U.S. consumers are falling behind on their auto loans at historic rates. Our journalists want to learn more about this industry and understand the causes and consequences of the surge in delinquencies.

Many struggling car owners have “subprime” loans, in which people with poor credit scores agree to pay higher-than-normal interest rates to qualify. When these borrowers face tough times, lenders sometimes give them the option to move payments to a later date — a practice known as “extending” or “deferring” the loan.

Lenders aren’t always up front about the true cost of these deferrals. As part of our investigation into Exeter Finance, one of the nation’s largest subprime lenders, we talked to dozens of customers who felt deceived by the company’s deferment practices.

Faced with thousands of dollars of unexpected debt at the end of their loans, some had no choice but to surrender their cars — even if they’d satisfied the original terms of their contracts. (In a statement, Exeter said it follows all relevant laws and is “fully committed to transparency in its lending practices.”)

In recent years, regulators have sued lenders, accusing them of issuing loans they knew consumers would fail to pay back. State attorneys general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have also called out lenders, saying they are inflating the prices of cars and failing to clearly explain how much interest is due over the life of loans.

We think there are lots of stories to tell about this industry — about companies, regulators, borrowers’ rights and more. To do the best possible journalism, we need to hear from people who know it well. Do you work for a subprime lender — in customer service, collections, loan funding, training or risk management? Are you paying off a subprime car loan? Are you a lawyer dealing with these issues in court? A regulator? An investor? Please use the form below to get in touch with us. We look forward to speaking with you.