Consumer complaint received 2021-12-14
Company: U.S. BANCORP
State: KY
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
A XXXX KY telephone number ( XXXX ) called to say they were an electronic document delivery service that is attempting to notify me of legal court actions. They said legal actions were being filed and they needed to give me a reference number and another telephone number to follow up. 

They provided the telephone number XXXX with reference number XXXX. When I called XXXX, a representative identified the company as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. They claimed they were a litigation firm that represents clients in court. I asked if they were a law firm. They did not say no, but kept repeating they were a litigation firm. They claimed I had a US Bank account that was overdrawn by {$900.00} in XXXX. They said the legal fees have increased it to around $ XXXX. They offered to settle it for around {$1000.00}. They offered another option that required a {$400.00} down payment with extended payments. 

When I asked questions about dates, amounts, and fees they told me they could simply mark the account as disputed and a judge would have to weigh in on the matter. I was told when the judge issued a judgement all three credit agencies would be notified to report I was delinquent. 

The litigation firm gave me the US Bank reference number XXXX. I called US Bank and was told a debt was charged off in XXXX to a company called XXXX XXXX XXXX. I had not idea I owed the money. I was a college student that moved at times. The representative said XXXX XXXX XXXX has went out of business and perhaps sold my debt to another company. 

Part of their settlement entails that I call the XXXX XXXX KY court clerk to verify no open records of legal actions have been taken against me. I assumed they would know if they have filed legal actions against me. I feel like they are just assuming that if I found no open records it would confirm their story. They said once legal actions have been filed, there would be no settlement and I would be responsible for the entire $ XXXX. 

Here are my concerns. 
They are using language that implies they want me to believe they are a law firm or are attorneys by using language like litigation firm. They refer to the employees that will take action as " litigation associates ''. This rings in my ear as an attempt to imply lawyer. The statute of limitations may have already passed. They may be trying to " trick '' me into engaging in activities that may extend the statue of limitations. They kept pushing the phrases " we will just mark this as disputed '', " judge will issue a judgement '', and " your credit reports will indicate I am deliquent ''. US Bank will not provide any information other than a debt was sold. There is no way I can verify anything being said and their misleading comments make me wonder if anything can be trusted. They are able to provide past addresses, drivers license number, full social security number, and reasonably accurate dates. Also, why should I call a court clerk to verify the company has not filed legal actions against me. All these issues lead me to believe this may be a fraud using detailed information. 

The overdrawn account happened in XXXX. US Bank charged it off in XXXX and sold it to XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have no information when this company went out of business or if they sold the debt. I have no idea of the original overdraft.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation