Consumer complaint received 2020-03-11
Company: PMAB,LLC
State: SC
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Told you not to respond to a lawsuit they filed against you

Complaint:
I have a few medical bills currently in collection with PMAB. I can take full responsibility for the bills. I have reached out to this company on three different occasions, one earlier last year while I was in the  process up setting up my goals regarding becoming more financial stable. At this time I was told if I set up a payment plan, and after making at least 3 on time payments they would be removed from my credit report and remain off as I continue to make payments. When I reached out recently earlier in XXXX. ( around the 2nd week ) when I originally spoke to the representative last year, he asked how much I could put down as a down payment. I spoke to the representative during my first call in XXXX he originally lied and stated the company does not offer a payment plan. After mentioning my original contact he then stated yes they have it but HE PERSONALLY choose not to offer the payment arrangement. I informed him that I would like to place a certain amount of money down as a down payment and he stated no you dont have the option to choose and that it is calculated by them ( totally different from what I was told previously by a representative ) I explained this to him and he stated it was nothing he could do. Based off my balance he stated my down payment would be {$600.00}. I explain I could not do that so I stated if I want to just pay something on it, his response was thats not really going to help me on anything. This was concerning for me because if I owe money anything should be taken and not turn down if Im willing to pay. I later asked to speak to another representative due to the first representative did not display customer service. The next guy I spoke to provided the same information which I still did not understand why theyll a collection agency would turn down funds. None the less his customer service was better so I agreed to pay the down payment. At this point I asked for something in writing with this agreement. At this time I was told that the agency can not do that. Any agreement I should be able to get something in writing. This representative then repeated this is why I rather not offer the down payment option I then informed him would this not be against your policy to withhold information from clients and he stated its easier for the agency to just get money in full. If the option is available it is unethical to not provide all option to a client. I later requested information for the originally creditor ( XXXX XXXX ) to get more information. At this time he informed me no, u no longer have business with them and can not make contact with them because you can be sued due to the debt now being owe to them ( PMAB ) instead. This was another difficult situation to understand because how could I be sued to attempt to pay my debt. I eventually ended this call. A few days later I contact the company again to get a outline of each bill. I was sent a email with this information on XX/XX/2020 and a letter sent on XX/XX/2020with  a little more details. I reviewed the information and seen some information regarding some medical charges that should not be there. I requested a billing statement for each account that I have and I was only provided with two. At this point I took a chance to call the original creditor ( XXXX XXXX ) to get a update. This representative immediately denied the information provided stating that I would be sued. She informed me that I can always contact them and even offered a plan and stated that I could call them to make payments. I have since been able to pay on this bill through the original creditor to avoid PMAB due to the inaccurate information to violate my rights. I also notice with this representative that Im being charge with accounts that should not be charge or on my credit report. At this time we contact PMAB and when explain the situation we got placed on hold and no one even came back to the line. XXXX XXXX  has attempt to get all the debt track back however PMAB has not release the accounts. At this time I am requesting that PMAB accept my request and XXXX XXXX  request and return these account back and remove these collections from my credit. If this is not completed I will pursue criminal charges regarding misleading information.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation