Consumer complaint received 2019-05-13
Company: MERCANTILE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, LLC
State: NH
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX a Judgment was issued against me for the credit card debt that I owed to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$6200.00}. The payments were ordered at {$40.00} per month, payable to XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX Counsel C/O the law firm of XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( whom was representing XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in this matter ) On XX/XX/XXXX I received a letter of explanation along with a court appearance/withdrawal that the law firm of XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX was withdrawing their appearance in this matter on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. The new law office, XXXX/XXXX, XXXX filed their appearance and in the letter of explanation I was directed to make all future payments to the new law office that was taking over. At that time I telephoned XXXX/XXXX, XXXX and spoke to XXXX XXXX to confirm my outstanding balance, which at that time was {$4800.00}. On XX/XX/XXXX I received a statement from XXXX, XXXX reflecting a balance of {$3700.00}, after making my {$40.00} payment the next statement on XX/XX/XXXX reflected a new balance of {$3700.00}, which confirmed that my payments were being deducted form the balance. On XX/XX/XXXX my account was transferred to a collection agency : XXXX XXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX my account was transferred to Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC stating that my balance was {$3400.00}, which I do not agree is accurate. On XX/XX/XXXX I sent a certified letter to Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC disputing the balance and requesting proper verification of the debt and a complete payment history on the account. On XX/XX/XXXX Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC responded stating that my balance was {$3400.00} and including a copy of the original Judgment from XX/XX/XXXX. In a separate mailing on XX/XX/XXXX I received another letter from Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC with a payment history ranging from XX/XX/XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX, which did not include a payment that was made on XX/XX/XXXX for {$40.00} and on XX/XX/XXXX for {$40.00} ( these checks were made out to XXXX/XXXX, XXXX, however on the XX/XX/XXXX check copy it is stamped " For Deposit Only XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX '' confirming that both checks were cashed for a total of {$80.00} ). In addition I added up all of the payments that were sent in the XX/XX/XXXX response from Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC and I do not agree with the {$3400.00} balance, the true balance after adding up all of my past payments totaling {$3600.00} on the original Judgment amount {$6200.00} should only be {$2500.00}. On XX/XX/XXXX I sent a certified letter back to Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC explaining why I do not agree with the owed balance, especially after using the payment history that they have provided to me on the account. I requested a proper accounting verification of the debt balance that they reflect as {$3400.00}, I also included the copies of the two cashed check copies for {$40.00} each that were sent on XX/XX/XXXX & XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC responded to my request updating the balance to {$3300.00} and stated " enclosed please find validation for the above mentioned account '' they only enclosed a copy of the of the original Judgment from XX/XX/XXXX and a " current balances '' printout stating the following : total balance {$3300.00}, principal balance {$3300.00}, interest balance {$10.00}. Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC did not respond timely or properly to my request, my account is off by over {$800.00} and they can not validate it, clearly they are violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and I am completely frustrated with this! I will be uploading all documents that support my summary. 

In response to the letter from Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC to CFPB dated XX/XX/XXXX. I affirm that they sent me a copy of the jugement along with my payment history on XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I sent another letter disputing the balance along with two additional payments that they did not include in the statement, I sent two cashed checks copies. In its letter dated XX/XX/XXXX Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC affrims receiving this letter from me on XX/XX/XXXX and states that " after reviewing the matter with our client, we determined that the current balance is accurate, The judgment amount was {$6200.00} plus court costs and interest at the legal rate in New Hampshire, which interest has been accruing since the judgment was entered on XX/XX/XXXX '' This is troubling because I have now sent two letters asking for verification of the debt amount and I have not received any statements showing the court costs, post-judgment interest, or accruing interest as mentioned only the payments that I have made. Furthermore, Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC did not respond timely to the letter that they received from me until XXXX, XXXX XXXX, just about 60 days later. Secondly, Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC states " all of Mr. XXXX XXXX payments, which total {$3800.00} as of the date of this response, have been applied to the balance. Mercantile denies that it did not respond in a timely manner or proper manner and denies any violation of the FDCPA. '' So waiting nearly two months in response time from Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC and they only sent me a printout of my payments and a piece of paper listing current balances, etc. and no validation of the mentioned post-judgment interest, court costs, and interest does not violate my rights under the FDCPA? Furthermore, all previous collectors in this matter had to file an appearance in the judgment, I have never received an appearance from Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC in this case. Lastly, Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC states in its letter dated XX/XX/XXXX " However, in an effort to resolve the dispute in the manner most favorable to Mr. XXXX, XXXX and its client will agree to reduce the balance to {$2500.00}, which is the amount cited in Mr. XXXX XXXX second dispute as the remaining balance he believed was due on the account. '' In my opinion, Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC should be liable for a violation under the FDCPA 807. False or misleading representations. They can not provide me with all requested verification on the amount owed after two attempts, but will reduce the stated amount to " the amount that I have cited '' in my dispute that Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC received on XX/XX/XXXX. Obviously Mercantile Adjustment Bureau , LLC can not properly validate this debt and it violates my rights under the FDCPA.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation