Consumer complaint received 2020-10-09
Company: Kass Shuler, P.A.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Auto debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
In XXXX XXXX, I fell on hard times as a new single mother and was not able to pay my car payment with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX F/k/a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and unfortunately my car was repossessed. At the time of the repossession, I contacted the bank to see how I could redeem my vehicle back. I was told by a representative at the bank that I could not redeem my vehicle back unless I found new financing with another bank. Due to the vehicle being already repossessed, my options for finding another bank to finance me were scarce and ; within weeks my vehicle was sold at auction. The balance left on the vehicle, a XXXX XXXX XXXX was {$10000.00}. On XX/XX/XXXX a final judgment was entered for {$12000.00}. During the years that passed following the car repossession and final judgment, unfortunately found myself and my children on many hard times. Just days after XXXX XXXX to my XXXX  XXXX, I was readmitted to the hospital with an XXXX XXXX XXXX. After weeks of being unable to work per my doctor, I was unable to pay my bills and ended up with an eviction from my apartment. Me and my children went from house to house following our eviction. I continued to work hard to get on my feet working with staffing agencies to pay my bills. In XX/XX/XXXX, I finally found a full-time job and was trying to establish stability for my children. But, not even 6 months later, I was served with a notice from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and their attorney to garnish my wages. My wages were being garnished until I submitted a form through the court to please stop garnishing my wages. In XX/XX/XXXX, I had to have XXXX and in XX/XX/XXXX, I was laid off from my job, and had to move in with yet another friend. On XX/XX/XXXX the court finally ordered a writ of garnishment, which was dismissed without prejudice, and any and all garnishment funds being withheld were supposed to be immediately returned to the defendant ( me ) per the court order ; but that never occured. After years of struggling as a single parent with my health and trying to get on my feet, I am finally at a place to try and settle my debts and make things right. I am now working on building my credit and trying to buy a first home for me and my children. So today ( XX/XX/XXXX ) at XXXX XXXX., I called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to see how much I owed in total on the repossessed car loan including any fees. A representative with the bank stated I owed as of today, {$5600.00} for the XXXX XXXX XXXX, but the account was no longer with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and was with a collection agency called Kass Shuler Law Firm. The representative with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX proceeded to give me the collection agency 's phone number. I called Kass Shuler Law Firm about my account and asked for the total amount owed and how I could settle the debt. I was then told by the woman who answered the call that I owed as of today, {$18000.00}. I was shocked, sad, in disbelief, and totally overwhelmed at that point. How could I pay such an amount, maintain my bills, take care of children and buy a home for my children? I asked the woman at Kass Shuler Law Firm why the amount was more than 3 times the original debt when I spoke with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and they stated the amount was {$5600.00}. The woman at Kass Shuler Law Firm stated the bank representative was NOT supposed to give me that information. This is truly an unfair collection agency practice for consumers. If you face hard times and try to make it right, then you are punished 3 times the original amount as a penalty. How is this fair? I am more than willing to pay the total amount that XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX stated I owed to them of {$5600.00}, but to charge me nearly {$13000.00} in interests and fees is not only unfair, but hurts my children and takes food and clothing from them as a single mom. This debt is stopping me from finally buying a home for my children. I want to do the right thing and pay my debt, but these unfair fees hurt people who want to do what is right. {$13000.00} in fees and interests is just wrong, especially when the debt owed is only {$5600.00}. What happened to the payments garnished from my wages? The woman at Kass Shuler Law Firm stated I paid about {$4500.00} in garnished wages, but how and when were they ever applied to this debt/account. This debt is stopping me from providing a better life for my children and purchasing my first home. I need help to resolve this debt matter in the most fair and accurate way possible.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation