Consumer complaint received 2016-10-20
Company: Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express)
State: IN
Product: Payday loan
Issue: Payment to acct not credited

Complaint:
This is my second report against Ace Cash XXXX. Ace has sent my information to multiple agencies and each agency harasses my family members, even after asking them to not do so. According to the new agency who is contacting me, I am being taken to collections for an unpaid debt that they say is outstanding from 2013, which they have stated that I have accrued interest on this debt and continue to do so daily. Since Ace Cash XXXX does all transactions via cash currency, there is no way for me to obtain any transactions of my own, only what would be offered to me through the collection agency or Ace themselves, which so far upon request I have not received. I have been asked to provide a credit or debit card as promissory to repay the debt, although I am not sure that the debt is valid. 
In 2013 I did use the service of Ace Cash as temporary relief, however, Ace Cash encourages borrowers to 'renew ' their loan until they reach the 3rd loan so that smaller payments may be made to repay the debt. By doing this, the borrower pays the original loan, plus the charges for that loan, and immediately takes a new loan. Again, at the time the new loan is to be paid, the borrower is encouraged to do the same, pay the loan amount and the charges for the loan, and immediately take another loan. At this point, you are really only extending a loan, but the lender is actually increasing the charges of this loan by forcing you to take a new loan. So on the 3rd loan, you are now paying the charges for all XXXX loans when in actuality you have really only received funds from the lender once. Instead of offering a longer term, the lender offered additional loans, implying that it would allow a more flexible payment option. 
This brings me to my original complaint. Due to the number of transactions a borrower is met with, and all transactions being done in cash only, I am not confident that there is an outstanding debt. I believe my terms had been met in 2013, in addition to additional funds being paid through this questionable practice of Ace Cash. This business has given my information to multiple agencies, and I feel my personal information has been compromised. The agencies that now have my information harass my family members multiple times and put a strain on our relationships, even after they are asked not to contact them. They ask for credit card information, they state my social security number over the phone to people other than myself, and they are often rude to everyone they contact. They even suggested that I 'borrow ' money to pay this debt! 
I do not believe there is any remaining debt, I am confident that the loan was resolved within the first XXXX transactions, and that their practice of suggesting additional loans is a false statement, when in fact you are only extending the loan, but they are adding charges by calling it a 'new ' loan. These lenders cause great financial strain for families, and they continue to do so by selling your information to other businesses similar to theirs, or what they consider 'debt collectors '. People go to places that offer temporary relief to a situation, only to find out that they have greatly increased their financial difficulties. When a family believes they have finally overcome those difficulties, the lenders begin another cycle. As I stated, it was suggested that I 'borrow ' money to pay a debt that I do not believe to be valid. It was also suggested that 'I have no intentions of paying my debts ', and that 'no, I was not going to be allowed to speak '. 
Ace Cash is causing hardship for my family, I wish I had never stepped foot into their location. The people they have given my personal information to have no regard for other people, and they threaten me with additional charges if I do not resolve the matter today.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation