Consumer complaint received 2021-07-24
Company: GLOBAL PAYMENTS DIRECT INC.
State: PA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
XX/XX/2021 My bank account information was used to write four " E-checks '' to XXXX XXXX XXXX, totaling {$200.00}. 

XX/XX/XXXXXX/XX/212021 After checking my account transactions, I noticed the four E-checks to XXXX XXXX and immediately called my bank, XXXX XXXX XXXX. I reported these transactions as fraudulent and after looking into the claim, they determined that the transactions were, in fact, fraudulent. 

XX/XX/2021 I received the first set of letters from Global Payments Checks Services, LLC - a debt collector attempting to collect these fraudulent debts. ( Attachments - 04, 05, 06, 07 ). Shortly thereafter, I responded with a written letter explaining the situation and made it abundantly clear that these were not my debts and they were reported as fraudulent. I also asked for communications to cease. ( Attachment - XX/XX/2021 ). 

XX/XX/2021 ( estimated ) I received one letter threatening that they were going to report me to three major credit bureaus unless I paid the debts in full. ( Attachment - Threats ). I was offended by this letter - not only did they disregard my letter notifying them of a dispute, but they threatened to report these fraudulent transactions to my credit bureaus. I responded with a clear and direct letter restating that I disputed these debts and that if they continued to act without regard to the appropriate standard of conduct, I would proceed with legal proceedings. ( Attachment - XX/XX/XXXX ). 

XX/XX/2021 I received four separate letters in the mail - all of which stated that the debts have not been made ( and the threatening language was removed ) and yet again, failed to address my previous two notifications of a dispute. ( Attachment - 04 ( 2 ) - all others were the same ). They continue to send communications to me, despite expressly being told to cease such actions, and these most recent letters AGAIN failed to address the dispute. Rather, they simply demanded payment without regard to the fraud that occurred. I sent a written response dated XX/XX/2021 as that would be the next business day, but the letter is already in the mailbox at my local post office. ( Attachment - XX/XX/XXXX ). 

The basis of this complaint is that Global Payments Checks Services, LLC is failing to uphold the rules regulating debt collections. They continue to send letters despite being asked, but above all, they threatened to submit reports to credit bureaus for debts than I did not know of nor consent to. They stated that I should " carefully consider the consequences of this action, '' which to me, has an unpleasant tone. Additionally, they're charging unlawful service fees, specifically {$35.00} per transaction which is contrary to PA statutes. Lastly, they failed to address my dispute at all, let alone discuss it in order to reach a resolution. They refuse to acknowledge my written disputes notices, let alone attempt to work together to solve the problem. The methods used by Global Payments Checks Services, LLC are predatory aiming to elicit fear amongst those who they contact to collect a debt and their actions are contrary and in violation of these rules set to protect debtors. The attachments, taken together, make it clear that they're woefully failing to uphold the standard established by the regulatory agencies.

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