Consumer Portfolio Services Inc is a U.S.-based company operating in the specialty finance sector. Its business is to purchase and service retail automobile contracts originated by franchised automobile dealers and, to a lesser extent, by select independent dealers in the United States in the sale of new and used automobiles, light trucks, and passenger vans. Through its automobile contract purchases, the company provides indirect financing to the customers of dealers havinglimited credit histories, low incomes, or past credit problems, who it refers to as sub-prime customers. It serves as an alternative source of financing for dealers, facilitating sales to customers.