Consumer complaint received 2018-01-18
Company: Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc.
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Payday loan debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt

Complaint:
I was called from what they call themselves " XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX '' and are threatening to pursue in the court of law if I do n't pay a previous pay day loan that was taken out last year from Advanced America. I denied the first call because they refuse to disclose information regarding the company.  They then called several days later (XX/XX/XXXX ) and left a voicemail stating they know my location and that they will have to speak with my supervisor about this matter. The lady on my voicemail continues to say I have a case number to be filed with the court and end by saying you have been legally notified. I panicked and called early the next morning (XX/XX/XXXX ) and started to speak with the same rep I originally talked to. He tells me that they have a pending case for two counts, one for fraud and one for writing bad checks to the bank I had the time of the loan. I got even more frightened and immediately made a payment and was told I am required to set up a payment arrangement which I then did. After I set up the payment arrangement and made a payment I ask again for company information and I was given the same name stated above the same 1800 number and was denied an address. The man ( creditor ) began to be really defensive and told me that he does n't have to give me that information and again says if you want we can cancel this and you will have to fight this in court. I then ended the call telling him to please not cancel it I do n't want to go to court. I then decided to call later that afternoon to ask for proof of debt the lady that I asked immediately puts me on hold and puts her supervisor on the line she begans to tell me that they do n't validate debt and that I should have taken care of this loan in XXXX. She then also says that I have agreed to all of their disclosures and agreed that the debt was real and I was responsible if I cancel my payments I will be taken to court. I proceed telling her I should n't have given them information that they did n't have in the first place. At that moment realized they used bits of information they knew about me so they can get more personal information out of me to use against me in the event I become suspicious like I am. I then ask her for company information and she gives me a PO box and that they do n't have to disclose the address, she also tells me they are called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and confirms the same 1800 number. I end the call and since I have checked my bank account to find the payment I made, it says it went to XXXX and has lines of X 's, and no other information that is traceable. I have been asking for help and feel highly stressed because they have a lot information about me but I have nothing about them since my debt from Advance America has been sold 4 times and I have come to a dead end because the last company the debt ended with is also not traceable which I was told was named XXXX XXXX. So far all I know is this company ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) claim they own my debt and that I have violated of my rights and identity. The voicemail they left me is attached. 

Company Number : XXXX

Company public response: Company believes complaint caused principally by actions of third party outside the control or direction of the company
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation