Consumer complaint received 2023-05-20
Company: Lien Enforcement Inc
State: CA
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 hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to request your assistance in investigating a series of unlawful actions perpetrated by the entities mentioned in the matter described below. The events detailed herein involve violation of consumer protection laws and the disregard for proper debt collection practices along with civil right violations. I believe that an investigation by your agency is necessary to address these violations and protect the rights of consumers. 

The circumstances surrounding the case involve multiple parties, namely XXXX  XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Lien Enforcement Inc. I will provide a chronological overview of the events that have transpired to illustrate the severity of the situation. 

XXXX  XXXX XXXX towed my vehicle from my designated parking spot in the XXXX XXXX  parking lot without my knowledge or consent. This happened while I was out of town caring for a sick relative. It was only several weeks later that I discovered my car had been sold by the defendants when I arrived back home, which shocked my conscience. 

In addition, Lien Enforcement Inc unlawfully collected funds from me, using threatening tactics and falsely claiming legal consequences and damage to my credit if I did not comply. Despite notifying them of my attorney representation, they continued to make direct contact with me in violation of the RFDCPA ( Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ). The entities above sold my vehicle without my consent leaving me without transportation as of the date of this letter. 

The timeline of events leading up to this complaint is as follows : On XX/XX/2022, I took a flight from XXXX XXXX to XXXX and returned on XX/XX/2022, to attend to a sick relative. 

On XX/XX/2022, Woodchase Apartments sent a notice via email regarding garage maintenance, requesting information about vehicles that would remain in the garage during XXXX and XXXX. I promptly responded to this notice, providing the necessary details about my vehicle 's location and the fact that I would be out of town because I was already out of town when the email was sent. 

Despite sending a follow-up email on XX/XX/2022, I received no response from XXXX  XXXX  XXXX 

On XX/XX/2022, upon my return to California for a brief period before my next trip, I discovered that my car was missing. After contacting the XXXX XXXX Police Department, I learned that All XXXX XXXX had towed my vehicle. I immediately informed Woodchase Apartments of the situation, and they assured me that they would cover all towing fees. Subsequently, I contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX and was initially told that the fees had been paid by Woodchase Apartments. 

However, All XXXX XXXX later demanded full payment from me, which was contrary to the previous assurances given by XXXX XXXX. Feeling helpless, I returned to Woodchase Apartments, where I was informed that their accountant was handling the payment directly with XXXX  XXXX XXXX. 

Despite Woodchase Apartments ' promise to return my vehicle, it was not recovered, as they had only partially paid the fees to XXXX XXXX XXXX. Woodchase Apartments also failed to discuss compensation for the inconvenience caused, and subsequent attempts to contact them were met with silence. I later discovered that the office manager, XXXX XXXX, had been terminated. 

Due to the prolonged stay of my vehicle in XXXX XXXX XXXX 's yard and the accumulating fees, a lien was placed on my car and it was sold at an auction. The proceeds from the sale did not cover the alleged outstanding balance, leading to the involvement of Lien Enforcement Inc. 
Under pressure from Lien Enforcement Inc, I paid them {$1000.00}, even though I did not actually owe any debt. 

Furthermore, despite notifying Lien Enforcement Inc of my attorney representation and revoking their authorization to contact me directly, they persisted in violating the RFDCPA by communicating with me after receiving notice. 

I firmly believe that each of these parties should be held liable for the actions and debt collection practices of the others not to mention the civil rights violations here. The conduct described above has left me without a vehicle and unable to afford a replacement, to date I have spent over {$3500.00} in rental cars and uber rides. 

I kindly request that your agency initiate a thorough investigation into these matters. I trust in your expertise to uncover any unlawful activities and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to rectify the situation and protect consumers from such unjust practices. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I have enclosed copies of relevant correspondence and documentation for your reference. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information or clarification. I eagerly await your response and the commencement of the investigation.

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