Consumer complaint received 2016-10-13
Company: Stuart-Lippman and Associates, Inc
State: LA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
I was contacted by Stuart-Lippman & Associates, INC who is a debt collection agency on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX regarding a auto insurance claim. I was in an accident on XX/XX/XXXX with someone in which I rear ended his car. I was contacted XX/XX/XXXX saying that I owed {$13000.00}. Mind you we had never received direct correspondence or a bill from XXXX in regards to an amount owed to their insured. In XXXX, we also found out that Stuart-Lippman and Associates sent a bill to the DMV ( which they never sent to us to suspend my license until I paid them {$13000.00}. ) They never even sent a bill to even give me the opportunity to pay. We sent three notarized certified letters as well as an affidavit of truth requesting a breakdown of the how they calculated the amount, paperwork and proof they are actual representatives of XXXX, validation of the debt pursuant to Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 15 USC 1692g Sec.807 ( 2A ), what the money they say we owe is for, a copy of the check paid to insured XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX , proof that they are licensed to collect in the state of Louisiana , and proof of their agreement to collect on behalf of XXXX . Stuart-Lippman and Associates has failed for over 6 months to produce a any of the above evidence, validation, or any other substantive documentation requested. They have failed to substantiate their claim with proof or validation. Furthermore, they submitted a claim to the Office of Motor Vehicles- Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Correction Driver Management Division without validation OR proof of claim or even a judgement. They refuse to send an itemized bill. 
We are disputing the amount they claim is owed. 

I consider this an attempt to illegally defraud me both through the mail and is ground for a lawsuit. 

We have included the police report. We recently contacted XXXX XXXX to receive a letter of the actual damages. XXXX XXXX confirmed that the ESTIMATE OF RECORD AMOUNT FOR DAMAGES IS ONLY {$5600.00}. This company is fraudulently trying to extort more money than is actually owed by trying to bullying me into agreeing to a payoff amount that is not actually owed. In the meantime, they have contacted the Department of Public Safety to suspend my license. So they are trying to make us agree to their {$13000.00} or my license is suspended forever. We sent a letter on XX/XX/XXXX saying the following : I only agree to repay the reimbursement amount that is consistent with what your letter to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety Driver Management Unit and the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles which is the net cost of repairs {$5600.00} + {$650.00} of additional costs which the net total is {$6300.00}. They totaled their clients car. The estimate of record is {$5600.00}. The amount they recouped from the auction was {$1500.00} which means XXXX only paid out {$4100.00} which is no where near {$13000.00}. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, all of a sudden they sent a remittance from XXXX XXXX for a bill in the amount of {$1500.00} insinuating that the sold and salvaged the car instead of repairing. We confirmed on XXXX come that it was indeed salvaged. None of this adds up to {$13000.00}.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation