Consumer complaint received 2022-05-02
Company: U.S. Collections West, Inc.
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
Hello! I am hoping you can assist me in this matter. 

US Collections West, specifically XXXX XXXX, fraudulently opened a hard inquiry on my credit report and arbitrarily doubled my debt owed and reported that to my credit report as well. 

Let me explain. I had an old collections account on my credit report for approximately {$1100.00}. I legitimately disputed this account through XXXX. ( XX/XX/XXXX ). The next day, I checked my credit report to see that my amount owed had doubled! I reported on XXXX  that I needed resolution. ( XX/XX/XXXX ). He promptly responded to XXXX  saying he needed more information to verify, because there are so many XXXX XXXX in his database I didnt even respond to his XXXX  statement before he called my cell phone and left a message to call him back. I did call him back just as I realized he really didnt need more information, he already ( obviously ) knew who I was, he was just trying to get me to call him. 

So, I called him. After he answered, he made some slight wave towards his ruse of not having my information, but he already knew who I was, proceeded to give me the legally required speech this is an attempt to collect a debt, this is a recorded line etc. I do hope he did record the conversation, because he admitted several things during it. 

When I asked why my debt had doubled, he said I had signed something allowing him to apply accrued interest. He stated that they usually do not take advantage of that clause unless somebody disputes the account to a credit agency - and that I signed something acknowledging and allowing that. 

He then proceeded to tell me he was looking at my credit report as we spoke and that he noticed all of my other debts. He shamed me for my student loans and also spoke of other accounts that were neither his nor related to my debt to the original creditor. He was not given any permission to pull my credit ( resulting in a hard inquiry, thus affecting my credit score ) nor did he have any right to look into accounts that were not in his file on me. 

He also told me that he would do me a favor or make me a deal ( something to that effect ) and would waive the additional {$1000.00} that he had arbitrarily added to my debt if I paid him {$1000.00}. I explained that I am currently a XXXX  and dont have that kind of money. He laughed derisively and said who doesnt have a XXXX dollars?. 

Well, I do not have an extra {$1000.00} lying around, and if I did, I would not use it to pay a debt that I truly believe I do not owe, which is why I filed a legitimate dispute with the credit agency that put this whole thing in motion. 

He also threatened me with court and told me You wont win. I have emailed his office with the following requests : 1. I wish to see every document I signed that he claims granted him the right to double my debt as well as every single document I signed with the original creditor ( XXXX XXXX  Apartments ) 2. I wish to have him immediately remove the hard inquiry from my credit report as he had no right to pull my report in that manner without my permission ( I have since put a fraud alert on file with the credit bureau ) 3. I wish to see every piece of documentation he has proving that he and/ or his office has followed all FDCPA reporting guidelines. This includes ( but not limited to ) the Final Rule of FDCPA XX/XX/XXXX and Final Rule XX/XX/XXXX which amend Regulation F that took effect XX/XX/XXXX. I wish to see original copies proving he/ his company followed all validation requirements, ( Section 1006.34 ) as I am claiming that he did not do so. 

In conclusion, I feel that I have been victimized by this collection agency, and shamed, humiliated and bullied by the owner himself. I do hope he was being truthful when he said the call was recorded, because I encourage you to request a copy of the call so that you can see that I am not exaggerating in any way. The bottom line is he waits until somebody disputes a debt, lies and doubles the debt to manipulate and scare the consumer into paying what is not due. He also can not prove that he followed even the basic requirements of the FDCPA. 

I have attached a copy of the letter that I sent to XXXX XXXX at US Collections West. I am notifying you so that perhaps, you may wish to look into his business practices. 

I am also copying him on this communication so that there will be no discrepancies. 

Thank you for your valuable time. Please feel free to contact me if there are any questions. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX

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