Consumer complaint received 2020-06-05
Company: Ad Astra Recovery Services Inc
State: VA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Payday loan debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
Filed against : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX KS XXXX Complaint Description : FRAUDULENT ACCOUNTS, ILLEGAL COLLECTION ACTIVITY ON A PAID TRANSACTION Before I understood that this company, XXXX XXXX, did not have credentials to even operate in the state of Virginia, I took out an online loan in XX/XX/XXXX when I had an unexpected financial emergency. The amount of the loan was {$500.00}. I found this company online from a referral from another reputable Bank, unbelievably. They deposited {$500.00} into my checking on XX/XX/XXXX. In XX/XX/XXXX, a short 5 months afterward, XXXX XXXX debited my bank account for 3 separate transactions on the same day. Those 3 transactions totaled the loaned amount of {$500.00}. I then demanded that the company close my record so I would not incur additional charges. Instead, 2 days later they transferred {$60.00} back into my account which I did not request. I informed my Bank. They then attempted on various dates to debit my account for varying amounts and it was then that I reported it as fraud to my bank, I heard nothing else. Fast-forward, it's now been less a year from the original loan on XX/XX/XXXX for {$500.00}. In XXXX, they debited that {$500.00} from my account all on one day. I thought matter was done. It was when my mortgage lender ran my report in early XX/XX/XXXX that they saw this collection operation, Astra Recovery representing XXXX XXXX, had reported to all 3 credit bureaus I owed {$1100.00} for a XXXX  XXXX  loan! I knew this was fraud. When I challenged Astra by presenting receipts from my bank on a call and email, they then claimed that yes, the initial principal sum was paid off but that the {$1100.00} was interest accruing on the " account '' ( there is no account because this is not a revolving credit line ). When I tried to locate who to contact from XXXX  XXXX, I noted I had several emails from them sitting in my spam folder threatening me with legal action. These emails were badly composed with misspellings and bad grammar, which leads me to think they are a phony organization. I also then learned that XXXX XXXX is NOT permitted to operate in Virginia and that the interest rate they were seeking to charge me is prohibited in our state. As a result I have reported this matter to the Attorney General of Virginia and I have full intentions to report it to the Attorney General of the United States. I'm seeking legal counsel to take on this activity for other Americans. Not only did they report this fraudulent account of {$1100.00} for INTEREST accruing after principle paid off to all 3 bureaus and threatening me by email, but they attempted to do so during the COVID-19 crisis. What's worse is, I'm a health care worker seeking to buy a modest home and my credit report was in great shape. This is extortion, reprehensible, illegal bullying behavior and I will take this all the way as far as I have to go. This is a crime, and now they have this other organized criminal organization, Astra Recovery, attempting to collect on their behalf so they can appear to operate " legally ''. Since Astra represents criminals, therefore they too are committing a crime. ADDITIONAL DETAILS : Case is being handled by another organization : Attorney General of Virginia

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation