Consumer complaint received 2020-02-18
Company: STERLING JEWELERS, INC.
State: MT
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Communication tactics
Sub-issue: Used obscene, profane, or other abusive language

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX I was contacted XX/XX/XXXX with a message from a number, that stated I was being sued for debt owed. I called the number XXXX, and a completely different company answered the phone. They identify themselves as " XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX '' ; though when you search them online, nothing shows up under that name, nor " XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX '' another name they go by. 
When I first called, they genuinely seemed to want to help, but they wanted an astronomical amount of money for monthly payments, and when I told them what I could afford, they flat out refused any monthly payment. I believe the man 's name was XXXX, but, he told me he would call me back. The original number, from `` XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX '' leaving the same message, must have called me, and my mom about 8 times that first day, even after I spoke to them. And when they called me back that night, they called my mom ... not me, even after telling them to stop calling my mom. They left a message telling me they could help us out by working with us, but I was unable to get back to them, as I was working at the time. When I talked to them again, their proposal was a lump sum of {$2500.00} ... or $ XXXX/mo. I told them once again, I couldn't do that. They have called my mother late at night, my boss early in the morning, and I have asked them to stop calling these people, and deal with me. They called my mom, about XXXX XX/XX/2020. 
This morning ( XX/XX/2020 ) when they called, the guy, " XXXX '' that answered the phone started calling me names. He called me a thief, told me to shut up, to stop talking. He told me to send the merchandise that is owed on, to them, and they will sell it at public auction. He then passed me on to someone else ... who also, immediately called me a thief. The first thing she stated was to send the item to them. She kept telling me to stop talking and shut my mouth, and that I was being sued and they were going to take 25 % of my paycheck, and no lower payment was possible. Then she started saying they were going to take our property, saying we own where we are living. I told her we do not, and she rattled off the address to my in-law 's home!!! We don't even live there! She continued belittling me, and berating me when I tried telling her what had transpired in our lives that made payments impossible, and why they had stopped in the first place. They kept telling me to shut up, because it doesn't matter to them. Then she asked me why would we make payments on time all of the time, and suddenly stop. That I was a thief. I tried telling her again what happened, and she didn't care. So, I told her anyway, and during the entire time I was talking, she kept telling me it didn't matter, it wasn't her problem, and to stop talking : What I told her was, my husband was XXXX XXXX during his last XXXX, he was XXXX from the military, and we lost everything. We lost our home, we lost our car ... we were homeless. When I told them we have been trying to work on making payments to clear up our credit, but this particular debt never showed up on our credit score, she told me " because they sell it to different creditors, so it won't ever show up until you are being sued ''. So, I asked how that was even legal. Because I have a right to see what is out there, so I can make payments. So I can work on rebuilding what we lost. Once more, the woman became belligerent, telling me that payments will happen, and they will be forced via judgement, and she hung up on me, again. 
I called back, after looking online about legal options, and asked for a Validation letter. She told me that I know what I owe, and by law she doesn't have to send me anything, and I would get everything in court ... So I asked her " so I don't get to see anything until we go to court? '' So she told me to grab a pen, and spouted off a number. I then told her I was looking online and it says if requested, she has to send one. She told me " no, once you are being sued, no one has to send you anything ... but what is against the law, is not paying for something you purchased '' Then she hung up on me again. I did find a " XXXX XXXX XXXX '' ... IF this is the same company, then by law, they have to send me a validation letter, because they are a " debt collector '' and she specifically stated " only debt collectors have to send those ''. I personally feel they are misrepresenting themselves as a law office, because I don't know any professional businesses that would conduct themselves this manner, and I don't know any lawyer that would take possession of items, and sell them at auction ; and at this point, I wouldn't trust them to not just keep the item and say they never received it.

Company public response: Company believes complaint caused principally by actions of third party outside the control or direction of the company
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation