Consumer complaint received 2017-10-10
Company: Account Discovery Systems, LLC
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Federal student loan debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX at around XXXX, I received a call from a private number. It was a woman asking to speak to my boyfriend. I thought it was weird that someone would contact me instead of him, so I told her he was n't with me at the moment, but if there was anything I could help her with, I 'd be glad to assist her or take a message. She stated she was from a carrier company looking to deliver a parcel to him, but that she needed him to be present to receive it Friday XXXX XXXX, XXXX with a valid ID in order to sign off on it. I told the woman that it would n't be possible because of his work schedule, but that I could ask someone else to be present in order to receive it on his behalf. The woman said that it had to be him, so I asked if we could arrange to pick it up at the post office or whatever carrier company she was working for, and she said that it was a private carrier and that there were no pick ups there. I told her I did n't know what to tell her because he absolutely could not miss work, especially on such short notice. I asked her who the parcel was from and if she knew what it was, and she said there was no sender information available and that it was just a manila envelope with his information on the front. She said she would give me a number so that he could call and have him authorize someone to accept the package. I was also given a reference number for when he called back. 

She hung up and I sent him a message telling him about the awkward situation. He said he was n't expecting anything and if I could try to call back to get more information because the whole situation seemed very strange. I called the number that was given to me and a man answered the phone. I explained the situation and after giving him the reference number the woman had given me, he explained that the package was from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and that he worked with an attorney that was trying to collect money on their behalf, not a carrier company like I had just been told a couple of moments ago. I told him that could not be possible because all of my boyfriend 's student loans are under the care of XXXX bank. There were only 4 loans taken out and that it could n't be possible that he owed this money especially after his wages have been garnished in the past and he went through a rehabilitation program to be in good standing with his loans. The man continued to tell me that he was next to the attorney and that the debt was for {$4800.00} but that the attorney could settle for {$2300.00} if I was willing to pay it today XXXX XXXX XXXX ). Note, he never asked to speak to my boyfriend directly or inform me that " this is an attempt to collect, etc ... '' he just started asking me to make a payment then and there. He told me that if nothing was paid that he would be served in XXXX XXXX XXXX which is the county where he resides and that his assets would be seized, as well as garnishments made to his wages. I told him that I could not release any funds because I had to speak to him since he was still unaware this was going on. 

He said he was going to let me speak to the attorney directly, but to try to settle this as soon as possible. So, I waited a few more moments and then the supposed attorney was on the line. He gave me his name and said that he would like to settle this as soon as possible. He explained that he had collected on XXXX XXXX behalf for quite some time and that they completely trusted him so if he wanted to settle for less, that it was basically up to him and what he said goes. I explained that I found this to be very strange considering that the company had been closed in XXXX for fraud and it made it up to the supreme court XXXX district. That I was aware of the incidents that caused it to close, so I was sure something was n't right. The " attorney '' told me that basically the media blew an incident all out of proportion and that basically that was just a rumor, when I have copies of the verdict from the supreme court case. He told me that he could settle the debt for {$1300.00} and I asked if that would take care of my boyfriend 's full student debt which was not {$4800.00}, it was over {$10000.00}. He said it possibly would take care of everything. It sounded too good to be true, so I told the man that I would contact XXXX to see if they knew anything about this debt. He told me he had never heard of them but that I could do that. Just to make sure I contacted him before XXXX because that was the time he would be going home. It was now about XXXX, so I got his extension and called the bank that handles his loans. Throughout the whole process these people did n't get my name or relation to my boyfriend but they were eager to get a payment. 

I contacted the bank where I have already been consented to speak to them on his behalf and they told me that this made no sense because his loans are all in good standing and that I should try checking the XXXX website for a complete list of his debts. I did and sure enough that debt was not included. The XXXX representative told me it sounded like a scam and to try to disregard anything we received. That even if I or he paid this company the money they asked for, his student debt would remain as is. It was about XXXX when I called back and asked for the attorney, who was apparently on his way out. I told him I needed time to speak to my boyfriend and explain the situation to him, and he said to call back at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, which was the next morning, because he would be in meetings all day and would not be able to assist me. I did n't call because it was too early and sure enough Saturday morning XXXX XXXX, XXXX my boyfriend got a statement in the mail with the amount owed as {$1300.00}, {$30.00} lower than what the man had told me over the phone. 

I am truly scared and want this resolved because this debt does n't seem valid and I ca n't find any proof that it 's owed. There is no way I can contact XXXX XXXX because all the information online says they are permanently closed and the numbers that I have come across have all been disconnected. Please assist us with solving this issue. The last thing we need is to be harassed with legal repercussions if we do n't give money to someone we do n't feel we owe money to.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation