Consumer complaint received 2020-09-10
Company: MacDowell & Associates, Ltd.
State: AL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Auto debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Sued you without properly notifying you of lawsuit

Complaint:
I cosigned with a ex- girlfriend back in 1999 for a XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Ala . Within 2-3 months, I had to take the car back from her and return it to dealership. I didn't hear anything about me owing anything after that, Until My Ex had passed away, Then I started to get a lot of threatening phone calls and letters, At home and work! The law firm Macdowell & Associates in XXXX, XXXX told me that because they could not collect anything from my ex-girlfriend, That I had to pay something like XXXX to XXXX XXXX dollars, Plus around XXXX in Interest!!! So I tried to pay around 200 - 250 a month! 

And I have been paying at least 100 a month since they said they were going to sue me a few years ago! I have requested numerous times for them to send me a correct balance, And a running log of what I have paid them, And what is actually owed on my account!!!! 

They have never responded to my request! 

They have filed a garnishment of my wages in the XXXX County Courts ( XXXX, Alabama ) I was never served court papers, And I found out only by getting a simple letter from the court in my P.O. Box,  After the courts had the garnishment approved. 

So, I never had a chance to to court And present my case in front of Judge or Jury! 

I believe this was simply some old debt, That they bought from another company, And threatened me to pay, Without me even speaking to the original creditors, ( XXXX XXXX, dba XXXX XXXX XXXX ) I truly think this is " Unjust '', And I have asked them a number of times, Just to take me court, And let 's see what a Judge says about this old debt! That I believe was charged off by XXXX XXXX, dba XXXX XXXX XXXX years ago!!! 

I have other means to resolve this issue, without your help!!! 

Collection Lawyer Contact : Macdowell & Associates XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Alabama. XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX I'm currently not working, And homeless, I staying between the XXXX XXXX in XXXX, Alabama, And sleeping in my car, And the XXXX XXXX 

This collection lawyer, Has been threatening me about this car that I returned to the dealership over 20 years ago, For at least 18 years, And I thought by trying to pay this old debt was the right to do, This is the only reason I made any additional agreements to paying anything to them!!! I was mislead about this car loan debt, From the very beginning. 

The sticker price on this car was only XXXX to XXXX dollars, Brand New car,  Back in 1999! 

I have never got a statement, or running balance from Macdowell & Associaties, After many requests for one!!!!! 

I hope you and your company can help me investigate this issue, That is definitely not fair to me, And probably many more consumers in this country! 

Thank You, & God Bless!!!! 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX XXXX, Alabama XXXX ( This is where I receive my mail, Because of being homeless ) Email - XXXX Phone # ( XXXX ) XXXX Thank You!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation