Consumer complaint received 2022-08-27
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Company: HW Holding, Inc (MD)

This company has had my collections account on my credit report since XXXX of XXXX. They contacted me in XX/XX/XXXX to try to collect the debt, but due to XXXX I didn't answer. I called them at the beginning of XXXX to speak with them and see what my options were. I tried to explain to the rep that I incurred the debt due to being in a XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( which I was never told that there were resources for if you needed to move without incurring debt from breaking a lease ) and also because I had a roommate who refused to move out when I had to leave for my own safety ( and was also contributing to the XXXX XXXX ). The rep informed me rather coldly that I 'would n't be able to get off the hook for the debt ' ( which I was never trying to in the first place ) and also told me that if I didn't make a payment within the next six weeks, that I would be sued for it and my wages would be garnished and most of my paychecks would be taken as well as my taxes and basically that my credit would be further damaged. I then tried explaining to the rep that due to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, I was now the sole provider for XXXXXXXX people, and was barely making it by as is, and that I didn't know how much I could afford to pay. He told me about the self service option to set up a payment plan but that I 'needed to find a way to make it happen ' and also suggested that I take out a loan through their website to pay off the balance quickly and make payments towards the loan since it would be more flexible. Even though he said everyone can qualify for those loans regardless of credit, not only did I not qualify, but the loan options were extremely predatory and had astronomical interest rates ( I was told by an attorney that this was a way for them to basically loan shark people ). I did set up a payment plan even though I couldn't afford it, and made payments for several months. I did miss a payment by literally one day back in XXXX due to starting a new job, and they did let me restart a payment contract. However, when I spoke to the same rep as before, he told me my payment plan was fine but that I was 'just skating by ' with my payment amount and 'should be paying about XXXX per month ' that they'd settle the balance if I made a lump sum payment ( mind you for XXXX XXXX of the debt ). I explained to him that I was STILL barely able to pay my bills, especially now that I was making these payments every month and he literally told me that 'maybe I could find a way to motivate myself and make it happen '. I have continued making payments, however the issue is not only are they extremely predatory and condescending about my situation, they're pretty much breaking several Fair Credit Reporting laws. Every two months, I have to dispute the balance on my credit report because they aren't updating it unless it's disputed. Not only that, but they aren't updating the balance for all 3 credit bureaus. It's showing different balances. Most importantly, they aren't even reporting the payment history on the collections account, which is further damaging my credit. The only thing updated is the balance ( only when I dispute it of course ) but on my credit report it shows that I haven't made any payments and have negative payment history on the collections, when I've been making payments on it for almost the entire year. I understand that I do owe the debt and need to pay it, however the threats of being sued and the verbiage used by the rep and the cold condescending tone used has caused serious emotional stress about the situation. I'm XXXX XXXX working to be able to pay my bills and be able to make these payments, but I absolutely do not appreciate the threats and the tone and the incorrect reporting. Also, my account with them recently showed that it was closed, but now is showing open again.