Consumer complaint received 2015-09-08
Company: Arnold Scott Harris, P.C.
State: IL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Disclosure verification of debt
Sub-issue: Not given enough info to verify debt

Complaint:
Arnold Scott Harris, P.C., Located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, IL XXXX, Phone XXXX ; has entered into a payment arrangement with me to settle and pay outstanding parking and traffic violations with the City XXXX. Upon the original telephone conversation a few months ago, the representative at Arnold Scott has informed me that they will stop the suspension of my drivers license if I paid 25 % of the debt, plus the court cost and fines, which the representative told me the amount needed to halt the suspension was just over {$900.00}. I paid with my credit card to stop the suspension, ( per XXXX XXXX XXXX under the agreement that the collection agency would send me the agreement in writing and an itemized breakdown of the debt they said I owed. After taking the {$900.00} plus dollars from my credit card and auto debiting my checking account for {$130.00} plus last month, I called today and a representative by the name XXXX XXXX said her office will not furnish me proof of the debt or proof of the telephone agreement established with her colleague at Arnold Scott Harris. XXXX XXXX also stated there are additional fees and court cost I must pay, and then she gave me an increased amount due. Furthermore, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, Arnold Scott Harris, and the City XXXX are conspiring to charge people who sign up for the payment plans an additional 22 % to participant in the payment plan. Which is omitted as a requirement under the information displayed on the City XXXX Website, which outlines what types of payment plans the City accepts. no where on the website does it mention an additional 22 % fee to enter into the payment plan XXXX XXXX ). Consumer are either forced to accept these verbal changes or Arnold Scott Harris threatens them with drivers license suspension. The City XXXX is fully aware of this practice and condones it even though the 22 % add-on is not listed on the city 's website. In essence, we are paying fines, court cost ( for no court appearances or filings by the city or the collection agency XXXX, penalties, and the collection fees ; and the city will not administer their own payment plan, so we are forced to deal with the collection agency. The collections agency and the city refuses to furnish clear and concise disclosure of the debt as pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Act. Arnold Scott Harris states they will continue to debit my checking account, but will not provide me with proof of debt or receipts of payments. They also keep adding more newly found debt ; ie.. court cost and fees, after we reached a verbal telephone agreement that was suppose to followup with a written agreement per XXXX XXXX, and which covered all the debt owed to the City XXXX. The City XXXX refuses to help consumers and transfer the calls to Arnold Scott Harris, whom uses coercion tactics and threats to suspend the consumer 's drivers license if he/she do not comply and set up a payment plan intermediately. Arnold Scott Harris continues to take the consumers money and will not provide proof of the debt, fines, court cost, penalties, etc. I have requested the aforementioned documentation on XXXX occasions, and still have not received it. if I cancel the payment arrangement, they state that my drivers license will be suspended. The relationship with Arnold Scott Harris and the City XXXX should be investigated, as well as the unfair credit collection practice and tactics Arnold Scott Harris and its employees are utilizing.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation