Consumer complaint received 2020-08-25
Company: Rauch-Milliken International, Inc.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Seized or attempted to seize your property

Complaint:
I have a debt with a food company ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) that I started a payment arrangement with the company Rauch-Milliken International who are representing the food company, the representatives name was XXXX XXXX. I started my first payment on XX/XX/XXXX in the amount of {$300.00} per month until the debt is fully paid for. There would be 8 payments of {$300.00} per month and the last payment would be in the amount of {$170.00}. After the last payment which was scheduled for XX/XX/XXXX, I would have paid the debt in full for the amount owed of {$2500.00}. I had been making all payments in a timely manner until XX/XX/XXXX due to the loss of business revenue due to covid-19. ( arrangement included in documents along with bank statements for proof of payments made ). I spoke with XXXX and informed her that XXXX XXXX payment would end up being returned and we scheduled the XX/XX/XXXX payment to be taken out in XX/XX/XXXX. We agreed that she would call me in XXXX to see if I can make another payment. At the end of XXXX XXXX called and I let her know that the business was struggling and that I wouldn't be able to pay anything for XXXX so we moved for her to call in XXXX and see what we can do. XXXX called in XXXX and I had told her that I applied for the SBA loan due to the pandemic and asked if it was possible if I got approved in time if I could pay the remaining amount due of {$1000.00}. XXXX said that it was possible to pay the remaining at the end of XXXX. I also asked XXXX if she could call me prior to processing the XXXX payment for the remaining amount. I didn't receive a call and it was toward the end of XXXX so I had called XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX to let her know not to run the payment because all I had in the business account was {$1000.00}, which was pretty much was keeping XXXX XXXX afloat. XXXX stated the payment was posted already on XX/XX/XXXX for the full amount. I was really upset at that time because I didn't have any more money to run XXXX XXXX and told her that we needed to do something and work out a different arrangement. I asked her why she didn't call me like she did previously did and she accused me of saying she was a liar and I never said that she was a liar. I asked her to help me and she gave me her managers name and number to call him, his name was XXXX. I spoke to XXXX the next day and he stated that he reviewed the tape recording and stated XXXX never said she would call. I asked XXXX for the recording and he wouldn't share it and brushed it off. I told XXXX that there was a miscommunication on both XXXX and my end and that I needed the payment to be returned back to me because that's all I had to run XXXX XXXX and then if we can work out another arrangement to pay off the balance owed. He stated he would see if the money can be returned or what can been done and give me a call back. XXXX called back and said that there was nothing he can do and he apologized and we ended the call. I then had called my bank to see if the payment can be stopped because I would have to close XXXX XXXX if it couldn't be stopped. My bank informed me that there wasn't enough funds to cover the amount of the check and the check would be returned. The next time I talked to XXXX was on XX/XX/XXXX, she called and told me that the check returned and how would I like to proceed with paying for the amount owed. I told her that I couldn't afford no more then {$10.00} per month at the time and if things start to pick up with the business I can pay more. She told me that it wasn't acceptable and that she would note my account and send it over to her legal department to review and see if it would be acceptable. XXXX also told me that the legal department would call me. While waiting for the legal department to call me I received a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX stating court costs and attorney fees and that they are placing a judgement against me for the money owed. ( I have included the letter with the other documents ) I tried coming to an agreement to pay and the letter states I failed to pay. I received two calls from XXXX from the legal department, one on my cell phone which I was working at the XXXX  and couldn't pick up at the time and she left a message. The second call was made to the business right after she left a message on my cell phone. ( I tried to include the voicemail but was able to upload on this platform ) I spoke with XXXX on the business line and she asked how I was going to pay for the amount owed. I told her that I spoke with XXXX and she noted the account that I can afford to pay {$10.00} per month for now until I receive disaster funds from the SBA. She was very rude and told me that it was not acceptable and I told her I wish I could pay more but because of the pandemic I cant right now. She didn't care and said that the amount owed was pre-pandemic and it should be paid. I told her that yes it was pre pandemic but the payment arrangements that were made were during the pandemic and prior to the pandemic I was paying normally. She then went ahead and asked me again how did i want to pay for the amount and I again told her the amount of {$10.00} and she again said not acceptable. I then asked her what the lowest amount that would be acceptable and she didn't answer my question but asked me what can I afford to pay. At this point the conversation was going nowhere because she would respond to my question with another question and not be cooperative to settle the matter. I then realized that XXXX had no intention to come to any agreement. XXXX never told me what the lowest amount that would be acceptable to avoid having to take legal action She then threatened me that she is going forward with putting a judgement against me and that I am personally liable for the account and that they will take the money through court action and hung the phone up on me.

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