Consumer complaint received 2023-10-10
Company: All State Credit Bureau, Inc.
State: MA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Rental debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
Name : XXXX XXXX Email : XXXX Phone : XXXX Company : Allstate Credit Bureau Whom : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX open : XXXX XXXX  Original amount : {$3200.00} Offer of settlement  : {$1500.00} 1st call- XX/XX/XXXXXXXX   I asked about a settlement payment, I was told by the manager it would be {$1500.00} to settle the debt. I XXXX XXXX said okay can I call you back once I have that amount. She said yes. Unfortunately, when I got the money I needed a vehicle instead to get my child back and forth to school and myself to work. 

2nd call- XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  Before tax time I called back to see if I was still able to have the settlement payment of {$1500.00} to settle the debt. The lady ( dont remember the name ) informed me that I can still pay that. I said okay thank you again my apologies I will call back to pay. Im XXXX the vehicle I bought in XXXX  has went out. So again Im buying another during tax time. So no payment or agreement was made. 

3rd call- XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  I called back again, knowing I was able this time to pay. Once, I called Allstate Im informed that my information has been sent over to someone else. I said okay well I wasnt informed of that information. So I requested who the person was that had my information. That give some guy name unfortunately I dont recall his name. I them okay thank you. I call that number he answer I explained who I was to him. He told oh yes Ive been trying to get some papers to you and your husband. I said my apologies unfortunately we was no longer living in Michigan. Mind you I had no idea that he was looking us. My mother in law did inform myself and her son that a man did come knocking her door looking for my husband XXXX XXXX. Again unaware. 

4th call- XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  Tax time comes around Im really wanting to settle the debt. So I call Allstate again and see if I can pay. The lady or receptionist informs that they cant do anything on their end because of my information still being with their lawyer. So I ask for the phone number again to handle the situation. I call they lawyer, he picks up and again I explain myself of who I was. Moving forward, he said okay yes I have your information right here, how would you like to settle the debt. I said well how much is it right now. He said its about XXXX XXXX. I was shocked and I asked how. He said well due to interest and fees that is why the total is that amount about XXXX XXXX. I told him unfortunately I cant pay that much can I do a settlement payment. The lawyer then says, okay I would have to get in contact with the courts to see about a settlement. I said okay thank you this is my number to reach me at so we can take care of it. He said okay. 

Ever since XXXX I havent heard from. I waited two weeks because Im like hey youre a lawyer may be busy no problem. So once the two weeks was up, I called him back NO ANSWER, I left a voicemail explaining I was waiting for call back about a settlement to handle my debt. After I got off the phone with his voicemail, I called Allstate back. The only thing Allstate said to me when I called back was unfortunately it is out of our hands, you have to wait for him to return your call or call again. 

Again, at that point I left it alone and waited. XXXX comes XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. During this month Im looking at places and putting in applications. I had one call back from XXXX XXXX XXXX, they informed me that my eviction was closed but still in collections. I explained to them what was going on and that I may have to get a lawyer involved. They denied me and said I have to take care of the issue. 

Applied to another apartment called XXXX XXXX, they seen it as well saying its closed but still Im collections. They also told me well you will have problems getting some where until you pay it. Again, I informed them that I may have to get a lawyer involved to settle that problem.

So, I reached out to Allstate again explaining that Im really wanting to take care of the debt but I cant do the whole amount. I asked if I can do half of the payment, Allstate no I am not able to do that I would have to pay the whole amount. I said okay well I cant is there anything else I can do. Allstate then proceeds to say from here on out all communication need to be done with their lawyer. I said, Im sorry but your lawyer hasnt called me back since XXXX. Allstate said only thing we can do on our end is send a email letting him know to reach out to you. I replied okay, please do thank you.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation