Mariner Finance, LLC is a consumer loan provider based in Maryland. Mariner has received many consumer complaints, some of which allege violations of consumer laws, including illegal communication tactics and failing to verify debts. If you have been contacted by Mariner, make sure you understand your rights before taking action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Mariner Finance, LLC is a legitimate loan provider founded in 2002. The BBB established Mariner’s profile page in 2005. The BBB lists Mariner under several business categories, including loan and banking services, investment advisory services, mortgage brokerages, and financial services. Mariner uses the alternate business names Pioneer Credit Company and Sunbelt Credit Holdings. Buzzfile estimates Mariner’s annual revenue at $11.2 million.
According to its website, Mariner was founded “by a group of financial experts with a common goal: to apply their wealth of knowledge to serve the specific financial needs of each customer.” Mariner’s staff of financial professionals“work with [consumers] to create a solution that fits” their specific needs, rather than issuing loans only to borrowers who qualify according to established standards.
Mariner offers loans in three general areas—personal loans, auto loans, and home loans. Their personal loan division offers loans for debt consolidation, unexpected expenses, home improvement, vacations, and weddings. Mariner’s auto finance division offers loans to refinance existing loans, or for the purchase of new or used vehicles. Their home loan division accepts applications for first-time home purchases, home refinancing, reverse mortgages, and additional options for underwater mortgages and mobile homes.
Mariner issues loans for a minimum amount of $1,000 to a maximum amount of $25,000, depending on the state in which the loan is issued. Mariner describes itself as a consumer finance company that is not affiliated with Mariner Bank. Mariner reports directly to Equifax and Transunion credit reporting agencies. Mariner’s Resource page offers information about how to apply and how to make payments, but there are no references to consumer protection or financial regulatory laws or agencies.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
The BBB has closed 162 complaints against Mariner Finance in the preceding three years, with 57 closed in the past 12 months. Complaints are fairly evenly split among those alleging problems with billing and collections; advertising and sales; and customer service. Since March 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 84 complaints against Mariner, and Justia lists at least 5 cases of civil litigation involving Mariner Finance.
Absolutely. Here are some Sample Cases filed in Federal Court
In May 2016, in the Appellate Division of Superior Court of New Jersey, a plaintiff appealed a previous denial of her claim against Mariner in their attempt to recover the unpaid portion of a defaulted auto loan. Initially, in August 2010, the plaintiff issued a promissory note secured by her car and payable to Mariner Finace in return for a loan of $7,745.75. In March 2012, the plaintiff defaulted on the loan. The promissory note provided that if any installment was not paid when due, the remaining balance would become due immediately, with a penalty of 21% interest attached. On default, the plaintiff owed $2,378.50. Mariner filed suit to collect the defaulted amount. The plaintiff failed to answer the complaint, so a judgement in favor of Mariner was entered. Subsequently, the plaintiff entered a claim challenging the default judgement, but the judge rejected it, directing the plaintiff to refile the complaint as “an actual counterclaim in the Special Civil Part matter.” The judge provided additional instructions; specifically, that the plaintiff’s “‘counterclaim will only be filed by the court if her motion to vacate default is granted…[and] that ‘[i]n the event default is not vacated, [the plaintiff] may file a new complaint under a new docket number with the proper filing fee.’” Unfortunately, the plaintiff failed to file the counterclaim as instructed, and Mariner obtained a default judgement in the amount of $2,480.07.
Next, in February 2014, the plaintiff filed a new complaint asserting “that her car had broken down and that she wanted Mariner to repossess it in order to relieve her of future payments under the loan,” to which Mariner Finace replied with a complaint seeking summary judgement of sanctions for filing a frivolous complaint. The judge denied the plaintiff’s complaint, granted Mariner’s request for summary judgement but denied their request for sanctions, then dismissed the matter. The plaintiff filed for reconsideration, which was denied. The plaintiff again appealed this decision. The May 2016 hearing considered this appeal. Ultimately, all of the previous decisions were upheld, citing the plaintiff’s failure to have followed the directions of the judge with regard to filing her counterclaim and her subsequent demonstration of a “clear abuse of discretion.”
Mariner Finance, LLC
8211 Town Center Drive
Nottingham, MD 21236
Telephone:(844) 338-2080
Website: http://www.marinerfinance.com/
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
But here’s the rub: If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. These laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
You may have a case, if…
“With your help the nagging collection calls have ceased! I was thrilled I was also able to get damages from the collection agency. I am unable to adequately express my joy. I am so thankful I made the call.”
“I would recommend your company to anyone. You have the debt collectors off my back, and I will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout the entire procedure your employees were courteous and professional. I was blown away by their efficacy also.
“After speaking to one of the partners, and going over the plan of action, I felt I’d chose the perfect company to go to work for me. He was very accommodating in describing what was going to happen. I would strongly recommend Lemberg Law to anybody being hassled by debt collectors”
Chances are good that we can help. Call us today and we’ll explain.
In short, the answer is yes. Contact us to find out more.
Share your story
Have you had a bad experience with this agency’s debt collectors? Sound off and share your experience with other visitors in the comment box below.
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
See more posts from Sergei Lemberg
This company is a complete scam, not only did they not send me statements but when I advised I couldn’t make payments during the pandemic they warned me that they wouldn’t except mailed payments and only in person. I refused to go in person because of the pandemic. They closed my online portal to make payments and then charged my account off. Now I have them calling and harassing me and adding late fees to my account but still won’t send me a payment.
Marine finance had my debt sent to a collection agency to settle the account for 2,500 dollars and I received a lien release from them but then I looked on my credit report and it said I still owe them 1,000 dollars and the balance goes up every month ruining my credit. If the account was settled how can I owe them money? I disputed my credit twice and Marine finance said I owed them the due balance. When I talked to the collection agency they recorded the phone calls stating that my debt settled.
I will need to call them tomorrow but curious if anyone has had this happen. I have been in the process of rebuilding after some rough times, so I watch everything very closely. Today I received two letters from Mariner Finance both date 10/26/2019. These letters were exactly the same, advising me that they were unable to approve my apply for credit. I never applied for credit with them. In fact the last time I applied for anything was back in July when I purchased a car and I only applied with Capital One. I also have no inquiries listed on either bureau. If anyone has heard or experienced this with Mariner Finance and have some insight as to why, I’d appreciate any information. Thanks!
Theyre liars and employ the most incompetent people ever!!!!!! I got behind on 1 payment ($80) paid it along with a partial payment for the current month ($96 in total) and they put a freeze on my bank account because when I made the payment the “person”who took my payment over the phone never informed their legal dept I made the payment. So $96 has caused my account to be over drafted double what I owed them and they still got paid.
Mariner illegally pulled my credit, they gave my son a loan and pulled my credit file. I have been given the run around in trying to have the hard inquiry removed. My only choice may be to take firm legal action against them as I have great credit and am in the middle of the final stages of a new home purchase, this illegal hard inquiry may affect my interest rate. I have never had a loan through them, never applied and never will.
We have defaulted on our loan and Mariner is currently trying to sue, Mariner finance is demanding a 900 dollar payment, and will not accept anything less. They have been calling my fiances employers and her personal phone threatening legal punishments, including garnishment and jail time. She has done nothing to deserve jail time, being late on a loan payment is not punishable with jail time. I just need legal advice because these asshats are impossible to deal with.
I went to apply for a loan at mariner finance recently. I told this person let’s not waste each other time.i ask her do I need good credit to get a loan because I seen a ad on there web site saying loans for good, fair and bad credit.she said we don’t go by credit report.we go by income to debt.she have me a call later that day said I need a co signer.i got a cosigner.they ran our credit.waited 5 days for a answer.i finally had to call and I was turned down for a loan because of our credit.this woman lied to me from the start.there and plainly says loans for people with bad credit.please help.
The People versus Mariner
It is very oppressive to deal with Mariner. I have been experiencing illegal communication tactics, unfair debt collection methods, shrewd accounting practices and evasive customer service with Mariner.
unfair debt collection practices
Both me and my daughter were sick. I explained to the company my daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She oftentimes left home and also went missing. The cops had to find her each time she left home. I was also due for a surgery for multiple tumors. I did not have a job for months on end after paying through my nose each month I paid $76 even when I wasn’t sure where my rent money was coming from. A Mariner agent came to my door several times and
After, I defaulted on a Mariner Loan and they took me to court, the payment they agreed on with me in court was applied as late charges. Even till this day!! And this is well over a year. I have solid proof: the court documents as well as the records the company sent me from their Baltimore office.
When I was paying them online, I compared them with other companies I paid online. Mariner was the only Loan Company I know who charge the customers two dollars each time the customers use their website to pay a monthly installment. On the other end, Mariner won’t allow customers to pay online on their website once the customer defaults on the loan (even after they took me to court and made payment agreement with me).
For Mariner, the law is a crooked and very winding one way street! Mariner knows how to manipulate the strings of the credit reporting agency and the state laws regarding who qualifies for insurance for their loans. So a 1,200 to 1,500 dollar loan, total repayment to Mariner is well over $5,000.
When I mailed in my payment to their Frederick office, one week early, I called the rep in Frederick and she confirmed my payment was received early. But one week later, the shrewd rep in their Baltimore office called and asked me where my payment for that said month. I realize I couldn’t trust this company, so I decided to pay them through my Wells Fargo account so I will have a third party method to verify my payments. When I paid through my Wells Fargo bank account, the company’s rep in their Baltimore office behaved very shrewdly. She sent me a long list with my payments all recorded as late fees thus resulting in my account balance going nowhere after a year or more following the court date.
embarrassed me. She left a yellow notice with printed information hanging on my door knob for my neighbors to see.
Mariner took me to court. After the court date, even without a job, I borrowed money from a relative and paid Mariner one week early, through my Wells Fargo bank account to this date. The company continued to report my payments as seriously delinquent to this date. I contacted the agent in Baltimore who called me asking about my payments. She sent me a long list of my payment history. The list shows my payments as late every single month since the court appearance. My Wells Fargo bank records can refute this because it is the empirical evidence that I have more than obeyed the court ruling in their favor by always paying Mariner early. I have solid proof of payment from my Wells Fargo bank account.
I requested the records because I have no way of knowing how much I owe them after making monthly payments. You don’t know how they are applying your payments. With their unclean tactics, you will never finish repaying this highly unethical company. Their practices are highly unethical, so unclean and way outside the bounds of reason!