Consumer complaint received 2019-05-24
Company: Commonwealth Financial Systems, Inc.
State: VA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Impersonated attorney, law enforcement, or government official

Complaint:
On XX/XX/2019, a representative of Commonwealth Financial Systems , Inc. called me from ( XXXX ) XXXX ( a XXXX XXXX, CA area-code ). The representative identified herself being simply from the Commonwealth. After further questioning from me and evasion from her, she advised that it is a law firm. During the call, she asked me if I know a person to which I replied that the person is my mother. The representative then went on to tell me to pass along a message to my Mother that all of her bank accounts, finances, and house are in legal jeopardy and that a summons was already in process and would be filed against her if she failed to contact them. The fact the person that called me represented that they were from the Commonwealth is clearly is meant to indicate that they are a government entity which they are not. She represented that the organization is a law firm which they are not. And then she threatened that there is litigation occurring on this matter. In addition, when I asked about them being a law firm in California not once was I corrected that about their true location. 

After significant amount of research trying to figure out the legitimacy of the organization in whether or not to relay that message, I discovered that they are neither a law firm, nor a government entity. This organization is a debt collection entity, in fact, located in XXXX, Pennsylvania. The debt collection agency is called Commonwealth Financial Systems , Inc. ( formerly XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) and they are located at XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX, PA XXXX. Their website is : https : //www.cfsi-arm.com/. 

In my brief phone call interaction with them, I believe there were likely three significant legal violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 15 U.S.C. 1692-1692p. Plain reading of the Code, says it is illegal for debt collectors to represent themselves as 1 ) government representatives or 2 ) attorneys, and finally, 3 ) when the representative told me to pass along a message of legal  jeopardy, that was likely illegal as well. First of all, if there was in fact a legitimate debt ( which I highly doubt ), I suspect that the statute of limitations for legal action would have already expired and, therefore, the threat constitutes an untrue claim of legal action. But secondly, it seemingly constitutes an untrue claim of legal action anyway since they are not a law firm and likely have no intention of the threat. 

It would be one thing if this was one over-zealous employee, but my research clearly indicates that Commonwealth Financial Systems is apparently systematically unethical at best andperhaps training their employees to commit crimes at worst. They are debt collection service, and -- after looking at hundreds of negative reviews about their unscrupulous and shady practices it is seems obvious that they are at using illegal tactics and unethical methods in an effort to achieve their mission. But do not take my word for it in addition to the easily accessed thousands of complaints against Commonwealth filed with the Consumer  Financial Protection Bureau, here are links to hundreds of reviews online which indicate all manner of unethical and illegal behavior of all kinds : XXXX XXXX XXXX - XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX -- XXXX XXXX XXXX   XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX   XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX   & XXXX XXXX XXXX & XXXX & XXXX & XXXX # XXXX, ,, But their illegal and/or unethical behavior is also described by those that know them best the employees and former employees at Commonwealth Financial Systems. For instance, one reviewer says specifically that they use Unethical tactics to collect debt. Another employee says : The majority of people who work at this company have criminal records from misdemeanors to multiple felonies. I sat next to a man who served time for man slaughter.  The same reviewer goes on to explain casual drug use at the company. ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) Based on the work culture referenced here and their ultimate product, it makes clear sense that they systematically employ a number of former offenders to do their illegal and unethical work without question. 

Finally, they are absolutely without transparency and intentionally and falsely misleading, likely in an attempt to bolster their credibility. For instance, on their website under the heading of awards they represent that they received an award from the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I contacted the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX is not, in fact, a member of the XXXX and they have certainly have never received an award. They are clearly trying to falsely claim some of the credibility capital of the XXXX XXXX XXXX. In addition, they display the logo of XXXX XXXX ( the American trade group representing the collection industry ). While they are listed as a member on the XXXX XXXX website, their listed phone number is disconnected, and the website address listed there does not work. In addition, multiple phone numbers for them are not linked to the company, including the number on their own website of ( XXXX ) XXXX. Furthermore, trying to confirm their address to formally make a complaint is nearly impossible. In fact, I would encourage anyone investigating to attempt to find an appropriate number for them and simply call them to confirm their address. They are extremely hesitant to even simply provide their mailing address and I had to make multiple calls before I was able to do so. They are clearly trying to avoid any type of transparency in business surely because they could potentially be held accountable for their illicit and unethical actions.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation