Consumer complaint received 2023-11-15
Company: Stenger & Stenger, P.C
State: GA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
At around XX/XX/XXXX, I received a phone call from an individual who identified themselves as an employee of XXXX XXXX XXXX, in reference to an alleged debt they had purchased from XXXX XXXX I informed the representative I was not aware of such a debt and disputed the debt. I also requested they send me the adequate paperwork to validate the debt. The representative agreed and advised I should receive it within a month, which I never did. I did receive a couple of additional phone calls from the same company with the next couple of months, which I advised them each time I had not received the DEBT VALIDATION PAPERWORK. 

To my surprise I receive a letter from STENGER & STENGER , P.C, nearing the end of XX/XX/XXXX. The letter advised they represented XXXX XXXX XXXX, and that I owed a XXXX debt. It did provide instructions on how to dispute the debt ( in writing ) and it advised " If you write to us by XX/XX/XXXX, we must stop collection on any amount you dispute until we send you information that shows you owe the debt. '' On XX/XX/XXXX I sent a certified letter to STENGER & STENGER, disputing the debt and requesting the information needed to validate the debt, in accordance to XXXX XXXX XXXX NOTICE FOR VALIDATION. I received notice that they had received my certified letter on XX/XX/XXXX, and signed by XXXX XXXX unable to read the last name ). 

It should be noted in the letter I requested that further communication with the company and myself be done via mail. 

As of XX/XX/XXXX, I never received any paperwork to validate the debt, instead I received a yellow post card from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, requesting that I either pick up civil paperwork or a marked unit would arrive to my house and serve me with the paperwork. Because I received the post card on a Friday afternoon and Sherriff 's office was closed, I had to wait until XX/XX/XXXX at XXXXXXXX XXXX, to sign for the paperwork. Once I received it, I was even more surprised that it was a court summons for a civil suit against me by STENGER & STENGER , P.C, on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

I immediately called STENGER & STENGER, in an attempt to gain details about the alleged debt and attempt to remedy the situation. I spoke with a male representative " XXXX '' who stated I needed to verify my identity, before I could speak to him. XXXX XXXX advised the company would not accept my suggested solution and advised me to call back and speak with another representative. So as soon as he hanged up the phone, I called back and spoke with " XXXX '', who again made me verify my identity, but also advised their was a " SEIZE AND DESIST '' in my folder and that she was not allowed to speak to me unless I agreed to waive the order. I advised her that I had never requested such an order and I advised that I have always had agreed to speak with both companies in an attempt to resolve the issue. I also explained to her my situation and advised that I had never received the Debt Verification paperwork in accordance to my rights and XXXX XXXX. XXXX stated " the reason you never received it is because we never sent it out to you, because you have a seize and desist order. '' I explained to her I had never requested such an order, in the letter I had sent XX/XX/XXXX, it requested all communication between the companies and myself should be in writing. XXXX stated she had the letter and by me requesting such a thing, to them " STENGER & STENGER '' it meant that they could not speak to me or send me any paperwork in the mail. 

I advised XXXX that according to the law they were supposed to provide me with paperwork to prove the validity of debt. XXXX again stated had not sent any debt verification paperwork to me, because of the letter I had sent. After I told her that it did not make sense and her placing me on hold a couple of times, she all of a sudden said " Oh, I do see where we sent it to you. '' I informed her that it was convenient that all of a sudden she sees a note showing that they had in fact sent the paperwork, after I mentioned the law. XXXX stated STENGER & STENGER had sent the paperwork, by mail. I asked if it was certified and if so, who had signed it. She stated they had never sent it certified, only by mail. I advised her that her response was not adequate and very convenient for her law firm to " all of a sudden '' discover they had sent the paperwork. 

XXXX started to LAUGH, and I told her I found it very disrespectful and belittling for someone to laugh at me, when I had done what I was supposed to. XXXX shrugged me off and stated she never laughed, she could not help what I thought she had done. I requested for her supervisor and after being on/off hold for another XXXX minutes, and XXXX trying to convince me to accept a 15 % discount and pay the alleged debt within those XXXX minutes, she advised I would speak with her boss " XXXX '', who held the same title as she did. 

I advised her I needed to speak with a supervisor. She advised " XXXX '' who was the Senior manager told her to send me to XXXX, who was aware of the situation. Well XXXX never sent me to XXXX instead she transferred me to " XXXX XXXX '' who was not aware of the situation and who I again had to verify who I was and explain why I was calling. I do apologize to XXXX, because at this point I was beyond stressed and upset. Ultimately XXXX stated reiterated what XXXX stated and when I asked if there was anyone else I could speak to, she said " no. '' She said she was the highest ranking individual, besides " XXXX. '' I asked if I could speak with XXXX and she again said " no, '' because XXXX " might be in a meeting. '' I advised her multiple times the violation of the law and the disrespect I had endured by STINGER & STINGER, PC and XXXX XXXX XXXX. She apologized for what had occurred and tried to convince me to pay the debt. I advised her I did not agree with their predatory and illegal practices. She advised if I did not pay the debt then a summary judgment would be filed against me.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation