This establishment does not care about its customers and hides its shortcomings. Word to the wise; do not patronize this institution - ever! You will come up short, as I did, because they are rude and do not care about you.
I purchased a vehicle from a local car dealer, and it was financed through TAPCO Credit Union. The balance due was right around $22,800.
On July 4, 2014 I placed into the mailbox a payoff check in the amount stated on the payment coupon.
On or about July 31, I receive a telephone call from TAPCO stating that they had yet to receive my payment. I said that it was probably on someone's desk somewhere, as they should have received it by now. I was told by the representative that this was "impossible" and that "mail is received every day and payments are posted as soon as the envelope is opened". She then proceeded to tally up the current payment amount, which increased by $4.14 per day, tacked on a late charge (it matters not, she said, when the payment is postmarked; they base it on when it is actually received) and told me I could either mail it in (yeah, right) or pay in person.
I chose the second option and went to the office on 19th in Tacoma. The woman behind the counter refused to answer any of my questions and gave me a payoff amount that was different than the one I got over the phone by more than one day's interest ($4.14). I went ahead and paid the total, including the late charge. Then I tried to put this ordeal out of my mind.
I was successful until I received a TAPCO envelope with the original envelope in it, which had been opened and which contained my original check. On the original envelope was scrawled, "I don't know how this ended up in my box"; the original letter was postmarked July 8, 2014 and was likely delivered on the 8th or 10th, within the due date.
When I received this packet from TAPCO there was no refund of any type, no apology no nothing - just a note that said 'thought you might want this back'.
So I went to Facebook to comment on their page, as I have done so here. Same story. A while later, I get a FB message that TAPCO replied to my post - what they did was place a promotional banner at the bottom of the post!
Then, they removed ALL the reviews from their page! Including mine, and several other good and bad reviews.
I still have not received a refund check for the late fees, even though I know they have seen the post on their FB page, and it's pretty much out there in the open that they lied about not having my check ad about the scenario that took place being 'impossible'. They also owe me interest money as far as I am concerned but I doubt they have the ability to figure out how much based on their past (lack of) performance.
The one good thing that has come out of this is that I now can teach my students how NOT to treat customers with a real, local case study... when life hands me a lemon like TAPCO, I can at least make a nice cold pot of lemonade. read more