Consumer complaint received 2022-06-10
Company: ASTA FUNDING INC.
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
This is an official complaint filed against : XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, the so-called attorneys who never answer the phone and who have their whole website set up as payment scam. 
Address:XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX NJ XXXXXXXX Phone : XXXX <>It is also a complaint against 'Palisades Collection ', represented by XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX at the same address.<> <>On XX/XX/XXXX, I was notified by XXXX XXXX  that they were holding {$1400.00} of my money to satisfy a mysterious court judgement. Unfortunately, the judgement XXXX referenced was not attached to their form letter. After numerous calls to my bank manager in XXXX, as well as to XXXX  corporate office in XXXX XXXX, I was able to get a copy of the court order several days later.<> <>As it happens, I have never heard of either the plaintiff, Palisades Collections, nor XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, but a cursory XXXX  search quickly revealed that Palisades Collection is a junk debt buyer who buys up old debts from banks, credit card companies, cell phone companies, hospitals, and doctors for pennies on the dollar. They have a long history of unscrupulous collection practices. According to the XXXX XXXX XXXX website, Asta Funding, owner of Palisades Collection, has been sued for bringing improper collection action against hundreds of consumers. They have a record of obtaining illegal judgements against unsuspecting victims like myself.<> <XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX is also clearly a collection mill, with dozens of attorneys listing themselves on the internet as the antidote to XXXX unscrupulous antics. Additionally, they have been repeatedly sued and fined for their illegal practices.<> <>I have never received any communication of any kind from either Palisades Collection or XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, or their representatives. I have tried calling them over a dozen times since being made aware of this situation, only to have my call repeatedly disconnected, as hundreds of people before me have reported.<> <>I do not recognise the address assigned to me in the court order as a place I ever lived or worked. From XXXX - XXXX, I lived and worked in XXXX XXXX. Prior to moving to XXXX XXXX, I lived and worked on the XXXX XXXX for XXXX year, XX/XX/XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX. This is the only time I lived and/or worked in XXXX XXXX  XXXX Prior to that, I lived my entire life in XXXX, where I have lived since XXXX <>When I moved to XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX, I did not have any debts, or outstanding bills. While it is possible identity theft may have taken place during the XXXX years I lived abroad, had I been properly notified of the situation, as required by law, I could have addressed it immediately.<> <>How is it possible to get hold of someones bank account, without also getting hold of the person at the address attached to that bank account? I am an extraordinarily easy person to find. Always have been.<> <>Summary<> <XXXX XXXX Courts own website states the Special Civil Part Officer may collect from a debtors bank account in XXXX XXXX. There is no jurisdiction in XXXX. XXXX  refuses to adopt the Revised Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act ( UEFJA ) because of situations like this.<> <>This is a travesty of justice and XXXX Bank is as culpable as the instigators for allowing this to happen. I have addressed their top executives about this shameful situation and have successfully had some, but not all, of my money returned because of their failure to honour XXXX State Law. They have proven to be derelict of their duty on a multitude of levels, which will be addressed in due time.<> <>I shudder to think how many innocent people are victimised like this when all it would take is a couple of minutes to identify a criminal operation, like Palisades Collections and XXXX, XXXX & XXXX and put them out of business. Instead we are here, clogging up the courts, wasting everyones time and resources pandering to fraud.<> <>Thank you for giving this grievous situation the prompt attention it deserves.<>

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation