Consumer complaint received 2021-06-30
Company: SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Impersonated attorney, law enforcement, or government official

Complaint:
Tuesday, XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX. I received an missed call with VM>Text message. 

Claim : An alleged Court Processor call my mobile number and left a message to call a law firm with a very sensitive matter. The Law Firm alleges that I owe a debt from GE Money back from XXXX. The amount owed is {$910.00}, but now with interest the total amount is {$1000.00}. I was THREATENED with a civil lawsuit, with ( get this ) 3 counts of criminal activity. The following counts are : Breach of contract, malicious intent, and fraud. Also, I received calls of concern from, not one, but THREE of my family members because this same individual ( s ) called them TODAY regarding the same civil lawsuit/debt. This firm gave out my name, ( last 4 # ) of my SSN and DOB and alleged debt information. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX. Received a VM- text message ( copied and paste ) as follows : XXXX Depositing new message This is an urgent message intended for risk XXXX XXXX My name is XXXX XXXX. I'm contacting you to discuss the matter that's been forwarded to my office for consideration of legal action. This includes filing of the lawsuit, as well as complaints with the court to discuss the pending actions that may be filed against you. You will need to contact the firm that is directly handling your file. That office number is XXXX XXXX. These reference your file # XXXX. And ask to speak to a claims administrator. This is a time sensitive issue. If they do not receive a response immediately, they may be forced to proceed without your participation. Again, that number is XXXX XXXX. File number is XXXX. Thank you.. Click here : XXXX to listen to full voice message. 

XX/XX/XXXX, at XXXX XXXX. I proceeded to call back the original number XXXX, 3 times. Each time, the call goes straight to VM, with the following ( paraphrasing ) message : Youve reached XXXX XXXX, were either on the phone with another client, or you have reached us after hours. - Mail box is full. I searched the company name and number online and found no such company exists. 

XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX. I call XXXX as instructed by VM/Text. Spoke to XXXX and he asked for my case number # XXXX. He asked me to verify my last 4 digits of SSN and DOB, I refused and said assume its me, because I dont know what this is about. He said he is with a law firm and that I was the defendant. He continued ( see above ) that this was regarding GE Money, and the amount owed with interest. I HAD to ask him the actual date of said debt. He says XXXX, with little or no information about this debt collection ( I do not have this debt or it has never existed to my knowledge ). Just that he is going to sue me with 3 counts in a civil lawsuit. 
I asked for the law firms name along with the address. He spelled out the name of the firm XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX  XXXX, XXXX CA ( he did not provide the zip code when asked ).

Not only did this individual contact me, he called my husband, my mother and my sister. He spoke with my sister and gave her detailed information about the debt and why he was calling to collect. He threatened that he was going to serve me if she didn't give him my information or have me contact him. 

I searched both telephone numbers, ( XXXX, and XXXX XXXX ), the law firm by name, by address and the XXXX, XXXX XXXX, processor in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX FL. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX  XXXX, XXXX CA. Neither party was located on the internet. 

XXXX  horribly pronunciation of XXXX ( XXXX ) county he said where the case is filed in [ County ] Court. I researched XXXX XXXX court records and found no such filing. In fact, I lived in XXXX XXXX in XXXX, when the alleged debt occured.

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