Consumer complaint received 2018-02-05
Company: Diversified Recovery Bureau LLC
State: IL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Federal student loan debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
Hello - I received a phone called on XX/XX/2018 from a debt collector called Diversified Recovery Bureau. I did not answer the phone called because i did not recognize the number. When they left a message, it wasnt clear what was about but to inform me they were from Diversified Recovery Bureaus and thats it. They called again on Friday with the same message with no details until they got of hold of me at work. They inform that they were collecting a debt of {$19000.00} for my students loans and when I asked which students loans they stayed they do not know but this was from XXXX College and when I told them okay, I asked one more time from what students loans, they didnt have enough information what was the debt for. Right away she asked if I had the funds of {$19000.00} I inform her no, then she asked how much I make a year. I inform her the annual income. She never ask about my month expense, only my annual income. She inform for 16 payments of {$1000.00} a month I can pay it off. I inform her if this is a joke because I do not make enough money to pay a debt of a monthly payments of {$1000.00} a month she transferred me over to a supervisor. He as well ask if I can make those 16 payments and I told him no because I do not make that much money and I had bills to pay - he as well never asked my monthly expenses, just said that for 36 months for {$500.00} bi weekly. The collection agency wasnt working with me basis on what I make minus what I pay in rent to my bills. I inform him as well there is no way {$500.00} bi weekly for every month wont work. They he said dont I have a saving account, asked how much I was getting back in my taxes return and asked me if I can asked someone with {$11000.00} to start the process. This entire conversation was hard for me to focus because I was at work and there was no way for me to figure out what was going on because I inform both of them this is the first time Im hearing about this debt - never received a letter from no one showing me this amount or account number to this student loans. I inform him that I need to look this over to see what I can do - he inform me that I had 4 hours to make a decision and if not he will inform the original creditors that I did not come to a agreement and that the offer will be off the tables. The woman also inform me before she transfer the called over to her supervisor- that within 14 days they will garnish my pay check. That Friday during work - I had to make a few phone calls to see what they were talking about because I never had a debt collector before being so forceful to collect money that I do not have. And they will send me laters first about who they are with account number who the money I owe to call to set payments that works with my monthly expenses. I called my students loans and the U. S of education department and they inform me they do not see anything that was sent to collections agency. I check my credit score and notice a debt collector by the name of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX with the same amount of {$19000.00} that I was told by DRB. I called XXXX about this and they gave me a phone number to call - when I called it was for DRB. From want I saw on my credit report- XXXX open this account almost 2 years ago and I never received no phone calls or letters until DRB called me. Im am willing to settle this outstanding debt I have with XXXX but Im never seen a debt collector who didnt have a address on filed. When I looked up DRB to see what they are about - the site will not open stating that is can be a scam. And the had a XXXX XXXX number, when I looked up XXXX website- they also had a XXXX XXXX number, but their website works - and what I read from their site that if I wanted to make a payment I should look at the bill they sent with a account number - which I do not have. Both of these debt collectors are not giving me any information or some type of letter regarding this amount and I do believe that they do not have the right to ask me to make a large amount payments that I can not afford as they did not asked my expenses and garnish anything as Im trying to figure whats going on and they best payments I can afford at the moment.

Company public response: Company believes the complaint is the result of a misunderstanding
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation