Consumer complaint received 2016-03-01
Company: Columbia Recovery Group LLC
State: WA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Taking/threatening an illegal action
Sub-issue: Sued w/o proper notification of suit

Complaint:
To whom it may concern ; Re : Collection account Account number : XXXX This debt is a result of a job loss ; I lost my job and my apartment at the same time. The debt was sent to collections and I made an agreement to pay {$300.00} per month, which is very reasonable amount of money for me. I am a single mother of XXXX and I do n't receive child support, I have student loans and other bills. 
Columbia Recovery Group agreed to take {$1400.00} XX/XX/XXXX, which was a " down payment '', followed by {$300.00} on XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX. Part of the agreement was that I would pay the debt off this month, but due to unfortunate circumstances I am unable to meet the requirement of the verbal agreement. 
I am currently filing for divorce and I am having financial difficulties. Today XX/XX/XXXX I called the agency to make a {$300.00} payment to show good faith, I spoke to an agent by the name of XXXX and I explained my circumstance, she was very pleasant and told me she would speak to her superior and get back to me. 
A few hours later an agent by name of XXXX called me, I explained myself again and he said I had the following options and I quote ; " Make the payment in full, or tell him to have a good day and end the call '', they were going to proceed with legal action. 
XXXX refused to take my payment or give me more options, he threaten legal action against me and said they would garnish my wages. I must clarify a few things ... I am not refusing to pay the debt. I do n't like owing money. I assumed my responsibility my making a payment every month and have made my payment diligently. 
I know collection agencies use hostile tactics to make people pay their debt. But they ca n't threaten legal action. This agency has never served me legal paperwork, or filed a judgment against me to threaten legal action or garnishment of wages. They are actually in violating the FDCPA and at this point harassing me to pay the money in full. They also did n't ' give me the Mini Miranda, which again it 's a violation of the FDCPA. 
I tried to login in to their website to make an online payment and in big bold letters the status on my account is " legal status ''. How can it be in a legal status? I never refused to pay my bill and if there is a lawsuit filed. What court is it through? What is my case number? As far as I know, they ca n't file for legal action if am making payments every month. 
I am more than happy to continue with my payment of {$300.00} per month until the debt is paid off. The way I was treated in this phone call was uncalled for. Again, I am not refusing to pay, I want to pay the debt, but I ca n't give them money I do n't have. 
I am using this source, because they wo n't speak to me or take my payment and I hoping that this complaint can help me establish a good consumer/creditor relationship. I want to pay the creditor, they were nothing but good to me, and the right thing to do is to pay my debt. 

Thank you

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation