Consumer complaint received 2024-02-27
Product: Debt collection — Mortgage debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: MCCABE, TROTTER & BEVERLY, PC (WA)

I own a condo in XXXX, XXXX  with my daughter. She lives there and is responsible for the mortgage payment and the HOA. Given I live in XXXX  XXXX and did not take care of paying for the condo, I was unaware the for close to two years, the HOA dues had not been paid by her. I reached out to the HOA when I received a letter with the outstanding balance, at which point they sent me to their debt collector name McCabe, Trotter & Beverly, P.C.

I contacted McCabe, Trotter & Beverly, P.C. on XX/XX/XXXX to discuss paying the balance and I was connected with XXXX XXXX. I spoke with XXXX XXXX regarding my options and she said I could pay in full or make payment arrangements. At that time I chose to pay in full and she sent me an email that day with options to pay as well as the balance I owed which included the HOA payment for XXXX and she shared with me over the phone XXXX would be due as well given the date. I later spoke with my husband and he elected to make payment arrangements, so I reached back out to XXXX XXXX via email on the XXXX of XXXX and asked for the process to set up a payment arrangement as she had not given me the details on the phone and that option was not on the payment options she emailed me. After a week of no response, I then called her on XX/XX/XXXX requesting the same information, and I did not receive a response. I then called and emailed her again on the XXXX of XXXX, and I tried to reach someone else in the law firm who could provide me with this information ; still no response. I proceeded to call again the last week of XXXX and left her a voicemail, and I tried email and still not information. 

I then receive a letter from them on XX/XX/XXXX or XXXX stating my condo was going to go into foreclosure for non-payment. I immediately wrote a check for the amount she shared with me in XXXX plus the HOA dues for XXXX and XXXX and I sent it in the mail. I proceeded to call her again, and she answers the phone. I presume she was answering it now because the foreclosure notice had gone out and more fees were being added. I shared with her that I had sent the payment and for how much ; she then proceeds to share with me that amount would not be enough as there were fees attached for service. I let her know I had not been served, but could she let me know how much the service fee was so I could get the full balance taken care of. She proceed to give me an estimate of the fee at which point I requested she contact me as soon as she received my check so that I could pay the balance and she said she would. This conversation occurred on Monday, XX/XX/XXXX. 

I then hear from my mortgage company that very day that I need a letter to show this payment had been made in full. I let them know what I had done and gave them XXXX XXXX 's contact information so they could connect with her. They called her and received the same information ; there were going to be a few additional fees and she would let them know when the payment came in. A week goes by, my check clears, but I hear nothing from XXXX XXXX and she is now not answering my calls again. My mortgagor calls back and she doesn't answer his call either, so he has someone on his team call and she answer that call. She shares she the check is in and she would let everyone know the outstanding balance the next day, that was XX/XX/XXXX. The next day comes and she does not contact me or my mortgagor. They are calling her back, and now she won't answer any calls from them for an entire week. I then receive an email from XXXX XXXX on Monday, XX/XX/XXXX with an inflated balance for the final fees. I proceed to email her to let her know that was three times what she said it would be and I needed an itemized statement of the fees. In the interim I go online to their portal to make the payment and it says there is an error with the code I was given. She proceeds to call me and becomes completely belligerent. We get into a verbal altercation and I tell her she is out of line, she has been giving no information, or misinformation from the beginning and to give me the option to pay so that I can get it done and move on. She continues to scream and then tells me " I am not giving you anything ' and hangs up the phone. I proceed to call the law firm and ask for the partner and/or manager who was in charge as this behavior was completely unacceptable. I am transferred to the lawyer in charge and I proceed to leave a message. I continue to work with the portal and I finally get it to work and I make the final payment amount that was sent to me on the XXXX. I take a screenshot of the payment and send it to my mortgage company as I know she isn't going to be cooperative and send any additional information. 

I then receive another email this morning saying I owed the dues for XXXX and my account would not be cleared until I paid it. I let her know the original payment I sent in included the payment for XXXX and I wasn't sending any additional funds. She had given me a number yesterday that was the 'final amount ' and now today there is more that I owe that I know I don't. I let her know it is basic math, her statement is incorrect, and that I would be working with the HOA again moving forward to make the payment for XXXX which is due. She proceeds to tell me the HOA due had gone up from {$25.00} per month for XXXX, at which point I shared with her that if that was the case I only owed 25 % of what she was asking for and again, I wasn't sending anything to her. 

I have had issues with the HOA management company for this condo since I purchased it in XXXX. I have complained to the state of XXXX XXXX and received no information or relief. I now have this issue with their debt collector and their tactics are as dishonest, misleading, and unclear as the HOA management company XXXX XXXX. I believe this process was extended to increase the fees and make this process as unbearable as possible. These debt collectors need to be held accountable, and McCabe, Trotter & Beverly, P.C. needs to be sanctioned, and or some type of penalty laid against them. They are trying to extort more money from me and I will not pay anything else but what is owed moving forward for XX/XX/XXXX, which is not here yet.