Consumer complaint received 2023-02-03
Company: Westcreek Financial
State: AL
Product: Payday loan, title loan, or personal loan
Sub-product: Installment loan
Issue: Charged fees or interest you didn't expect

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX dba Koalafi continues to attempt to collect a debt not owed. They are also reporting this debt illegally to the credit bureaus. I have attempted to resolve this issue directly with the company on multiple occasions. The company provides conflicting information regarding the status of my account and refuses to provide requested information. 

XXXX XXXX has a history of engaging in illegal practices with consumers and this time is no different. I initially purchased this lease to own furniture from XXXX XXXX online. XXXX XXXX offered me the Koalafi financing but did not disclose the usurious interest rates involved. My initial purchase was around {$4000.00} for XXXX dining table, XXXX coffee table, and XXXX end tables. After the first month, Koalafi claimed that I owed a total of {$14000.00}! I called the company immediately and discussed the balance. Obviously that is a ridiculous amount of money for XXXX tables. I told the representative that I could not afford this debt and wanted to return the tables. The representative advised that she would notate the account and a representative would call me to schedule the return. 

I waited for a week or XXXX and never received a phone call. I called and asked to speak to the returns department and could not get anyone on the phone as they were busy with a " high call volume ''. I told the representative that this isn't right and it seemed as if they were delaying the return to continue to charge me money illegally! Another month of contact attempts passes. I spoke to a different representative who states that she will enter the return request again. This time the return request was entered correctly and Koalafi picked up the tables within a few days. The tables were picked up by XXXX men in a standard pick up truck, not a company vehicle. I have requested proof of the return in writing to confirm the returned merchandise was received. This company refuses to provide written proof of return which is illegal. The company also continues to charge me for the returned merchandise. They also continue to report my account as delinquent to the credit bureaus every month. 

Furthermore, my online account shows an unrelated charge off amount of {$2900.00}! The business practices are unscrupulous and illegal. I was told I have to pay a minimum of {$1700.00} in order to close the account. They are essentially overcharging me for furniture that I do not have any longer and continuing to report the account as open and delinquent on my consumer credit report. 

In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting act, the account listed below has violated my federally protected consumer rights to privacy and confidentiality under 15 USC 1681.

15 U.S.C 1681 Section 602 A states I have the right to privacy 15 U.S.C 1681 Section 604 A Section 2 : It also states a consumer reporting agency can not furnish an account without my written instructions. 
15 U.S. C 1681 c ( a ) ( 5 ) Section states no consumer reporting agency may make any consumer report containing any of the following items of information. Any other adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of crimes which antedates the account by more than 7 years 15 U.S.C 1681s-2 ( A ) ( 1 ) A person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate. 

I am disputing this debt entirely and would like the CFPB to investigate this company further as they continue to deceive consumers with unfair and illegal practices. XXXX XXXX has a history of doing this. Furthermore, the derogatory information on my credit report is inaccurate, the balance and payment history continues to be reported inaccurately, and this account should be permanently deleted. The credit bureaus also failed to investigate properly and remove this account as required by law.

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief