Consumer complaint received 2022-05-17
Company: Southwest Recovery Services, Inc.
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
I use to own a XXXX XXXX business that I have sold in XX/XX/XXXX. I called the number on a sticker under my Credit card machine to cancel their service. I received an email on XX/XX/XXXX stating my request for the account closure as requested was completed. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email by XXXX XXXX given an address to return all equipments. On XX/XX/XXXX I expressed shipped all equipments with cords through XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX After shipping back the items request, I called back the number provided by XXXX XXXX in the email to verify if there was anything esle I needed to do, and she told me no. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email from XXXX XXXX XXXX stating I owe a balance of {$250.00} as of XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I called them back to ask what the fees are for. I explained to the person on the phone from XXXX XXXX XXXX that I have sold and have relinquished all association with that business and she told me she sees the error through their third party company XXXX and that I needed to get a hold of them to clear my name. She told me this was a simple mistake to resolve and how she does see the error and she reassured me not to worry. On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX from XXXX responded to me, and so I emailed him the context of my dilemma and heard nothing back. Fast forward a whole year later, without receiving any mail or call or even an email, on XX/XX/XXXX I get an email from XXXX XXXX from SouthWest Recovery stating I have an outstanding balance of {$590.00} owed since XX/XX/XXXX with {$0.00} charges in interest and fees. I emailed XXXX XXXX back to ask where the amount stated owed is accumulating from because before in previous emails from XXXX XXXX XXXX it stated the balance was {$250.00} and with his current email the amount stated owed has increased drastically to {$590.00} and the statement he sent says ZERO amount was charged in interest and fees. On XX/XX/XXXX, I called Southwest Recovery and spoke to XXXX XXXX to clarify what this amount stated owed is for. And she told me it was the cancellation fee for ending my contact early. I kindly asked her to send me an email with supporting documentation as to what the fees are and how much is it. And I never heard from her again. I also never received an response by XXXX XXXX either until XX/XX/XXXX he stated : Balance Letter - Eligible to Credit Bureau Your account is past due and has been submitted to our office for collection and credit reporting. Your account will be eligible to report to the credit bureaus in 15 days. According to our records, the current balance owed is {$590.00} and is now seriously past due. In order to avoid further collection activity, please contact our office to discuss a resolution to this account He just states I owe the balance and gives ZERO context as to where this amount is accumulating from. I also spent many hours trying to call back South West Recovery, but I just keep getting my call transferred around and finally to a voicemail in which I get no call back from. Out of sheer panic, my daughter decided to help me and decided to pay the amount they claimed I owe. Today on XX/XX/XXXX my daughter showed me the amount they charged was listed for healthcare, a medical service. This was not a healthcare service or any form of medical help. I want this company to be further investigated for fraud and scam. Because their harassment for a baseless balance stated owed is causing me quite severe XXXX XXXX XXXX that is affecting my quality of life.

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