Consumer complaint received 2018-02-24
Company: TekCollect Inc.
State: SC
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Communication tactics
Sub-issue: You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying

Complaint:
I have been receiving 3-4 calls per day from a company called Tek Collect trying to collect a small debt I'm told of {$120.00}. Earlier this week on XX/XX/XXXX I received calls from XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX at XXXX, XXXX, and again at XXXX during work hours. I work in the medical field and was unable to complete a patients workup due to the constant calling. During my lunch break I answered one of the repeated calls. The person calling gave me their name and asked me to identify myself by full name and home address. I asked who was calling and was told that no information about exactly who was calling could be revealed until I could verify my name and address. Unfortunately I did not have time to investigate this matter properly at the time, so I kindly replied " No thank you please don't call me again ''. The person on the other line said " Ok we will try again later '' and hung up. Since this day I have received 4-5 calls per day from several different numbers, some have left blank messages of what sounds like a call center and someone laughing with a coworker. On XX/XX/XXXX after receiving three calls from XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX the same number back to back I stepped away from a work matter to call the number back. When the call was answered the person asked is this ( my name ) I once again asked who was calling and was given the same spill about not being able to tell me who was calling until I gave my information first. I asked " So you can not even tell me what company you are calling from? I don't give out my person information to people I don't know. '' The person stated they were calling from Tek Collect about a debt they stated that I owed a medical debut of {$120.00} and would like to know when I would be making a payment. I told the person that at this time I am unable to make any form of payment and that when I can make a payment I will contact them. I was then told to hold and was transferred to someone who requested payment again. They then began questioning why I was unable to make a payment. I explained that I am a XXXX XXXX XXXX as well as a full time worker and at this time my monthly bills already over exceed my income. The person cut across me and stated " So you have income your getting paid whats the problem, why can't you pay? So you just don't plan to pay this debut you owe? '' I once again requested not to be called and hung up. This morning around XXXX XXXX  on a Saturday I awoke to a call yet again from ( XXXX ) XXXX. I answered and told them I could not make a payment, then mentioned the number of times this week I have already been called. The person replied " we have a computerized system we don't determine the amount of times you are called ''. I then asked isn't there a certain amount of calls that is considered harassment? The person replied no this is not harassment because you owe a debut we can call as many times as we need until the debut is collected. Here is a list of other numbers that this company has contacted me from between the dates of XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX

Company public response: Company believes the complaint is the result of a misunderstanding
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation