Consumer complaint received 2019-05-31
Company: Credit Card Acquisitions Group
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Payday loan debt
Issue: Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly
Sub-issue: Talked to a third-party about your debt

Complaint:
I took a loan out in XX/XX/XXXX from XXXX XXXX   XXXX for {$700.00}. I was making payments monthly, however, I had to close my account due to issues. This was a merchant I had missed to contact. About a month or two ago, my brother starts receiving harassing phone calls, along with my parents from a " XXXX XXXX XXXX '' and other people named XXXX XXXX . They stated that they were coming after me legally for multiple bounced checks across state lines and that they were going to garnish my wages. Now mind you, this is being told to 3rd parties. By law all they can ask is if they have contact information for me. Now fast forward to XX/XX/XXXX. My brother calls and asks who is XXXX XXXX XXXX. It's been almost 3 years and I could not remember. He said a XXXX XXXX XXXX called threating to garnish my wages, file in XXXX County due to the fact that I bounced MULTIPLE checks across state lines and this isn't like a {$5.00} credit card. SO I called these people, and he put me on hold and a gentleman named XXXX XXXX got on the phone. THey said they worked for XXXX XXXX, XXXX. He stated I owed {$3100.00} and I could do an immediate settlement plea of {$1600.00}. I do not have this type of money laying around and advised I could not, but that I am due to close on the sale of my home on XX/XX/XXXX and I could pay it after. I was then informed that they could file in XXXX County and stop the close of that sale. They also stated that I would have to go before a Tribal Court and hire a Tribal attorney which could cost well over {$4000.00}. Now, I am a mom of a XXXX year old and a XXXX XXXX year old and I work very hard. I went into panic mode because I try and do what is best for my family. I paid them {$310.00} via bank card and set up the remaining {$2700.00} for XX/XX/XXXX. Well, once I calmed down and did a reverse on the number I just called, it comes up as Foster and Monroe, LLC out of New York. So, first thing on XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX CST ), I called XXXX XXXX XXXX. I spoke to a manager by the name of XXXX and stated she did not know who these people were. She stated that they sold the debt to XXXX XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXXand was kind enough to give me the number. She also stated that with penalties and fees the total is only {$1000.00} and not what Foster and Monroe stated and they do not come after me legally. So I called XXXX XXXX and they stated the same thing. They had no idea who these people were. They sold it in XX/XX/XXXX to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. They gave me a number, XXXX. I have tried to contact them and it's a vague answering machine. So I called the FTC, ref # XXXX, and was instructed to call my State Attorney General, XXXX XXXX, as well. I did as I was instructed and they sent me immediately to my bank to stop all transactions. Unfortunately, the charge went through. The bank now has it in their Fraud Division in  XXXX, Texas. I called Foster and Monroe back on the night of XX/XX/XXXX and spoke to XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) and informed him of all this. I could not get a straight answer if they were a debt collection company, even though I already knew the answer. I advised that my family is now looking into an attorney for 3rd party disclosure. Their tactics are unethical and highly illegal. I contacted the district attorney of XXXX County Texas as well. The man started to crawfish and I advised somebody better call me on XX/XX/XXXX before XXXX CST. They also stated they were hired by XXXX XXXX in Missouri, and that is false from the information that I have gathered.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation