What Is Westlake Financial Services?
Westlake Financial Services is a legitimate auto finance company operating under Westlake Services LLC and focused primarily on subprime auto lending. Founded in 1988, it typically acquires auto loans originated at dealerships and then services those loans directly, including handling payments, delinquencies, collections, and repossessions.
However, its regulatory history shows serious enforcement action. In a 2015 CFPB consent order, Westlake agreed to findings that it engaged in deceptive practices, including false threats of criminal prosecution and improper disclosure of borrower information to third parties such as employers and family members.
The company markets itself as a fast and simple financing provider, but its enforcement record reflects past conduct that drew federal scrutiny for violating consumer protection standards.
In our practice, we see Westlake-related cases regularly, and the defining characteristic is aggressive collection activity often with a technical or procedural twist that consumers don’t immediately recognize as illegal.
Verified Company Information
- Full Legal Name: Westlake Services, LLC d/b/a Westlake Financial Services, LLC
- Founded: 1988
- BBB File Opened: On record with BBB
- BBB Accredited: No
- Headquarters: 4751 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90010
- Phone: (888) 739-9192
- Website: West Lake Financial
- Business Type: Indirect auto finance company / subprime auto loan servicer
- CFPB Enforcement Action: $44.1 million consumer relief + $4.25 million civil penalty (September 2015)
- TCPA Class Action Settlement: $10 million (resolved)
- Federal Litigation: Multiple documented cases across multiple districts
View Westlake Financial Services BBB Profile
What Industries Does Westlake Financial Services Collect For?
Westlake Financial Services is an auto finance company that primarily services subprime vehicle loans through dealership-originated financing. It also operates Wilshire Consumer Credit for auto title lending. Because it often purchases loans from dealerships, many consumers end up with Westlake as their loan servicer without directly choosing it. This is why contact from Westlake can sometimes be unexpected or confusing for borrowers.
In our practice, clients who receive calls from Westlake are almost always dealing with an auto loan whether it is a loan they know about and fell behind on, a loan they paid off but have documentation disputes over, or in some cases a loan that was sold to Westlake after a prior servicer transferred it.
Why Is Westlake Financial Services Calling Me?
What Do BBB Complaints Against Westlake Financial Services Say?
The BBB has received numerous complaints against Westlake Financial Services, with consumers reporting a consistent set of problems across billing, communication, and repossession practices.
View Westlake Financial Services BBB Complaints
Three complaint patterns stand out:
Complaint 1: Wrongful Repossession Without Proper Notice: Multiple consumers report having their vehicles repossessed by Westlake without receiving proper advance notice, or after making a payment that was not timely processed. In some cases, consumers report that Westlake repossessed the vehicle and then demanded a reinstatement amount that did not match what they were told previously. This pattern is particularly troubling under the California Rosenthal Act, which like the FDCPA prohibits false or misleading representations about the amount owed or required for reinstatement.
Complaint 2: Inaccurate Credit Reporting After Payoff: Consumers report paying off their auto loans in full only to find that Westlake continued reporting the account as delinquent or failed to provide a lien release in a timely manner. One category of complaint describes consumers whose vehicle titles remain encumbered with Westlake’s lien months after the loan was paid, preventing them from selling or refinancing. Continued negative reporting after a paid account is an FCRA violation.
Complaint 3: Third-Party Disclosure of Loan Information: Consistent with the pattern documented by the CFPB, consumers report Westlake collectors disclosing their loan status and balance information to employers, family members, or neighbors. FDCPA § 805(b) prohibits communicating with third parties about a consumer’s debt except under very narrow circumstances. In our practice, third-party disclosure cases are among the most emotionally damaging violations, the harm is often irreversible once a coworker or family member has been told about a debt.
What Does the CFPB Record Show About Westlake Financial Services?
The CFPB’s record on Westlake Financial Services is not limited to complaints, it includes a formal enforcement action with a consent order signed in September 2015. That consent order documents specific findings about Westlake’s collection practices and required the company to overhaul its operations and pay $44.1 million to affected borrowers.
Key CFPB findings include:
Spoofed Caller IDs Across 137,000+ Accounts: Since January 2010, Westlake and Wilshire used Skip Tracy to place calls associated with over 137,000 loan accounts using false caller ID information. Collectors could choose what number appeared on the recipient’s phone including numbers that appeared to belong to repossession companies, third parties, or even the consumers’ own family and friends. Under FDCPA § 807, misrepresenting the identity of the caller is a prohibited false or misleading representation.
False Threats of Criminal Prosecution: Westlake collectors falsely threatened to refer borrowers for investigation or criminal prosecution for failing to make auto loan payments. Threatening criminal prosecution to collect a civil consumer debt is a clear violation of FDCPA § 807(4), which prohibits the threat of any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken.
Third-Party Disclosure of Loan Information: Westlake collectors disclosed borrowers’ loan details including balances and delinquency status to employers, friends, and family members. Each such disclosure is an independent FDCPA § 805(b) violation. In our practice, this category of violation generates significant actual damages beyond the $1,000 statutory cap.
Misrepresentation of Reinstatement Amounts: The CFPB found that Westlake misrepresented the payment amount required to release a repossessed vehicle, and in some cases falsely told borrowers their vehicles were about to be repossessed to create urgency when no repossession was imminent.
Consumer Reviews and Platform Reports
Consumer complaints about Westlake Financial appear across PissedConsumer, Google Reviews, Yelp, and the BBB reviews page, where the company maintains one of the lower-rated profiles among auto lenders.
View Westlake Financial Services Consumer Reviews on BBB
“Westlake called my boss pretending to be someone else â not a debt collector. My manager pulled me aside to ask about it. That was the most humiliating experience of my life. The car was only two weeks past due. I called them back immediately and they acted like they had no idea what I was talking about.” â Consumer complaint, PissedConsumer
“They told me my car was going to be repossessed that night if I didn’t pay immediately. I panicked and paid everything I could. The car wasn’t repossessed that night or the next week. They just wanted me to pay fast. I felt tricked.” â Consumer complaint, BBB Reviews
These accounts reflect precisely the pattern documented by the CFPB: manufactured urgency, misrepresented identity, and coercion through false information. What our clients tell us about Westlake is that the calls feel more threatening than typical collection contacts and the CFPB enforcement record explains why.
Has Westlake Financial Services Been Sued?
Yes. Westlake has been subject to major federal enforcement and has appeared in multiple federal civil cases.
Case 2: TCPA Class Action: $10 Million Settlement
Forum: Federal Court (Settlement Class Action)
What Happened: A class action lawsuit alleged that Westlake Services, LLC violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by placing calls to consumers’ cell phones using an automatic telephone dialing system and/or prerecorded or artificial voice without the prior express consent of the consumers called. The class period covered calls made between January 11, 2012, and November 7, 2013.
Outcome: Westlake agreed to create a $10 million settlement fund, distributed pro rata to eligible class members who filed claims.
Source: TCPA Class Action Settlement Details
The TCPA settlement confirms that Westlake’s unlawful use of automated calling systems was systemic enough to support class treatment. A company that settles a TCPA class for $10 million placed unauthorized autodialed calls at volume. Consumers who are currently receiving automated calls from Westlake without having consented should document those calls each unauthorized call is worth $500 to $1,500 in statutory damages.
Source: Wittaya Theerachanon v. Westlake Financial Services
What Calling Tactics Has Westlake Financial Services Used?
Spoofed Caller ID and False Identity
The CFPB documented that Westlake collectors used Skip Tracy to display fabricated caller ID information including numbers appearing to belong to repossession agents, friends, and family members. When a consumer sees a familiar number and picks up to find a debt collector, the element of surprise and psychological pressure is significantly amplified. Under FDCPA § 807, this conduct constitutes a false or misleading representation in connection with the collection of a debt.
False Threats of Criminal Prosecution
Westlake collectors threatened borrowers with criminal referral and investigation for failing to make auto loan payments. Non-payment of a consumer debt is a civil matter, it is not a crime. Threatening criminal prosecution to coerce payment is prohibited under FDCPA § 807(4) and the California Rosenthal Act. Each such threat is an independent violation worth up to $1,000 in statutory damages.
Unauthorized Robocalls to Cell Phones
Westlake’s $10 million TCPA settlement confirms that the company placed autodialed and prerecorded calls to consumers’ cell phones without consent at scale. Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, each such call generates $500 to $1,500 in statutory damages. Consumers who revoke consent must do so clearly, and Westlake must stop all automated contact immediately upon revocation.
Third-Party Disclosure of Loan Information
Westlake collectors disclosed loan status and delinquency information to employers, friends, and family members. Beyond the legal violation under FDCPA § 805(b), this practice causes significant real-world harm, lost jobs, strained relationships, and public humiliation. Actual damages in third-party disclosure cases often exceed the $1,000 FDCPA statutory cap.
What Are Your Rights Against Westlake Financial Services?
Your Rights Under the FDCPA
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits the exact tactics documented against Westlake. Collectors cannot misrepresent who is calling, cannot threaten criminal prosecution for civil debts, cannot disclose your debt to employers or family, and cannot call more than 7 times in 7 days for a single account. Calls are restricted to 8:00 AMâ9:00 PM local time. You have the right to send a cease-and-desist letter demanding all contact stop, and a debt validation letter requiring them to verify the debt in writing. FDCPA violations carry damages of up to $1,000 statutory, plus actual damages and attorney fees with Westlake paying your legal costs if they lose.
Your Rights Under the TCPA
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act requires Westlake to obtain your prior express consent before placing autodialed or prerecorded calls to your cell phone. If you received automated calls without consent or after revoking consent each call is worth $500 to $1,500 in statutory damages.
Your Rights Under the FCRA
The Fair Credit Reporting Act prevents Westlake from reporting inaccurate information to credit bureaus, re-aging debt to extend its 7-year reporting window, or continuing to report a paid loan as active. If Westlake has furnished incorrect information to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, you have the right to dispute it, triggering a 30-day investigation obligation.
Your Rights Under California’s Rosenthal Act
Because Westlake is headquartered in California, the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (California Civil Code § 1788 et seq.) applies. Unlike the federal FDCPA, California’s Rosenthal Act applies to original creditors collecting their own debts in addition to third-party collectors. The Rosenthal Act mirrors FDCPA prohibitions on harassment, false statements, and unfair practices, with the addition of California-specific remedies including actual damages, statutory damages, and attorney fees.
California Civil Code § 1788 (Rosenthal Act)
How to Stop Westlake Financial Services From Calling You
Step 1: Document Every Contact
Screenshot your call log immediately. Record the date, time, and number for every Westlake call. Save all voicemails. Note whether any call came from a number that did not appear to be Westlake’s known line (888-739-9192) that discrepancy matters given Westlake’s documented history with spoofed caller IDs. What our clients tell us is that the first week of documentation is almost always the most important: the pattern of call frequency, timing, and number variation establishes the strongest foundation for any legal claim.
Step 2: Send a Cease-and-Desist Letter
You have the legal right to demand that Westlake stop contacting you. Send a cease-and-desist letter via certified mail with return receipt to:
Westlake Services, LLC / Westlake Financial Services 4751 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Every call after confirmed delivery is an independent FDCPA § 805(c) violation.
Step 3: Request Debt Validation
Send a written debt validation letter within 30 days of first contact, demanding proof of the amount owed, the original creditor’s identity, and documentation of Westlake’s authority to collect. Under FDCPA § 809(b), all collection activity must pause after they receive your validation request until they provide verification.
Step 4: File Complaints
- CFPB
- FTC
- California Attorney General
- BBB
Step 5: Contact Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC
Call us at (877) 700-5790 or submit a free case review online. We handle FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA cases on a contingency basis, no upfront cost. Under FDCPA fee-shifting, Westlake pays your attorney fees when they violate the law..
Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC
Consumer Rights Law Firm PLLC is a law firm that specializes in helping clients who are facing harassment from debt collectors. If you suspect that your debt collection rights are being trampled upon, contact our office to begin the process to stop the harassment you may currently be receiving from Westlake Financial Services. Our office has been assisting consumers since 2010, and we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Call us at (877) 700-5790Â for immediate assistance.
Success Stories
- Consumer Rights Law Firm is amazing! Derek was A+ all the way getting a Debtor to stop harassing me & even had them pay the court costs & fees! I am flabbergasted- had to pinch myself even!!! Thank you SO much Derek! Would most definitely recommend this firm to anyone who is going through the same thing. Give them a call!
- Consumer Rights Law Firm was excellent to work with! They are very professional, knowledgeable, timely, and thorough. From submitting the online consultation form to signing a settlement offer took only 20 days. I highly recommend them!
- I would highly recommend this law firm! They dealt with my claim very quickly and kept in communication. I wasnât asked to pay any money for their services. Scott my representative was very professional and helpful!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Westlake Financial Services allowed to harass me?
No. Debt collectors must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits harassment and abusive conduct.
2. What counts as harassment by Westlake Financial Services?
Repeated calls, threats, abusive language, misleading statements, or calling at odd hours may be considered harassment.
3. Can Westlake Financial Services call me multiple times a day?
No. Excessive calls meant to pressure or annoy you may violate federal law.
4. Can Westlake Financial Services contact my family or employer?
They may only contact third parties to locate you and cannot discuss your debt.
5. Can Westlake Financial Services threaten legal action?
Only if they genuinely intend to take legal action. False threats are illegal.
6. What hours can Westlake Financial Services legally call me?
They cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time.
7. Can I request written proof of the debt from Westlake Financial Services?
Yes. You have the right to request written debt validation within 30 days.
8. Can Westlake Financial Services report my debt to credit bureaus?
Yes, but the information must be accurate and not misleading.
9. How can I stop calls from Westlake Financial Services?
You can request written communication only or seek legal help if harassment continues.
10. What should I do if Westlake Financial Services violates the law?
You may be entitled to compensation by contacting a consumer rights attorney.
