Consumer complaint received 2021-07-10
Company: PLS GROUP, INC
State: IL
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Check cashing service
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On XX/XX/2021, I cancelled a contract ( see attachment 1 ) for step repair with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX ), and stopped payment on a check to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I had signed the contract on XX/XX/2021, at my residence and handed over the check for {$3700.00} to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I cancelled this contract and stopped payment on the check to due the following : 1 ) I had very little time to review this contract prior to signing 2 ) On XX/XX/XXXX, I recieved a call from PLS Financial Services, asking me questions about my payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and asking me whether I planned to stop payment on the check. I became suspicious and stated that I did not plan to cancel but did not want to give up my right to cancel the check. I have made payments to contractors in the past and have never been contacted by a third party like PLS Services and asked questions such as these. This was a red flag for me. 
3 ) I noticed a clear pattern of bad business practices that included unprofessional behavior, exhibiting anger, frustration by the contractor, and adding terms at last minute to the contract which I had not agreed to orally, and even objected to during our conversation. 

Therefore, on XX/XX/XXXX, I let XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX know over the phone that I would be cancelling the contract and stopping payment on the check on XX/XX/XXXX. To document cancellation, I emailed ( see attachment 2 ) and texted ( see attachments 3 and 4 ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX immediately after that phone call letting him know that I was cancelling the contract. I stopped payment on the check a few minutes after I sent the email and text. 

On XX/XX/2021, a representative from PLS Financial Services ( from phone # XXXX ) called me regarding stop payment on a check I had written for payee XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( see attachment 5 ). They claimed I owed PLS Financial Services money because I had cancelled the check to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. The representative claimed that I would be responsible for returning this money, threatened me stating that I should hire legal representation, and stated that they would be reporting me to collection agencies. Please note the check was addressed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and not PLS Financial services. In addition, I have no business or agreements with PLS Financial services, nor was I aware that they were going to be involved in this transaction when I wrote the check to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

As noted above, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX had sufficient notification that the contract was cancelled and payment stopped. Since the time that I cancelled the contract and payment on XX/XX/XXXX, no work has been performed by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, at my residence as per the cancelled contract ( see attachments 6 and 7 ). Therefore, the money that XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX got from PLS Financial Services was not used on this job. As per PLS Financial Services COMMERCIAL CHECK CASHING APPLICATION XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, is responsible for all returned Checks, plus a dishonored check charge ( See attachment 8, page 4 ).

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation