J.P. Morgan Chase is extending payment relief for its auto customers as the government shutdown stretches into its third week, the company said Tuesday, revising a previously set cut-off date of Jan. 4.
Other auto lenders offering relief include Toyota Financial Services, Ford Credit, Hyundai Capital, GM Financial and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.
Starting Dec. 21, the current government shutdown is the one of the longest in history. Nearly 800,000 federal employees have either been furloughed or have been working without pay after a bipartisan deal to fund the federal government through February was rejected by President Donald Trump's administration.
In its initial statement on the shutdown, Chase said that it will excuse fees incurred from Dec. 24 through Jan. 4, or "until the shutdown ends — whichever is sooner."
Chase stressed in the updated statement that payment relief for affected U.S. government employees extends to all of its auto customers, including those with loans or leases through Chase partners such as Subaru Motors Finance, Mazda Capital Services, Jaguar Financial Group, Land Rover Financial Group and Enterprise Auto Finance.
According to a statement, Chase has worked on an individual basis with affected customers since the shutdown began with their car loans, credit cards and mortgages.
"We want to make sure all our auto customers know to call us if they need help because of the government shutdown," Mark O'Donovan, CEO of Chase Auto, said in the statement.
A special care line, 888-356-0023, is available for those affected.
