Consumer complaint received 2017-12-14
Company: Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc.
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Payday loan debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX starting at XXXX I had 3 missed calls from XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX and received finally after the 3rd call received a voicemail from XXXX XXXX that I got a case being processed but didnt give me any details. She said to contact the legal department to settle things about my case # XXXX to phone number XXXX. So I called today XX/XX/XXXX @ XXXX and I forgot who I spoke to but he wanted me to verify some of my Information before he proceeded to give me more details about this case. He wanted either my date of birth or my last four of ssn. I told him I didnt feel comfortable with giving him my information then he stated hed notate that in the account and just tell the company whos taking legal action to give me information when we go to court. So I settled with giving him my date of birth. Then he further explained advance America has  been trying to collect a debt since XXXX and has had no luck so they wished to proceed with legal actions. He told me my last four of Ssn, who I bank with, and threatened to call my employer. He stated I had to pay {$900.00} +. I then responded that I had no way of paying that. Thats when he threatened Id have to resolve that with them in court. I said thank you and hung up on him. 20 mins later I received 3 missed calls from phone number XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX after the 3rd call someone who did not state their name said they seen I contacted their office and XXXX XXXX XXXX needed to speak to me and to contact XXXX so I could go over details on what Im going to do in regards to my case # XXXX as of now my case remains active. I did not call them back because when I called he said Id have to settle in court. So I attempted to contact advance America themselves. I sent an inquiry to their company. To which they responded by email. This is what advance Americas response said via email ... 
Thank you for contacting the Customer Comment Line today. We appreciate you forwarding this information to us. This is not from our company. This is a scam. 

Advance America, along with many other lenders, has been targeted by unknown scammer groups. Scammers are attempting to contact consumers regarding pay day loans through the internet, email, and making telephone calls. Scammers can be very convincing, especially when they use threats and intimidation and appear to have access to personal information. They use the reputation of a legitimate, respected business, along with dire threats, to get what they want from victims. We want to inform you that these actions are not being made by Advance America or anyone affiliated with the company. We value our customers and are working directly with authorities to stop these scammers. 

This is unfortunately part of an extortion scam that is going around the country. We have placed a scam alert on our website to warn consumers of these scams at https : //www.advanceamerica.net/XXXX. These scammers are using our name and using scare tactics to convince consumers to pay them. We would not contact you in this manner to collect a debt. We do not sue customers. We would never ask you to wire money or put money onto a prepaid card to settle a debt. It is not a criminal offense to default on a pay day loan and you can not be arrested. Do not pay this person any money. If you would like more information on your loan please contact the us by telephone at XXXX so that we may verify the account and provide you with more information. 

For more information on Pay Day Loan Extortion Scams please visit http : XXXX For more information regarding Fake Debt Collectors please visit XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX For your rights as a consumer in collection practices : http : XXXX Please report this fake debt collector scam to the following : File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at www.consumerfinance.gov File a complaint with the FBI at www.ic3.gov File a complaint with the FTC at www.ftc.gov File a report with your local law enforcement agency Thank you, Customer Comment Line XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX cid : XXXXXXXXXXXX

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