Consumer complaint received 2023-03-12
Company: Blitt and Gaines, P.C.
State: IL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Impersonated attorney, law enforcement, or government official

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX - I signed up for services to assist with unsecure debt with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX promised that money I paid them each month would go to an escrow account, XXXX, which would be used to pay down accounts. 
In XXXX - XXXX lawsuits were filed against me in small claims court where I live, by the same collection agency, Blitt and Gaines, representing the same collector/creditor, different attorney names, claims, and amounts. XXXX of the lawsuits are from XXXX XXXX and 1 from XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX - I was contacted by XXXX XXXX XXXX regarding the first lawsuit. I had two different attorneys and their paralegal contacting me and was told not to appear in court or seek trial as this would cost me more money. They told me to sign a settlement agreement which I did thinking I had no other choice to resolve the matter. 
XX/XX/XXXX- I was contacted again by XXXX XXXX XXXX and asked to settle the next account in full. I explained that I could not promise something that may be unsustainable with the uncertainties facing me and my family and that my mother was diagnosed with XXXX and I had moved her to Illinois to help in her care. I was told to write a hardship letter and grant permission to share with their other counsel. By XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX again presented an offer to settle the next account for the exact dollar amount that was enrolled in the program with XXXX a year earlier. After this and more red flags I cancelled my agreement with XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX - XXXX filed a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General and they assisted in receiving a refund from XXXX. XXXX contacted me at the end of XXXX and agreed to refund {$6600.00} that I would receive in 10 days. XX/XX/XXXX - I received an email from XXXX on behalf of XXXX requesting my account information. I spoke with XXXX at XXXX and provided my XXXX Bank account information to send the refund. XX/XX/XXXX - A refund of {$6600.00} was sent to my XXXX XXXX account. I had expected these funds at XXXX Bank, locally where I could access them to send certified funds to XXXX Bank. XX/XX/XXXX - I wired {$4800.00} from XXXX XXXX to XXXX Bank given the wire instructions I received over the phone that day to bring my account current. XX/XX/XXXX - The wire was returned by XXXX Bank less {$50.00} fee, unable to apply funds. XXXX XXXX  was charged a separate {$30.00} fee by XXXX. XXXX told me the wire was returned by XXXX Bank. As of today, XX/XX/XXXX, {$5400.00} is being held by XXXX XXXX. I filed several motions to appear in court since XXXX on each lawsuit.. My motions have been received and filed but still nothing. When I had been to court for these and objected, I was told to expect something in the mail. XXXX XXXX was the attorney who appeared for XXXX and XXXX. I can not verify his name or where he is from. His name is not listed anywhere for these cases and is not a licensed attorney for XXXX and XXXX, according to the Illinois XXXX XXXX. XXXX and XXXX is not licensed to collect debt in Illinois.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation