Consumer complaint received 2020-01-08
Company: USI Solutions Inc.
State: ID
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Auto debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
USI Solutions , Inc. initiated calls midXX/XX/XXXX telling me I had an outstanding debt from a car I purchased in XXXX. They found that I had paid most of it in XXXX and was calling to collect the rest of the debt of {$2100.00}. The man on the phone was very polite and offered a quick payoff and to negotiate. He offered the payoff of {$1700.00}. I told him I didn't have that and he pressured me to pay off different amounts. After I told him I'd be willing to do payments, the line cut off and another man came on. He started pressuring me and threatening me with legal action and perhaps police to come to my house. He claimed that the company that had my debt went out of business. I know the car company also went out of business and that I have paid that car off because I wasn't able to get a license for some time. ( It was also a tense subject in my new marriage. ) I told him I wouldn't pay anything until I received something in writing. I did receive mail from them, but it was suspicious as it did not have a creditor name ( see attached ). 

They called again XX/XX/XXXX but I ignored their call. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, they called my wife and left a voice mail saying they needed to speak with me about a debt, which she forwarded to me. I called them back not knowing it was the same people. I spoke with a man named XXXX XXXX. He was polite and offered to resolve the matter for an over-the-phone payment then and there. I told him I couldn't do that. I fell in the gullible trap again and engaged him in conversation for about 22 minutes. I brought up the XXXX XXXX XXXX reports I had read ( https : XXXX XXXX and he disputed those. After I told him I'd make payments, the line cut off again and another man, XXXX XXXX, came on the phone and asked for my debit card number. I told him I didn't feel comfortable giving him that information over the phone and that I would happily go to the website he gave me and pay it there. He then said that for some FCC reasons, they could not accept online payments. ( Here is the website : http : //unitrustsolutionsinc.com/ ). There is a tab for online payment. 

I agreed to call him back after speaking with my wife. He told me since she was not on the account and that she had no say. I told him that it mattered because we are financial partners in our marriage and he finally hung up. 

I did research about statute of limitations and my rights as a consumer. I also found a lawsuit against USI Solutions in  Illinois with the exact description of what was happening to me. Court date is scheduled this year. 

I also checked with the major US credit reporting companies and there is no record of that debt. The car dealership they said they represented went out of business years ago and by their admission, so did the debt collection agency they represented. 

I have now had to contact my personal relations and let them know that they might be harassed about this. I've had to report it to several state and federal agencies as well as flag my credit report. They have made me question my integrity and caused strife in my marriage.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation