Consumer complaint received 2018-02-15
Company: HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, THE
State: TN
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Impersonated attorney, law enforcement, or government official

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX received a letter from debt collector Atty XXXX XXXX. Letter sounded too good to be true the settlement offer they were asking me to pay on an old judgement for XX/XX/XXXX. I contacted my Local Courthouse and they informed me that XXXX XXXX was NOT they atty on file and said XXXX XXXX was.The courthouse said it sounded like a good offer and I should contact them an thell them who the Atty on file was. So I contacted the number XXXX ext. XXXX as the letter directed. I gave them the information. They then filed at my local courthouse as the atty on file. 

Received a settlement letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX of XXXX Ohio date XX/XX/XXXX, it instructed me to make my check out to XXXX XXXX XXXX Successor to Huntington National bank .XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX back because the settlement letter I rcvd said to pay XXXX XXXX XXXX. I read online that XXXX XXXX XXXX closed in XX/XX/XXXX. I asked them how they were going to cash a check to a company that doesnt exist. I was speaking to XXXX XXXX at that time. I asked for a phone number to contact XXXX XXXX XXXX because I wanted to verify that they were in business. She told me that she didn't have their phone number. I told her if they were a client she should have their phone number. I explained to XXXX that I wanted to pay the debt but I needed verification that the Company was in business because I did not feel safe to write a check to XXXX XXXX XXXX. At that point XXXX told me I could just make it out to Atty XXXX XXXX. I stated to XXXX that I did not feel comfortable to do that either as the letter states " To enusre proper credit, all payment must be made to Creditor listed above '' .. which was XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX started talking loudly and implied that I was refusing to pay. I told XXXX that I was not refusing to pay that I just wanted to feel safe about my payment. I asked her how I could find any information on XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX said I could XXXX it. I told XXXX I did that and it said that the business was closed in XX/XX/XXXX. Then XXXX put me on hold. When XXXX came back she stated that XXXX XXXX XXXX was owned by Atty. XXXX XXXX and that I could contact the Tennessee Supreme court if I wanted his contact information. Prior to the conversation she stated that it was being recorded. I can provide copies of the letters that were sent to me stating that XXXX XXXX XXXX is still the creditor if needed. On XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX, I spoke with XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX phone number listed above. XXXX told me on XX/XX/XXXX that in XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX sold the debt to Atty XXXX XXXX when I questioned her about it. I was also told the conversation was being recorded at that time. Last week I contacted the Original Creditor, Huntington National Bank at XXXX at the number XXXX and spoke to XXXX who told me that XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was the current owner of the account. I don't want to be sued in court for the full amount, I would like to pay the settlement offer. Although I can not trust if my money will go to the proper person and clear my debt. There is no guarantee I will receive a satisfied judgement letter. It is possible XXXX XXXX has sent misrepresentation paperwork to my mailbox. Please advise me how to proceed.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation