Consumer complaint received 2018-08-02
Company: ZWICKER & ASSOCIATES
State: OH
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt

Complaint:
Initially I sent a letter to XXXX XXXX to settle my XXXX Account, due to not being able to pay it. This was on XX/XX/XXXX, and then I faxed it to their collection department as well. On XX/XX/XXXX I received a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX from Zwicker & Associates. So I sent a settlement letter to them. I tried to fax it and it did not go thru, as I learned today, I had wrong number. But when I spoke to Zwicker on XX/XX/XXXX, they gave me their supervisor 's email address XXXX to send an email authorizing them to speak with me. I did and then followed up with the settlement proposal I sent to them on XX/XX/XXXX. 

They advised me that XXXX XXXX has to approve this settlement and do not have to take my offer to them as it is under their quideline. In my initial conversation with them on XX/XX/XXXX I advised I increased my offer as I held back money for them due to the fact I did not know the balance. I explained to them I took out of my retirement and this is all I have due to the amount of debt, I tried to give everyone the same percentage. They threatened to sue me on that date and I questioned her on that and she said she is simply telling me that can sue me. I advised I am requesting they take my offer at that time was {$1500.00}. She refused and then I contacted XXXX XXXX again, and they advised that they could file a complaint if I wanted too, and I said no I just wanted to get this resolved. 

XX/XX/XXXX I spoke to Zwicker again, and got no where with them, and they have been at XXXX and can not come lower and will not take my offer to settle with what I have available to XXXX. 

XX/XX/XXXX, spoke to Zwicker again, and they repeatedly stated XXXX is bottom line, and I simply can't settle for this and asked them to please extend my offer to XXXX, again they state they do but this is what it is. 

XX/XX/XXXX, I called XXXX and they told me to send a letter to them explaining everything, which I did to their fax and outlined everything in it. She said to call back Zwicker again next day. I didn't as my conversation was not good with them on the XXXX, and I got aggravated and stressed out and I was not pleasant. So I decided I needed to let it set for a week. 

XX/XX/XXXX, I called and spoke to XXXX, and she checked with manager and said the best they could do was {$3300.00} ( I didn't catch last two numbers ) I said well that increased from the last time and she got off phone and came back and said XXXX and I said I can't I have the {$1700.00} that I have that I took from my retirement along with other money to pay off my debt. She said try to find money from other sources and the last time someone there told me to see if I can get it from family members ( this is not my family members debt and my father is XXXX years old and on social security ) I  should not have got myself in this situation but I did and I thought I was doing the right thing instead of claiming bankruptcy by taking a loan out of my retirement to pay this off and reached settlements. I have been successful with this all but 3 accounts and this being one of them. 

Its frustrating, one the first person said they could sue me, and then for them to tell me to go get money from " other sources or family members '' is wrong, and finally if they are given an offer they should be required to take this offer to their client to see if they will accept. I specifically asked in my last conversation and in one other which she talked around the subject and this last one said they don't have to take anything under their bottom line. 

Not sure if this is true and I have done my research on Zwicker & Associates under the XXXX and I am not sure I can trust them anyways after reading this, but I want to resolve this and feel I have done what I can and when they refused to take my offer and the fact they threatened to sue me if I don't agree to their terms initially, that I'm at my wits end.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation