as such. read more