Consumer complaint received 2023-06-13
Company: Lazega & Johanson LLC
State: GA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
I would like to make a complaint about attorneys : XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX and XXXX XXXX # XXXX. They represent XXXX  I am a member of : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX from Lazega & Johanson LLC failed to comply with the requirements of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Debt collectors may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection, including falsely representing the character, amount, or legal status of any debt. 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 2 ) ( A ). Debt collectors are also prohibited from using any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer. Id. XXXX ( XXXX ). 

In XX/XX/2023, as every year, I deposited {$2800.00} in my XXXX  account. The same month, XXXX gave me a citation and a fine of {$600.00} for breaking non existing rules- alleged XXXX ( I have already filed a lawsuit about XXXX regarding that issue ). Our XXXX  hired a law firm Lazega & Johanson LLC for debt collection. Instead of sending me a proper debt letter asking for the payment, XXXX simply deducted {$600.00} from my XXXX  account on XX/XX/2023. They did it without my knowledge, without my consent, without a court order. I have not received proper validation information as required by debt collector. At that time I was not aware what they did was illegal, XXXX attorneys XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX made every effort possible to confuse me even more instead of properly conduct the debt collection as required by FDCPA. 
Attorney XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX from Lazega & Johanson LLC sent me multiple misleading, abusive and intimidating emails stating my member privileges were automatically suspended because of delinquency on my account. I emailed XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/2023 a financial statement showing that my account was never delinquent. 
XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX attempted to convince me that if I do not give them permission to apply {$600.00} to my account, I will be still delinquent, and the suspension of my members privileges will be fully justified. I explained again that the {$600.00} was already withdrawn from my account long time ago on XX/XX/XXXX, nobody ever asked me for any authorization back then to withdraw that money, my account was never at any point of time delinquent, there was no need to apply additional {$600.00} to pay for the fine.. 
On XX/XX/XXXX, I asked if my members privileges were still suspended, XXXX XXXX emailed me back and blatantly lied to me by saying that per our recent email conversation I gave them authorization to apply {$600.00} to my account. I never said at any point I gave authorization to anyone to do anything, {$600.00} was deducted XXXX months earlier from my account by HOA without my permission. 
Summary : XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX created a false scenario in which they attempted to convince me that {$600.00} was not withdrawn ( when it fact it was on XX/XX/2023 ), lied to me that I was delinquent in my XXXX  account as of XX/XX/2023, threatened me with negative action that my resident privileges will be suspended if I do not pay {$600.00} ( even though they already withdrew {$600.00} XX/XX/2023 without my permission and my knowledge ), they never sent me a proper validation information as required by debt collector. The statements they made were false, misleading, they blatantly lied. XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX conduct was dishonest, bully, manipulative, unethical and unprofessional. 
I have attached emails between me and XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX, I also a financial XXXX  statement showing my account was never delinquent. 
A satisfactory solution would be to stop this Law firm from conducting business in Ga, I am not the first person who has filed a complaint against them for violating Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, there are many people who filed lawsuits against them for their blatant violations of FDCPA. 


( I made an error in some emails referring to XX/XX/XXXX {$600.00} withdrawal, when it was actually on XX/XX/2023. )

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