Consumer complaint received 2017-08-18
Company: Bliksum, LLC
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to arrest you or take you to jail if you do not pay

Complaint:
I took out a loan from XXXX for {$2600.00}. The interest was 135 % and not knowing much about loans I agreed to their terms. By XXXX XXXX, I was barraged with personal tragedies and could no longer afford to pay. Out of shame, I felt unable to explain the situation to them, especially because they were calling my cell phone while I was at work, as well as my work telling my coworkers and my boss that it was an emergency. I felt ashamed for not having a definitive answer as to when I 'd be able to resume payment. I started receiving calls from another person, which were persistent and annoying, then stopped for a month. Then yesterday, it took a horrible turn. My roommate contacted my boyfriend informing him he got a call from someone regarding a bad check and the police were outside our home to arrest me. Horrified, I took off work, called my bank to freeze the account and even called the police. The police told me they needed an officers name and badge # in order to help me further. My bosses and my coworkers saw and heard it all. I felt sick to my stomach! Everything was spiraling out of control already and this was the last nail in the coffin. The person did not give any further information and also called my son with the same claims. I called the number they had left and there was no identity related to any business or even a name, I left a message asking them to call me asap. When I received the call, the lady would not release me from the call, repeatedly stating that if I did n't agree to her terms, I was going to suffer consequences because I wrote bad checks and I was guilty of fraud. She explained quite believably what the law and consequences were in California and stated the police have every right to arrest me and there was clear evidence that could be used against me because I defrauded the company by writing bad checks. I was terrified and even after I repeatedly told her I was unable to pay, she refused to back down. I explained that I didnt even pay rent yet and she again stated that the situation was very very bad and I could go to jail! Finally, under extreme duress I agreed, in tears. I was so Horrified and defeated, I even thanked her and told her to have a nice day. After processing all my emotions and replaying the phone conversation in my head, I remember she told me they called my ex husband, my landlord, my son, my roommate - all numbers I never gave to them and she never stated how she obtained those numbers. I did n't even know my roommates number! Of course, she also never stated that our conversation was being recorded, but if their practice is this dastardly, whose to say they wpuld not splice our conversation? After all of the horrible lies and threats to my friends, family, my workplace and myself, I started to do research. 135 % interest is not a reasonable rate regardless of how bad your credit is! This was a predatory loan all along and it preys upon people who are in difficult crises knowing that people will surely default. I 'm so disgusted! There needs to be stronger regulation restricting such unethical business practices. What these companies are doing are no less than what XXXX XXXX did to his victims and he 's serving time because those people were rich. What about the honest and hardworking people struggling already? Stop the bullies and predators!!! PLEASE!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation