Consumer complaint received 2019-12-13
Company: Palmar, Inc.
State: NV
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Impersonated attorney, law enforcement, or government official

Complaint:
InXX/XX/XXXX, I started to receive calls regarding an old debt with XXXX that was taken out in XXXX, defaulted on in XXXX, and finally settled on in XXXX. Given the amount of time that had passed, I chalked the initial calls up to a scam or phantom debt collector but returned the call out of curiosity as they were claiming to be filing a " civil complaint '' against me. At this time I advised the woman I spoke with that I did not owe the money and that it was settled back in XXXX and that I wanted them to provide proof of debt. She became combative and excessively tried to scare me with what the " legal action '' means .... I informed her that I would gladly go to court regarding the matter at which point she hung up on me. I attempted to call back several times and was sent to a generic voicemail. I left a message on my 3rd attempt advising that I wanted to make sure that they had the right address on file so that I could be served and did not receive an immediate call back. I then contacted XXXX XXXX directly and was transferred to their Loss Mitigation department who advised me they sold my debt in XXXX. I contacted that debtor and they advised me the file transferred again in XXXX. I attempted to contact that debtor and was unable to reach them ( it appears they are no longer in business ). I settled my account with XXXX out of XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/ but was unable to make contact with them at the number provided on my letter from XXXX. 

The first time I had heard back from Jefferson and Associates was on XX/XX/ when a woman from " XXXX XXXX XXXX  '' left me a voicemail indicating they attempted to deliver very important legal documents and received them back as undeliverable and if I wanted additional information regarding the urgent matter to call the " Legal office '' back at XXXX and reference my case number. 

Since then, I have received countless calls all with slightly varying names of the company, case number, my name, and dates I have to respond by to prevent " Legal Action ''. I have answered many of these calls and repeated the same information and requested proof of debt each time to no avail. The calls stop for a month or two after I speak with someone and then start back up. I have stopped answering or returning calls after my last interaction with a XXXX XXXX - Secretary with the filing department at XXXX, XXXX XXXX  XXXX ( name of company on VM received on XXXX ) also Secretary with the filing department at Jefferson and Associates ( Name of company on VM received on XXXX ). During my conversation with Ms. XXXX, I again informed her that I do not owe this debt and that they need to send proof of debt to me. At this time, she asked me to prove to her that I don't owe the debt at which time I expressed my concerns about sharing information given their phone numbers are generated by google and their business doesn't have a real website. She did state she would send me proof and confirmed my address but it was never received. 

I have received 4 voicemails since that interaction ; all of which are from Jefferson and Associates and stating that a civil complaint is being filed against me if I don't respond by the end of that business day. Some of these voicemails discuss how I have defaulted on my loan, provide the last 4 digits of my SSN, and state that they are pursuing my case to the fullest extent of the law. 

On XX/XX/, my father received a call from Jefferson and Associates advising him that they needed to contact me right away regarding a civil case filed against me and that they were trying to help me before it was too late. The feel of this call was that they were trying to scare him into thinking I was in some sort of trouble and pressure him into releasing my contact information. He did not provide them with my information but did call me very concerned that something was wrong. I have since advised him to ask them to not call him. 

On XX/XX/, I attempted to call Jefferson and Associates at the last number they provided to my father ( they have provided 4 different numbers to call back when leaving a voicemail ) and reached a woman who answered the phone " This is XXXX ''. I asked her what company I had reached and she stated " Jefferson and Associates law firm ''. She asked me for the case number I was calling in reference to which I provided. She then confirmed the name on the file and I asked for the business ' address, business license #, and a Bar number for the attorney. She then advised me that I could mail whatever correspondence I need to the address below but that she was an answering service and I would need to call during business hours in order to get the other information. I did some further research on the address and found that this is a virtual office where an individual can pay the company to forward their mail and answer their phone. 

In conclusion, I believe that Jefferson and Associates has not only been deceptive regarding them being a legitimate law firm and taking legal action against me but they have also refused to acknowledge and fulfill my many requests to provide proof of debt. The tone of the voicemails and the call to my father attempting to scare him into thinking I am in some sort of legal trouble is abusive. Additionally, the time that has passed since last payment ( assuming they don't know about my settlement in XXXX  of XXXX  ) Jefferson and Associates ' collection practices place them in violation of Time Barred Debt laws in the state of NV. I no longer owe this debt from XXXX and have done everything in my power to rectify this with Jefferson and Associates ; however, it appears that they will only stop once I agree to pay them. 

Numbers I have been provided to call back Jefferson and Associates are as follows : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Untimely response