Consumer complaint received 2021-08-02
Company: AAA Collections
State: SD
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
Last week I received a notice from AAA collections that they have requested a judgment for bills I supposedly owe. The letter says they contacted me last XXXX ( XXXX ) and I didn't respond. That's absolutely not true. I responded immediately ( XXXX ) and requested verification of all the items listed which, as I understand it, includes the original date of service, the amount of the service, and the name of the person receiving the service. AAA didn't respond to me directly but i did receive a copy of the letter they sent to clerk of court in the county i live in, I assume trying to get a backdoor backdated judgement filed so they can back charge years of interest.

We've had an ongoing issue for a couple of years now. When they originally called me, the person was quite rude and threatening. I didn't know then that I could dispute the action or anything about it. I didn't know that I could request verification that I actually owe what they say I owe. They were already garnishing my pay before I even received the first phone call! When I began questioning them, I discovered that they had received payment for bills I didn't actually owe -- either they weren't mine or payment had been requested way after the six year limit. They said they would reimburse me but that hasn't happened to date. I filed a complaint against them with the state of South Dakota Consumer Protection Agency for their inappropriate tactics, rude phone calls, and generally bad business practices. Once the state was involved, AAA dropped their original bill of over XXXX  XXXX down to about $ XXXX and said " they were trying to be helpful '' but they were really trying to collect monies that they couldn't or wouldn't prove I owed at all. The state said they don't hand out punishment, they simply try to mediate and find a resolution for both parties. Once AAA had that information, they stopped trying to be decent and went back to demanding payment. The state gave up at that point.

These people have told the judge in the past that I have been served notice before collection began and didn't respond, that was as completely false then as it is now. I'd like to see the proof that I was served before garnishment began, but it has never been provided because it can't be, it didn't happen. It seems to me that they have violated every law they're supposed to follow in their behavior. I've tried to find a settlement for the amounts I originally agreed I owed but AAA has always tried to collect more than they can prove I owe. Settlement hasn't happened because AAA always refuses payment and changes the amount on purpose to something I can't agree I owe because I know it's false. I see their actions as refusal of payment which I don't think shows good faith on their part. I have many pages of correspondence I have received and returned to AAA that I can mail to you.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation