Consumer complaint received 2019-02-26
Company: Great Lakes Capital Management, LLC
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I was called from a private number and a message was left by a XXXX XXXX stating she had papers to serve me between the hours of XXXX either at my home or place of employment and for me to call back asap so I can be available. She did not leave any other information other than I needed to contact a XXXX number. I contacted the number and Spoke with a XXXX XXXX Who said that she was was from a Great Lakes Capital Management that collects on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX and that I had a debt from XXXX XXXX. I let XXXX know that if there was something owed that I had no recollection of it as it may have been a very long time ago and something that I thought had been resolved, but that there was no malicious intent on my end to not resolve the debt if it was legitimate, but that I had never received anything from them. XXXX said that the address that they supposedly sent contact to was a very old address that I have not lived at in over 5+ years, and that I do not recall ever getting communication at my other addresses or even my current address ; Not from XXXX XXXX, not from capital currency solutions and not from great lakes capital management- nothing USPS or phone call ... this phone call On XX/XX/XXXX was the first contact received. When I asked why there was not an attempt to contact me for a current address If there were issues with an old account she said that they were not obligated to send or try to find a current address aside from what they originally had on file. I alerted XXXX that I have not had an account with XXXX   XXXX in at least 10 years, and that if there had been any issues, that I thought they were resolved before the account was closed, and if they were not I would have been more that happy to set up something to take care of it, but its been so long that I couldnt remember too much. I asked if they can provide information on the balance owed. I believe the balance she gave was around 1,600, but she said that I was being sued/legal action being taken by a court and that if I didnt resolve the debt with them that day that I could be paying up to 3 times amount owed on top of court or lawyer fees. I alerted XXXX that trying to take care of this at that moment was very inconvenient as I was currently in the hospital because I had just given XXXX to my Son  the day before. Because she said legal/court action was being takenI was very stressed and fearful in regards to this situation and the actions that were being threatened that I ignorantly proceeded to give her payment information. While I remained on the phone with her she then sent me payment arrangement confirmation via email labeled as coming from someone named XXXX XXXX in the from of a XXXX XXXX app. I signed the document worried that I would be persecuted. I have been a victim of collection fraud in the past so once I was finally released from the hospitaI and in a better mind set I further investigated this situation. On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and they recommended that I call and speak with XXXX XXXX to see if I had anything outstanding with them and also ask if the XXXX XXXX XXXX and Great Lake Capital Management were company that was used by XXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX I spoke with a XXXX from XXXX XXXX who looked into my past account and she said that their system showed no outstanding balance I owed with them. She also confirmed that they did not not work with any outside businesses named Great Lakes Capital Management or XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. After speaking with XXXX XXXX I called Consumer Finance Protection Bureau back and provided them an update at which time they were able to look up the agencies and alert me that there were a significant amount of complaints against them and that if I had an issue and was worried about being scammed and taking advandtage of that I could try asking the company for a validation of debt, and that I could also file a formal complaint. Before filing a formal complaint I sent an email to Great Lakes ( an email address provided on the email they sent me ) requesting a validation debt letter along with further information. The email that was provided on their paperwork must have been incorrect because it bounced back to me. On XX/XX/XXXX I called Great Lakes back and and spoke with XXXX XXXX again, I alerted her that I had personally spoken with XXXX XXXX and the Finance Protection Bureau and before filing a complaint I wanted to speak with her directly one last time before I file a complaint. I requested a validation of debt from the original account, and info from any other Agencies that may have had my account prior to them. I also communicated that I tried contacting their agency via the email that was was provided on their form but that it was incorrect and bounced back, and she just said that she didnt know why that would happen and that it should be the correct one ... I also brought up concerns that their billing address was no where to be found on these Email letters that were sent.I asked if she could provide their business and mailing info over the phone and I was jist told that it it would be on the papers that were going to mail me. I made it clear that On my behalf this was not a refusal to pay a debt if it in fact was legitimate and not a scam, and requested that she send me the validation of debt via USPS mail, and reiterated that it need all of their business info : Name, address, correct email address, correct phone number, original account holder, any other account holders prior to them and when they received/took over my account. I also told her that in good faith while I was in the hospital I gave her credit card info and scheduled a payment that I am now no longer authorized to be deducted, until she provides me all the appropriate paperwork I requested, and everything is further investigated and deemed legitamite and within the statute of limitations, as it is within my rights. She said that she was was deleting everything from the account/system and I asked her if she could provide me some type of confirmation that she had taken care of that and her response was that she doing it as we were speaking. .I do not not know if this just means the payment info was deleted or if my entire account was deleted because this was a shady practice. I reiterated that once I receive these verified/legitimate documents, i will be more than happy to take care of the situation and set up payment as originally planned. I reconfirmed my correct current billing address and contact info with her and I also double checked with her that all of their appropriate/required company information would be on this validation letter ... she confirmed. I told XXXX I would call her when these documents are received. This final comunication with XXXX XXXX was on XX/XX/XXXX and I have yet to receive any type of debt validation letter, or any other type of correspondence from them as was promised on their behalf. At this point I am concerned that this is in fact a scam targeting people and using scare tactics to collect money, and I do not appreciate being contacted with a very stress induced situation especially while I had communicated that I was being held in the hospital after just giving the day before this company first contacted with me with these legal threats. Please help me get to the bottom of this/take care of it, as I have seen and heard that I may not be the only victim of these companies or something like this.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation