Consumer complaint received 2019-01-24
Company: Rausch, Sturm, Israel, Enerson & Hornik, LLP
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Sued you without properly notifying you of lawsuit

Complaint:
Dear Sir or Maam : This letter is to file an official complaint about a law firm by the name of Rausch, Sturm, a debt collections firm out of XXXX, WI. In XX/XX/2018, I entered into a payment agreement with Rausch, Sturm when they were retained by XXXX to collect a debt I incurred when I bought furniture from them a few years ago. XXXX refused to assist me with a temporary reduction in payments when I lost my job a few months later at which point they turned me over to Rausch, Sturm. 

From the beginning of my arrangement with Rausch, Sturm, my  account has been mishandled numerous times and I believe they are in breach of a contract that I have with them. 

Since my agreement has been in place, I have made my payments as I was supposed to. Rausch, Sturm was expected to process my payments and apply them to the balance each month. Instead, my account has been closed without explanation numerous times, payments have not been processed and or applied, and I can never get a straight answer out of anyone when I ask for reasons why my account is being mishandled. The response is typically one that leads me to believe they are working on finding a resolution or reason but to date, I have not received any kind of explanation for why my case is being handled this way. 

It seems as though Rausch, Sturm is trying to set me up to fail to meet the agree arrangements so they can then take me to court for failing to uphold my end of the agreement, as was their original intent before I contacted them to set up a payment plan. 

In addition, this account has been turned over to other law firms ( by XXXX 's - the original creditor ) - in spite of me being in an agreement with this other law firm. My understanding is a company can NOT collect twice on the same account using different collection agencies. XXXX 's also should be named in the unethical practice complaint as well for this and the initial occurrence that led to them turning me over to an attorney 's office. When I lost my job several months after I purchased to furniture from them I called to make arrangements for a temporary reduced payment until I could afford to pay the full payment. Being a single mom and a XXXX I was unable to make the full payment. When I explained my situation to the representative named XXXX he told me if I didn't make the full payment I may as well not pay anything at all because a partial payment would not do me any good and they would reject it. I tried anyhow and they rejected my payments. SO I stopped trying then was hit with legal papers several months later. The agreement I entered into with Rausch, Sturm is the pre-hearing/pre-judgement agreement that kept me form incurring additional court fees that I do not have the funds for. 

I have attached supporting documentation for your convenience. Should you need additional information, please feel free to contact me by phone or by email. I appreciate your time and consideration, and thank you in advance for your assistance.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation