Consumer complaint received 2021-03-22
Company: Halsted Financial Services, LLC.
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Payday loan debt
Issue: Communication tactics
Sub-issue: You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying

Complaint:
I received multiple unsolicited communications from a company named Halsted Financial, which I later learned was hired by XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX had previously communicated with me over the phone and via voicemails ( which I retained ) that they had filed a lawsuit against me in XXXX XXXX. Per public records, not suit had been filed, so I was surprised and suspicious of XXXX XXXX. The stream of XXXX I started to receive followed this timeline : XXXX XXXX received XXXX received XXXX received XXXXPhone call received from XXXX @ XXXX cst. At the time, I informed the rep that I do not verify personally identifying information over the phone due to 1 ) the call registered as spam and 2 ) the fear of identity theft. I requested that all communication be mailed to the address of file. The rep was reluctant but disconnected the call. 
3/19-Phone call received form XXXX. This time I did not capture the ph # or time stamp, but again refused to give them my social security number and DOB and asked they mail me any needed communication. 
XXXX Second phone call received in the same day from XXXX @ XXXX cst. I once again declined to verify personal info and asked for mail communication. 
XXXX Phone call received from XXXX @ XXXX cst. Advised rep that I have now requested no calls mail communication only three times- this call was the fourth. When asked if this was noted in my file, she confirmed that it was not. 
XXXX Phone call received from XXXX @ XXXX cst. Advised rep that I have repeatedly asked for mail only communication. Rep admitted that she did not read the notes on the account prior to calling. 

This is a clear violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The exact violations are as followed : USC 1692 ( b ) 804. Acquisition of location information Any debt collector communicating with any person other than the consumer for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall -- ( 2 ) not state that such consumer owes any debt ; This was done verbally on the phone and stated in the attached emails.

( 3 ) not communicate with any such person more than once unless requested to do so Please see the attached stream of emails and phone calls ( 5 ) not use any language or symbol on any envelope or in the contents of any communication effected by the mails or telegram that indicates that the debt collector is in the debt collection business or that the communication relates to the collection of a debt. 
Halsted financial is a well-known debt collector. Their company logo was placed on the emails. 

USC 1692 ( d ) 806. Harassment or abuse A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section : ( 5 ) Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.

Lastly, I did not consent for Halsted Financial to have my personal or financial information.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation