Consumer complaint received 2020-09-09
Company: Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express)
State: WA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to arrest you or take you to jail if you do not pay

Complaint:
I received an email fromXXXX XXXX XXXX stating I owed {$1100.00}. I had never heard of this company. I asked for more information. The said it was for XXXX  XXXX. I replied asking for documentation as I was not aware of any debt to them. They said they did not have any just a statement from original center. I responded that if they did not have documentation I would not be paying anything. I would be willing to review anything I signed, etc showing I owed the debt. 

This was their response On Tue, XX/XX/2020 at XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote : Dear XXXX, Unfortunately , all I have is the affidavit and to send you the copy is against the law before the charges are pressed it will be hence considered as DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER Well if you are asking about the Copy of the original document, however, you should be aware of it that when you applied for this loan, you just mentioned your confidential information during the online loan application.

The entire process was online and you did not physically sign any contract so we are unable to provide you that information which we do not have. 
However, we have sent you detailed information whatever needed to prove that the loan was taken on your name and it was applied using the same information at your address but to receive it you were not present at home. 
Still if you want the documents, what I can do for you is, you have to send us a request letter from your side with a valid photo identification proof with your physical signature stating that you want the documents to be sent at your mailing address and also you are disputing this case into the courthouse having your attorney to fight the case for you. 

Your SSN will be put on hold and a legal case will be filed in your name until the first hearing of the Local County Court.

The penalties would be double if you lose the case in the courthouse fighting against our company.

We will also inform all the three major credit bureaus to report this act of fraud into your Credit score. 

Your positive reply will be greatly appreciated Thanks and Regards Debt Settlement Division Email Support. 

I am not comfortable sending them my drivers license copy. I told them if they could not provide the information to stop contacting me. 

this was their response : Dear XXXX, Alright, we shall meet in the court house as soon as possible. 

Best regards On Thu, XX/XX/2020 at XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote : You are in violation of collection laws. Do mot contact me again On Wed, XX/XX/2020 at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote : Dear , Very soon the case file will be downloaded against your name and social. After giving several notifications we did not get any response from your side. 
We will consider that you are ignoring this matter. 
This is your last and final chance to settle this case. If you don't take it seriously we will surely take hard steps against you. And you will be the person who will be only responsible for the legal consequences. 
If we did not receive any response from your side within 24 Hrs. We will proceed further with legal charges against your name and social security number without any notification. 
Do update us with your good intention that you want to resolve this case or you want to dispute. 
Please do revert ASAP to avoid legal consequences. 

BEST WISHES, Accounts Department XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX On Fri, XX/XX/2020 at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX wrote : Without proper documentation ( and an affidavit is not proper documentation of the rent ) I will no longer communicate with you. Please do not contact or threaten me any further. I will keep an eye out for the arrest warrant that you speak of. Betting that, you are hereby notified to not contact me at all. 

On Fri, XX/XX/2020 at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX   XXXX wrote : Dear XXXX, Alright , we are sending you the arrest warrant at your doorstep and Law enforcement people also will be there at your doorstep.

We gave you the last chances to resolve this issue by making payment. now your credit history will be destroyed and you won't get any loan in your entire life. 

Best Wishes On Thu, XX/XX/2020 at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX   XXXX wrote : Dear XXXX, We have tried several times to work with you but as you are not co-operating with us then, unfortunately, we have to proceed further with legal actions against your name and SSN in order to dispute this matter into the courthouse. 

This is confirming completely that you do not want to cooperate with us. We have already told you that if you have any financial hardship or something else, you can update us. We will try our best to help you out. As you are receiving, our notification and not responding us back.

IN THIS SITUATION, WE ARE GOING TO PROCEED FURTHER WITH LEGAL CHARGES AGAINST YOUR NAME AND SOCIAL. YOUR CASE FILE WILL BE FORWARD TO RESTITUTION DEPARTMENT HEAD. THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST YOU WITHIN 24 HOURS AND YOU HAVE TO REPRESENT YOURSELF FORCED TO COME OUT INTO THE COURTHOUSE. AFTER THAT, YOU DO NOT HAVE RIGHT TO BLAME US.
NOTE : IF YOU IGNORED THIS EMAIL AND FAILED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS DEBT THEN ALL OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS WILL BE SEIZED THRU MAJOR CREDIT BUREAUS WITHIN NEXT SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS THATS WHY YOUR CO-OPERATION WOULD BE REALLY APPRECIATED.

Do Revert ASAP!!

Thanks & Regards Debt Settlement Division Inc.

I have 16 back and forth emails from XXXX XXXX-XXXX XXXX. I assumed they  had given up. Then I received another email this morning Your case file is still on hold, now we are unable to hold this case file anymore, Kindly clear your intention toward this matter so that we can go ahead accordingly. 

Do Revert ASAP Best Regards Settlement Team After asking multiple times for documentation and requesting that they do not contact me at all they are still harassing me.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation