Consumer complaint received 2021-01-16
Company: FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO.
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Auto debt
Issue: Communication tactics
Sub-issue: Used obscene, profane, or other abusive language

Complaint:
I opened an account with Ford Credit Motor Company originally with an auto loan lease for a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( the " Vehicle '' ). 

I paid off the entire Vehicle lease without a single missed payment and/or late payment. The account is squeaky clean, you can check on my XXXX  report.. 

Fast forward a few months, Ford contacts me about an alleged debt I owe due to going over the allowed total mileage the lease allowed me to put on the Vehicle. The amount in question was somewhere about $ XXXX {$1400.00}. 

At this time, I was in the process of moving and I was not obviously going to pay this debt off before validating it. During that time, around XXXX of XXXX, I received a phone call from someone at Ford Credit Motor Company, this person was a female. I don't remember the exact day, but I know Debt Collectors record all outbound calls so I know for 100 % fact that this call was recorded and Ford Credit Motor Company retains this call-log. 

The lady on the phone advised me about this alleged debt I owed, and what my address/personal information was and if I was aware about the debt. I responded with telling the lady I gave them my address and I had not received anything in the mail. I work in law so I know under FDCPA I must be notified of the debt, and the debt must be validated. At this point, I was aware of the debt, but the debt was not validated, hence the reason why I was not responding to a debt collector for a lease I paid off in full. I gave the lady my address and told her I was aware of the debt. The lady immediately started hounding me and demanding that since I was aware of the debt, why I wasn't paying it off. She was incredibly rude, condescending, and aggressive with her tone. I immediately became upset as I didn't know why Ford was calling me, and being so aggressive towards a loyal and fair customer. 

I responded to her telling her that it's not my fault they didn't validate the debt and send me anything to my address, which I had provided them prior. I received nothing in the mail, therefore why would I pay a debt that hasn't been validated? 

I lost my job due to Covid-19 come XXXX and that is around the time this debt was validated through XXXX. I knew it was validated because it obviously tanked my credit score. At this point, I had absolutely no way of paying this debt back after it was validated because I needed to save my money and be able to pay bills. I couldn't spare throwing {$1400.00} at a debt which had ruined my credit score. 

As of right now, I do not want to pursue litigation, but at least receive a proper response from Ford Credit Motor Company.

I valued the relationship I had with Ford, and I want to pursue a settlement to negotiate this debt, and perhaps even pay it off in full, if Ford is willing to take off the ~ {$300.00} odd sum of interest that's accrued on the principal balance of {$1300.00}. 

I have attached documentation of me actively trying to log into my Ford Credit Motor Company and resetting my password, resetting my username, registering an account, all to no avail. 

Please work with me on this file so we can get this resolved. 

Thank you. 

XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation