Consumer complaint received 2018-09-27
Company: Braviant Holdings, LLC
State: SC
Product: Payday loan, title loan, or personal loan
Sub-product: Payday loan
Issue: Charged fees or interest you didn't expect

Complaint:
On XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I was issued a loan from XXXX XXXX for {$1000.00}. I was in a financial hardship, received a mailer and thought it was my only option. The payments were set at {$200.00} bi-weekly on my paydays. I paid this amount through automatic bank debit on XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX. I then requested the automatic debit be cancelled and I began filing complaints as XXXX XXXX/ XXXX XXXX , XXXX/ Braviant Holdings is clearly a predatory payday loan lender. 
While I was disputing my loan, I mailed a payment for {$200.00} which cleared on XXXX XXXX. I then entered into the dispute phase and awaited mediation with XXXX XXXX/ XXXX XXXX , XXXX/ Braviant Holdings . 
To date, I have paid {$1000.00}. I mailed the XXXX XXXX payment of {$200.00} which was returned to me for some reason ( I suspect due to Hurricane Florence ). I placed that payment in the mail again on XXXX XXXX. This payment will bring the total paid to {$1200.00}. 
Per South Carolina law ( where I reside ), payday loan lenders can only charge up to {$15.00} per {$100.00}. XXXX XXXX/ XXXX XXXX, XXXX/ Braviant Holdings is very clearly a payday loan lender. On the {$1000.00} loan, the fees collected should be {$150.00}. Once the payment I mailed XXXX XXXX clears, I will have paid {$1200.00} exceeding the {$1100.00} allowed by South Carolina law. 
The XXXX website does not show a balance due, however, indicates payments of {$200.00} are to continue bi-weekly until XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. After the XXXX XXXX mailed payment, this means I will have to pay another eleven payments of {$200.00} or another {$2200.00}. This will result in my paying {$3400.00} for a {$1000.00} loan. This means I will pay {$2400.00} in fees ( 240 %!!!!!! ). 
This is PREDATORY, OBSCENE and APPALLING!!! XXXX XXXX preys on individuals in dire financial situations and profits astronomically and excessively on those situations. It is DISGUSTING and CRIMINAL. 
On XXXX XXXX, I filed a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and with the XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX responded : We pride ourselves in providing our customers and potential customers with excellent service and we regret that you are unhappy with your experience with us. We take all complaints seriously and, as such, conducted an investigation into this matter. They claim they are not a payday loan company when clearly they are by charging 240 % in interest and collecting payments on paydays! They did not take my complaint at all seriously and closed the case. 
On XXXX XXXX, I notified XXXX XXXX that I was in an area impacted by Hurricane Florence and to note my account that my payments would be impacted. I received no response. On XXXX XXXX, I notified them again. On XXXX XXXX, I notified them again. I never received any response of any kind. 
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX sent me an email stating We look forward to getting you back on track. The email advised to email XXXX for assistance. I have REPEATEDLY emailed XXXX XXXX to resolve this matter with zero responses. 
On XXXX XXXX, I emailed XXXX XXXX and advised that I have continually reached out for assistance and have continually been ignored. I advised I am in dispute, but could a payment arrangement be made while the dispute is processing. 
On XXXX XXXX, I forwarded my XXXX XXXX email to XXXX XXXX indicating that I had received no response. I once again informed XXXX XXXX that I have been reaching out for assistance with zero response. 
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX sent me an email threatening action. The email said to contact them. 
I called on XXXX XXXX. I spoke to someone whose first language is clearly not English. I could not understand anything she said. I informed her I was trying to reach a resolution and that I have been reaching out repeatedly. She said she could not help me and transferred my call. I sat on hold for several minutes and then it certainly sounded like the same person answered again. She stated someone would call me in two days. I demanded to speak to someone about my account. She refused to transfer me and hung up. I called back. I sat on hold for 15 minutes. I was then told someone will call me in two days and was hung up on again. 
So, I reached out repeatedly. I called. XXXX XXXX is threatening me, but XXXX XXXX REFUSES to speak to me. 
Once my XXXX XXXX mailed payment posts to my account, I will have paid {$1200.00}. XXXX XXXX will have received the {$1000.00} back plus {$200.00} in fees. At that time, I want my account marked " Current/Paid in Full/Closed ''.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation