Consumer complaint received 2022-09-19
Company: Professional Debt Mediation, Inc.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly
Sub-issue: Talked to a third-party about your debt

Complaint:
This complaint regards the creditor XXXX XXXX an apartment complex and Professional Debt Mediation , Inc., ( PDM ) acting as the authorized agent. 

I have received many phone calls and letters from Professional Debt Mediation , Inc., harassing me to pay this debt. See attached letter dated XX/XX/XXXX for example. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I called Professional Debt Mediation , Inc., and tried to negotiate a settlement with the collection agency. The lady I spoke with said PDM , Inc., has no power to negotiate settlements, ( even though they are the debt collection agency ) she said she would have to call the creditor. I said that would be fine I would wait on hold. She returned and said the creditor will settle for basically 10 % off the total amount due, {$2200.00}. I said that was not enough because I didnt feel like I even owed them the money. I countered with a lower number {$1200.00}, which is XXXX XXXX dollars off the amount due {$2200.00}. She said XXXX XXXX wouldnt settle for that amount. She said that the 10 % off was a good deal and that I should take it. I again stated that I didnt owe the money and that XXXX XXXX did not lose any money when I moved out after 2 months notice. I told her I would have to think about it and she said call us back. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I called Professional Debt Mediation , Inc. back to settle the debt. I spoke with a representative, XXXX XXXX, and he said the offer XXXX XXXX made on XX/XX/XXXX was no longer available and that I would now have to pay the entire amount. I asked to speak with a manager and spoke with, XXXX XXXX, the assistant operations manager. He told me the same thing as XXXX XXXX, I would have to pay in full and the offer was off the table. Then he said in order to have your collections removed from your credit report you will have to pay the entire amount {$2200.00}. I said no, I made a deal with the lady I spoke with on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. He continued to be condescending and told me if I wanted to pay in full today they would remove my collections account from my credit report. 

After my two telephone conversations, I decided to looks at reviews on XXXX for Professional Debt Mediation , Inc., and found many bad reviews and how horrible this company is and how they lied to folks about removing the collections from their credit reports and some even said that they tried to make them pay twice. One lady called this company soulless. One lady said there is 1 star reviews all across XXXX stating that they are a scam company, I don't even understand how this " business '' is operating legally with practices like this. 

I then decided to look for any lawsuits against Professional Debt Mediation , Inc., and I found a few and one that was more recent from XXXX in XXXX, Florida. This is what the Plaintiff alleged in his Complaint against Professional Debt Mediation , Inc . So, on XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a certified letter to Professional Debt Mediation , Inc., alleging the same fact pattern. I received the green card back from the post office where they had signed for my letter on XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( attached ) Professional Debt Mediation , Inc. ( PDF ) sent me a collection letter dated XX/XX/XXXX, this correspondence has violated the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 1692, et seq. ( FDCPA ) and the Florida Consumer Collections Practices Act, Section 559.55, et seq., Florida Statutes ( FCCPA ). 
Rather than prepare and mail a collection letter on its own, Professional Debt Mediation , Inc., sent information to a third-party, commercial mail house ( mail house ) to print and mail the collection communication. In doing so, PDM disclosed my highly personal information to the mail house, including : ( a ) my status as a debtor ; ( b ) the amount of the alleged debt ; ( c ) the nature of the underlying debt; and ( d ) my current address. 

As of today, XX/XX/XXXX, I have not heard from Professional Debt Mediation , Inc., regarding my correspondence or the collection.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation