Consumer complaint received 2016-02-19
Company: Kramer & Frank, P.C.
State: MO
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Communication tactics
Sub-issue: Threatened to take legal action

Complaint:
I have tried unsuccessfully on multiple occasions to discuss a payment plan with Kramer & Frank, PC, ( KF ) however they refuse to even discuss my case with me. How is it possible that a company that refuses to speak with you regarding making a payment plan can now garnish your wages? During my many failed attempts at a discussion with KF, I have graduated from XXXX, almost died from a serious illness, gotten into a very competitive graduate program, and most recently lost my job. My XXXX professor at XXXX University in XXXX XXXX informed me that he successfully sued KF due to there shady business practices. My relative had a payment plan with them some years ago and they continued to collect money after the debt was fulfilled. After reviewing, the original debt and calculating the payments my relative realized that the debt was paid-in-full months earlier. Prompted by this realization went to KF office and spoke to someone who confessed that yes the debt had been paid-in-full months earlier and was given paperwork to that effect. I have also had a previous debt years ago administered through KF and they would always " lose '' my money orders or " credit '' my payments towards someone else 's account. This caused me constant frustration and hours on the phone with them. I believe I spoke to a lady named " XXXX '' back then. It was due to these continued issues that promoted me to seek the advice of my Professor. My Professor 's advice was to always send things to them United Stated Postal Service Certified Mail with Return Receipt as it is admissible in court. This is one of the largest debt collection agencies in the United States. They have a very bad reputation within the XXXX community. I remember seeing them in court speaking very disrespectfully to XXXX including myself. It would not surprise me if KF is on XXXX Attorney General XXXX XXXX list of debt collection agency being investigated due to their dealings with the XXXX community ( please see links to articles ), XXXX and XXXX. Simple XXXX searches of KF will reveal multiple complaints that people have placed online many of which are regarding communication issues : XXXX and XXXX. According to an XXXX XXXX, 2011 article in The XXXX XXXX, XXXX, the same company KF is garnishing my wages for " XXXX XXXX , XXXX '' has been the subject of a class-action lawsuit in XXXX, `` ... XXXX is under fire in XXXX and XXXX, where the attorneys general have filed legal actions alleging that the company illegally mass-produced legal documents that defrauded debtors and hijacked the court system into serving as a collection agency. XXXX is also the subject of an ongoing class-action suit in XXXX, where a proposed settlement has drawn opposition from the Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general of XXXX states, including XXXX, for giving too little to consumers ... Of XXXX 's XXXX XXXX County lawsuits, XXXX were filed by a single attorney, XXXX XXXX of the law firm Kramer and Frank, which is based in XXXX XXXX and has an office in XXXX, XXXX. ''

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief