Consumer complaint received 2019-02-27
Company: I.Q. DATA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
State: MI
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Collected or attempted to collect exempt funds

Complaint:
My wife & I are currently homeless. We are trying to find an apartment, a home, a mobile home.. anything.. but they all run a credit check.. As of XX/XX/XXXX a judgement has shown up from an eviction that happened 5-6 years ago. My wife went in my place to court regarding the eviction. She spoke with the judge & the attorney representing the apartment complex.. my wife explained our situation.. I was having a mental breakdown.. their attorney informed my wife if we were moved out within 10 days they would not file a judgement for the reminder of the lease. We were out before the 10 days was up.. 
Now there is a judgement on my credit file.. I have Never Ever been served. 

On XX/XX/XXXX at approximately XXXX EST I called the original creditor who said, call this number, I called that number & spoke with a woman who said I needed to call so & so at this number.. 5 calls later, 8 total, I was told to call their debt collection agency.. 
I called IQ Data International to set up a payment plan, but when I asked the female debt collector about the balance due, she said that she couldnt provide the balance information unless I gave her my bank account information and set up automatic withdrawals. After several minutes of going round & round, I explained that I know the laws regarding debt collection, seeing as I was a debt collector for 15 years. 
I finally got the balance of {$2600.00} but the original judgment on my credit report says {$2200.00}. The debt collector couldn't explain the discrepancies in the amount. 
When I suggested alternative methods of payment, the debt collector was rude and said that company only accepts payments on " its '' terms. 

When I asked to speak to a supervisor, the debt collector told me that she was the supervisor and then threatened to mark my account as refused to pay, and threatened to take legal action against me! I explained I love in SSI & you can't garnish that. She claimed she can garnish anything, watch her!! 

When I said that I was willing to make a payment, but wasnt comfortable sharing my bank account information & would feel more comfortable mailing in a money order the debt collector hung up on me!!! 

IQ Data Internationalviolated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) by engaging in harassing behavior ; by using false, deceptive, and/or misleading representations or means in connection with debt collection ; by misrepresenting the character, amount, and legal status of a debt ; by threatening to take legal action without actually intending to do so ; and by employing false and deceptive means to collect a debt. IQ Data International violated my rights under the Fair Debt Collection  Practices Act. 

I am in the process of figuring out how to file subsequent claims with the Michigan Attorney General, the FTC, the CFPB, the XXXX XXXX XXXX & any other agencies that I can file a complaint with.

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