Consumer complaint received 2020-09-10
Company: The Phoenix Recovery Group
State: MO
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
Phoenix recovery on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX has repeatedly reported to credit bureaus for both myself ( XXXX XXXX ) and my husband ( XXXX XXXX ) and attempted to collect a fraudulent debt amount of {$8500.00}. After failing to verify this disputed debt bill was mailed to me after requesting verification this info was sent to XXXX and the debt was in turn removed from my report. The debt was however then changed with XXXX and XXXX with a new balance of {$5300.00}. After disputing again, a invoice was then sent to me from an old apartment for {$5300.00}. No explanation as to why they originally attempted to collect {$8500.00} from me. I was then sent a bill in the name of XXXX XXXX from Phoenix Recovery. This is not my debt .... 

In trying to settle this debt I made a reasonable offer that was accepted then was told to please hold. The rep XXXX came back and said that the agency actually doesnt have the authority to accept offers and she will have to ask the apartment and she KNOWS they will want more. I told her I couldnt do more and would be back in contact once I saved more. Once I saved more I contacted Phoenix Recovery again. I made another offer and was told again they would have to verify with the apartment that it was enough because they were very active in this accounts collection. She told me should would be in contact later that day. I didnt not hear back for several days. I am currently in the process of attempting to buy a home so that my severely special needs child can receive the in home services he needs. So when I didnt hear back I use those funds to pay off another debt. Finally XXXX emailed me vs calling to say the amount was acceptable. I explained to her due to the her delay in responding I would need another few weeks. On XXXX XXXX from Phoenix Recovery stated {$2500.00} would be accepted to settle this debt and this offer would extend to XX/XX/2020. I agreed to this. XXXX XXXX emailed me stating I need to make a payment for XXXX at XXXX. I have never lived here no have any debt with the named debtor. I explained this to XXXX and referenced the account I had made arrangements on. She stated I must pay something by the end of XXXX to lock in the offer of {$2500.00} ... .. this was NOT the agreement. These are unfair practices and I have made my situation as a special need parent needing a home evident to Phoenix recovery which I believe they are using to their advantage as I am desperate. XXXX stated this is what XXXX XXXX XXXX set as offer agreement terms. I decided to reach out to XXXX XXXX to explain what was told to me but the collection agency and to ask if they would please allow me to pay as originally agreed by XX/XX/XXXX. I was told by the Assistant Manager at XXXX XXXX XXXX that they have no contact with the collection agency. 
The assistant manager stated that once the collection was sold XXXX XXXX no longer held any information on that account nor dealt with any collection efforts on the account. The assistant manager suggested I call Phoenix recovery back and ask them if they could except this offer.I have been told numerous times by phoenix recovery that XXXX XXXX   was What they referred to as an active account holder and that every offer agreement had to go through them first. This was a blatant lie and an attempt to get me to somehow come up with more funds in which I did not have to settle.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation