A DRIVER has claimed she was left with a large car loan but couldn’t even get the title for the vehicle she believed she’d paid off.
Susan Noble, a nurse and single mother, financed her car through a dealership called Autosmart in New Jersey, but says it only left her with two car loans totaling over $50,000.
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She claims the dealer failed to pay off her original loan as promised.
Autosmart allegedly kept making the monthly payments instead of paying off the first loan when she refinanced through them, leaving her on the hook for both, Noble told NBC 10.
The dealership has since become the subject of a police investigation but it’s unclear if it is linked to Noble’s complaints.
“No charges have been filed,” the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Noble said she first bought a used car from Autosmart in September 2024.
“They said they would work with me to get the monthly payment that I wanted at the price I wanted … they said, ‘You can buy the car and in a couple of months you can refinance with us,'” she told NBC 10.
Noble financed the purchase with American Credit Acceptance (ACA) and went back months later as planned to refinance.
“They said they sent the payoff check to the first company that I financed with,” she said.
However, the ACA started texting Noble, claiming her monthly payment was due and she found that the first payoff payment had never been made.
Worse still, she couldn’t get the title to her car, she claims.
“They didn’t actually do it, but they continued to make monthly payments on my behalf,” she added.
The nurse said it has now left her with two car loans in her name totaling over $50,000 – damaging her plans to buy a home.
She said: “They know how hard I work. They know that I’m a nurse, they know I’m a single mom … for them to do this to me is just unconscionable.”
When the company were chased on the payment, they said it would be made in 10 ten day but it never happened.
Additionally, it was revealed that Autosmart holds an “F” rating on the Better Business Bureau, with 27 complaints filed against the dealership.
One complaint, from April 2025, said: “I traded in my 2021 Kia Seltos in December of 2023 and that car loan has not been settled.
“We signed a contract stating that they would pay the loan off. The company has been paying monthly until January 2025.
“I have been calling and seeing why that loan hasn’t been paid. The loan has defaulted which has severely damaged my credit score along with the loan company seeking the vehicle and or payoff.”
Noble says what happened may be an honest mix-up, but claims it could also be a sign of a serious mismanagement of funds and fraud.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the ACA for a comment.
Autosmart has not been determined to be a “scam” despite the ongoing investigation.
LOAN SCAM 101
The Federal Trade Commission warn drivers that scammers work by offering lower payments on an auto loan, but then request an advance payment.
Or they ask for loan payments to be made directly to them, saying they’ll be the ones to pay the lender while they negotiate a deal.
The FTC added: “In reality, scam refinancers aren’t negotiating with your lender or anyone else.
“If you make your monthly car payments to the refinancer instead of your lender, those payments will likely go straight into the scammer’s pockets – not to repay your loan.
“You may only find out about the fraud when your lender contacts you about missed payments, or your car is repossessed.”
Consumers are urged to be cautious, read the fine print and research dealerships and lenders before financing a car.
How to avoid a contractor scam
Tips to avoid being scammed into a driveway, sidewalk, or walkway job:
Just because someone shows up at your door wearing a reflective vest, a hard hat, and work boots does not mean they come from a reputable contracting company.
A scammer may tell you they could do a driveway, walkway, or sidewalk repaving for much cheaper than the previous contractor told you, appealing to homeowners looking to save thousands on home repairs.
Before writing a check or paying cash for what seems like an offer that’s too good to be true, here are some tips to ensure it’s not a scam.
- Get three quotes from three different companies to see the variation in pricing.
- Never pay in advance. A reputable company will not take money upfront, as prices vary by the job, and complications can raise the price.
- Ask for a contractor license. In many states, if you ask to see their license, contractors are legally obligated to present it.
- Avoid door-to-door salesmen who say they’re in the area doing work. Many times, they’ll take a deposit and never show.
- Avoid paying by cashier’s check, cash, or via wire transfer. Paying with a credit card is the easiest way to dispute it if it is a scam.
- Keep communication in writing, such as email or text, to help protect you if things need to be handled legally and a police report is needed.
- Don’t feel pressured to make an immediate decision. Sometimes scammers will create a sense of urgency, but it’s important to take a step back and do some research.
Read more here.
