Consumer complaint received 2024-09-17
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Told you not to respond to a lawsuit they filed against you
Company: The Nguyen Law Firm, PLC (VA)

I contacted Nguyen Ballato Law Firm two days prior to my court day that was on Wednesday, XXXX XXXX XXXX. I called them and spoke with gentleman by the name of XXXX first and let him know I had a court date with them and I wanted to make a payment so I didnt have to return to court and they could just continue the case, he said that was fine that I could pay half and they will continue it for 30 days and I will have to pay the remaining balance of XXXX. I told him I will call back in and pay it. I called back in within 30 minutes and spoke with a young lady by the name of XXXX I went through the same thing I did with XXXX, I also asked would I have to pay the full amount for me not to have to show up to court, she said let me see and place me on hold, she got back on the line and said no I could pay half and it will be continued for 30 days like XXXX states before. She then told me I was on a recorded line and she will process the payment, she processed the payment in the amount of XXXX because it was a XXXX dollars convenience fee I agreed and gave my card and information. She then said my payment went through and I didnt need to appear at court on Wednesday. Wednesday comes and go I dont go because I was advised by the workers of the law firm that everything was taken care of and I didnt need to appear. I look at the court docket to make sure it was continued and it was not. It states default judgement I called in and spoke to XXXX and XXXX which they stated what they told me was correct and I didnt need to show but I let them know that a default judgment is whats showing and not continued like they stated and it wasnt a good thing and I need that to be fixed which they then escalated it to XXXX . XXXX gets on the phone and tries to now tell me what I was told was incorrect. I told her what they told to me again and she even read back to me what was said from the notes entered into my file so she knows what I was saying wasnt wrong and I was told to not show up to court and it would be continued, and I had 30 more days. She then states that she is sorry and she is escalating it to her boss to see what they can do to fix it and will call me back. She calls me back XX/XX/2024 @ XXXX and proceeds to say, in order, for them to fix their mistake and error that I would have to pay the rest of the balance off. They admitted to wrongdoing and giving me false and misleading information, my husband was on the phone, he is my witness. All I asked for them to do was to go back to the courts and tell them they had new information that they didnt have before and they could reverse it but no I have to pay first, for that to happen. Which I feel like I would pay it and they still would leave it how it is, because they got their money. I think thats very predatory in itself. You tell someone who is trying to do the right thing, wrong information and to fix it, to cough up the rest of the money or we cant help you. They are not following the laws when it comes to collecting debt they cant mislead and provide the wrong information.