Consumer complaint received 2020-10-31
Company: Mendelson Law Firm
State: TN
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
Hello, Please forgive me if you are not the correct agency for my issue. I feel strongly, however, about reaching out regarding this matter. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, my husband and I received a judgment out of Civil Division Court of General Sessions in XXXX, TN for an XXXX Medical visit from XXXX. The Debtor is Mendelson Law Firm in XXXX, TN and we spoke and agreed to have the debt deducted each month from my insurance I-account credit card in the amount of {$25.00}. I don't recall getting a full final total amount of garnished debt ( foolish on my part ), and so {$25.00} has been deducted out of my I-account until it ceased in XXXX of XXXX. The total amount paid to them was {$790.00}. I noticed there were no more payments deducted from my insurance I-account and never questioned it as I just assumed the debt was paid in full. Nor did I ever hear from the debtor, Mendelson Law Firm, regarding this. Until last week ... 

Then, on XX/XX/XXXX, I received a garnishment notice from my employer in the email regarding a garnished amount of {$280.00} to be deducted from my next paycheck on XX/XX/XXXX regarding this debt. The details for this amount are stated as this : Judgment balance : {$17.00} Clerk 's fee : {$25.00} Prepaid Cost : {$240.00} I was confused, to say the least. 

I called this firm to get details on the total amount due in this judgment and today, XX/XX/XXXX, I received a copy of the CONSENT JUDGMENT FOR PLAINTIFF. It does state the amount due of {$810.00}, plus statutory, 5.75 % post judgment interest and costs ( of which I calculated it to be {$46.00} ). This Judgment does not mention any other fees and certainly not the prepaid cost of {$240.00} mentioned above. I reviewed all of my I-account 's payments and they total {$790.00}. When I subtract this from the {$810.00}, I owe {$17.00} ( of which we both agree ) and I also see where I owe {$46.00} for the 5.75 % post judgment interest and costs, but I don't understand how they added in a prepaid cost of {$240.00}. And this is where I hope you can help me to understand if they have a legal right to do this or if this is just greed on their part. 

When I spoke to them earlier this week, I questioned why in the world would you garnish my wages when I have been paying you faithfully for 3 years? I had no idea the judgment wasnt paid in full since 1 ) I never received a full breakdown of the total amount ( even asking for it earlier this week ), and, 2 ) I didnt cease and desist the payments from my I-account. My phone number has been consistent for 6 years and I am thinking should they have tried to give me a call to pay a measly {$17.00}? And even if you add in the interest costs to the final {$17.00}, thats only {$64.00} total due. Its maddening they would go out of their way to garnish me for that when Ive been faithfully paying for three years?

You can imagine Im upset, perplexed and am hoping this is a practice that is illegal on their part. Maybe it isnt and maybe they can somehow get away with this, but Im going to question anyone and everyone to my satisfaction to find out if this is a legal procedure for such a small amount of debt owed.

I want to thank you for reading through this. Im hoping you did anyway, and I hope you may be able to assist me or at least guide me in the right direction. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX

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 monetary relief