Fifth Third Bank ripoff Installment Loan Keeping my car hostage Internet

I fell into default in my car loan with fifth third bank (45 days) and they repossessed my car on 12/15/06. I contacted the bank, and made my payments current on 12/19/06. Since this point, it has been a nightmare. Originally, the car was taken to Hammond, IN, to be held at the repo lot. After I made the payments current, the car was sent to the Greater Chicago Auto Auction. After numerous phone calls to the bank, I find out the car is now at the Kansas City Auto Auction. Keep in mind that my payments are still up to date. Every time I have contacted their customer service number, I have gotten conflicting information. The bank kept telling me to contact the repo lot, which in turn, told me that the bank directed them to bring the car to the Greater Chicago Auto Auction.


I kept getting told to wait three to five business days to have the release for the car signed and returned by the Greater Chicago Auto Auction. Well, after waiting for almost a month to get my car back, on 1/17/07 (today) I am told that the car is at the Kansas City Auto Auction, and that I have to contact them. I am also told that my next payment is due 1/20/07. After all of this frustration, I told the bank that I am not making this payment to them, because I have gotten the runaround for the past month on the whereabouts of my car. This has been a total nightmare. I refuse to pay for a service which I am not receiving. I will never do business with this bank again, and I advise anyone that is considering doing so, not to. I feel like my car is being held hostage, even though I am current on the payments. Both the repo lot as well as the Greater Chicago Auto Auction have told me that this isn't the first time that they have seen Fifth Third Bank screw somebody around like this.

Dan
Manhattan, Illinois
U.S.A.