Consumer complaint received 2018-03-23
Company: Miller, Stark, Klein and Associates
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
Women from Miller , Stark , Klein and Associates in North Carolina called my home and left messages saying that complaints about me had been filed in their office and that it was mandatory for me to respond. Subsequent conversation with XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX with an acquaintance of mine ( who never identified herself to XXXX XXXXXXXX and was calling of her own volition to try to help, but was given the financial information as well as my Social Security Number and present address ) revealed that there were no such complaints, but their company purchased a defaulted loan from " XXXX XXXX '' under XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX auspice which they were attempting to collect from me. 

The amount quoted as owed was {$1900.00} on Mastercard account # XXXX which was opened in XX/XX/XXXX and closed due to non-payment in XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX XXXXXXXX told my acquaintance they would settle for {$1000.00} or if not settled at the time of their conversation, they would litigate for the amount of {$5200.00}. 

After calling and missing XXXX XXXXXXXX several times, I called on Friday, XX/XX/XXXX, and spoke to XXXX XXXXXXXX. I asked her the names of the people making the complaints as well as the dates and I also requested the exact name on the Credit Card. She told me that that there were no actual complaints or names, but they were attempting to collect a debt. I was told by her that they mailed me material informing me of the debt resolution. I told her that I received no such documents. According to her, material had been sent by XXXX XXXX to an address on XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX previously. I told her that I have never lived at any address on XXXX XXXX. She insisted that her company send me the file material through an e-mail address and I requested U.S. Mail instead. She refused saying they already sent material and that she would refer this matter to what I presume is a legal department ( She threatened my acquaintance previously that non-resolution would affect my Credit Rating, and they could establish liens and garnishment of my pay. She also told me that since she received that phone call from my acquaintance, she would proceed with litigation. My acquaintance told her that she was not authorized by me to intercede in the matter ). 

I told her that I visited XXXX XXXX XXXX to check on the veracity of whether I owed or ever had a XXXX and they had no record of any such account under my name and to their knowledge I was not in arrears. I also told her that I was getting a letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX, due by XX/XX/XXXX, which I would forward to her office corroborating that information. She insisted that my name and Social Security number was attached to her file and that she had no other recourse to but to send the matter on for litigation, utterly disregarding what I told her. 

I requested that material regarding the debt be sent to me in U.S. Mail, but she was adamant in her refusal on the basis that the material had already been sent to my current address. She hung up the phone on me. 

I again visited XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX and they could not locate any such Credit Card number. I believe that this is a case of mistaken identity and am trying to resolve this matter. Their tactics seem to be consistent with those described in articles concerning debt collection scams. I must add that there have been numerous complaints filed against Miller, Stark, Klein & Associates as well as XXXX XXXX with the XXXX XXXX XXXX regarding billing and debt collection improprieties.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation