CHARLESTON – A man says a Princeton car dealership and a credit union financed a car under his name without his knowledge.
Matthew Belcher filed his complaint May 19 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Ramey Ford Lincoln Princeton LLC and Star USA Federal Credit Union.
According to the complaint, Belcher says a third party signed him as the primary buyer and themselves as a co-buyer on an auto loan for a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee on January 14, 2020. He says the defendants did not verify with him if he wished to enter this agreement, nor did they seek any information for the financing documents from him.
Giatras
Belcher says the third party forged his signature on several documents, falsified his home address and said he was employed by a business where he never had worked.
He says Ramey then processed the loan and assigned it to Star USA, who charged payments against him. The bills addressed to Belcher were sent to a third-party address for a short time, and the third party apparently paid the loan.
Then, he says the third party missed at least 10 payments and late payments. Star USA reported negative information to credit bureaus. Belcher says he never received any calls or notices on the loan. He says he was unaware of the purchase until he saw negative reporting on his credit report.
Earlier this year, Belcher says he sent notices of right to cure to both defendants. But he says the defendants have failed to cure the illegal conduct.
He accuses the defendants of unfair and deceptive acts and practices, false credit reporting, false representation of a debt and oppressive and abusive debt collection publications, all of which are violations of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act. He also accuses them of negligence and unjust enrichment.
Belcher also accuses Star USA of being the assignee of alleged debt under the WVCCPA.
He seeks compensatory damages, court costs, attorney fees, adjustments for inflation, general damages, special damages, statutory damages and punitive damages.
Both defendants have filed answers denying the allegations and seek to have the case dismissed.
Belcher is being represented by Troy Giatras, Matthew Stonestreet and Levi Pellegrin of The Giatras Law Firm in Charleston.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 22-C-395
