Consumer complaint received 2016-10-04
Company: EZCORP, INC.
State: UT
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Payday loan
Issue: Taking/threatening an illegal action
Sub-issue: Threatened arrest/jail if do not pay

Complaint:
I received a call from a person named XXXX XXXX from the XXXX XXXX XXXX contacting me on an aggraved complain filed against me and need to speak to me to get both sides of the story and to document before case is issue for prosecution. If I did n't call back it will be documented non-compliant and forward to county for prosecution. I called back and spoke with XXXX XXXX, she said she was from the Investigations pre-trial division of XXXX, stated I would be prosecuted today and taken to XXXX in XXXX County if I did not resolve this matter outside of court. Placed me on hold, came back and said she needed to fill out a stop prosecution form and needed to ask me some questions. She asked if I had ever been prosecuted for writing fradulant checks, I stated no. She asked if I or my spouse had anything in our record indicating such behavior, I said no. She asked if i was on probation, I stated no. She then asked for the names and contact numbers to XXXX individuals who would speak on my behalf to attest I was a person of moral character. I provided my step father 's information and my sisters. She asked who XXXX XXXX was, I replied my aunt. She asked me to confirmed I still lived at my home address and I said yes. She confirmed the last XXXX digits of my social. She then placed me on hold, came back and stated the review board had agreed I could resolve this matter outside of court. Gave me this number to the attorney who handles this : XXXX, then asked If I new what XXXX was. That I needed to solve this matter within 2 hours or I would be arrested today and taken to XXXX county XXXX from 21 to 45 days before I could see the judge to plea my case. Said I needed to pay {$1100.00} via XXXX. At this point I felt very scared and unconfortable she continued to threaten me, asking me if I understood I will go to XXXX today unless this matter was resolved. I XXXX their number and online it stated it was an unsafe number. The number I contancted her was XXXX. I then googled EZloan and a page on the Consumber Bureau came up stating EZcorp had lost a sue from CFPB due to unlawful debt collecting practices. I told the lady on the phone I was not comfortable making any payments via XXXX, she said Okay then Good luck. You 're going to Jail. I then contacted theCFPB who read me the EZcorp case and explained that the phone call I had received was not okay and that the way I was being threaten was not okay and advised me that If i wanted I can file a complaint against them and explain what happend. I am scared, these people know where I live, the lady threaten me multiple times. I 'm scared to go home, I have small kids and now they have more contact information to more family members. I understand it was not legal for them to tell me that, it does not take the fear away. Please help.

Company public response: Company believes complaint caused principally by actions of third party outside the control or direction of the company
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation