Consumer complaint received 2021-07-27
Company: Thunderbird Collection Specialists, Inc.
State: NC
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
In XXXX, my husband and I tried to settle our medical debt ( that accrued while he was sick in the hospital for a month and almost died ) with Thunderbird Collection Specialists. We offered to pay {$4000.00} of the {$10000.00} which they had purchased. They said they would not take {$4000.00}, but that they would settle for {$6000.00}. We had to ask my mother to loan us the extra {$2000.00} which she said she would, but on the condition that we pay her back {$1000.00} each month over the next two months. When I asked for TCS to send me the settlement offer in writing, they slipped in two additional payments of {$950.00} each that would be due over the following two months. If we didn't have that paid, we would be considered in default of the agreement. They didn't care that I had to promise to make {$1000.00} payments just to get the extra {$2000.00}. They tried to slip that extra {$1900.00} in there without even mentioning it to us. Anyway, we told them we couldn't do that so they said that we were refusing to make good on a debt that we owed and that they would just get a judgment. They repeatedly told us on calls that they had done their research and they knew we had all the money we needed to pay them in full. All during this time, I had been asking for them to supply me with a list of accounts that they showed we owed as I wanted to verify that everything was in fact still outstanding and was our debt. They would send me confusing lists and never would show payment information for the things that we had already paid. We paid them several installments of $ XXXX/mo and multiple bills were paid by sending payment straight to the original vendor. I wanted to make sure that these payments had in fact been sent on to TCS. Every time they would send me information ( which wasn't often and frequently was like pulling teeth ) it was contradictory to what they had sent before. The more I deal with them, the more I realize, either they don't know what they are doing, or they are truly criminals that are trying to rob me XXXX. In XX/XX/XXXX, they began garnishing my wages at 25 %. I already pay half my wages to health insurance, so I was clearing approximately {$450.00} twice a month. We were a one-family income at the time due to losing our transporting business to COVID. Ms. XXXX, the legal representative I have been dealing with at TCS, said she would drop it down to 10 %. This still has not happened 8 months later. She claims to still be waiting on the court documentation. She claims that I should be able to call my employer and tell them to change the percentage of garnishment. If I had that kind of power, I imagine I would just tell them to stop garnishing my wages, but my company is not made up of imbeciles, and I am not one either. They aren't going to change something that was court-ordered just because I tell them to. I have received 2 Creditor 's Garnishment Reports ( CGR ) to date. One on XX/XX/XXXX, and one on XX/XX/XXXX after inquiring why I hadn't received another one. The first one was horribly incorrect. The math doesn't even add up. It shows the original judgment of {$12000.00}, which is incorrect ( she explains that they are " allowed '' to collect the interest awarded " retroactively '' which is where the discrepancy comes in, but it says this nowhere in the court documentation and to date, she will not supply me with any information of where this is said that it is " allowed '' ). The CGR from XX/XX/XXXX shows that we have only made payments of {$1700.00} aside from garnishment payments. We show that we had made {$3500.00} before the judgment was even finalized. Ms. XXXX herself even acknowledged ( in an email that I will attach ) that we had made payments of {$2800.00} before garnishments. They can't even keep their own numbers straight, which is why I keep repeatedly asking them to supply me with a detailed list of original debts included in the judgment along with detailed payment information of everything they have received from us to date. She repeatedly ignores my requests. She even states that she has supplied me with this, but she has not one time given me the payment information I have requested. I don't understand why they can't give this to me if they aren't doing anything wrong. I have even sent her information showing her all the discrepancies ( spreadsheets, emails, documents with comparisons that show this information does not add up ) and she refuses to acknowledge any discrepancies other than stating that the CGRs are unreliable at best. I want to pay my debt. I don't want to file bankruptcy. I have spoken with numerous lawyers, trying to find someone who will help me get the information I have requested. All they do is suggest I file bankruptcy. I just want someone to make this debt collector be honest. If they can prove I owe it, I have no problem paying, but history shows, they don't seem to know and the amount just keeps growing. They were even charging me the wrong interest %. The court documents say 4.2 %, they were charging 4.25 %. She says she has fixed this, but how do I know she has if she will not supply me with detailed account information? She keeps telling me that original amounts don't matter anymore because there is a judgment. Well, I say they do matter if I am being made to pay for things twice! Please, please, please, I am begging you. I just need someone to help me. I just want to see what I am paying. I just want to know that I am not being ripped off, and from what I can gather, they are doing exactly that. They are fraudulently taking my money without supplying me with accurate account information despite my repeated requests. They shouldn't have this much power. When does it stop? What is to stop them from garnishing my wages for the next three years? Five years? Who is going to stop them? Please help me. Thank you so much for your time, XXXX

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation