Consumer complaint received 2020-11-03
Product: Payday loan, title loan, or personal loan — Installment loan
Issue: Struggling to pay your loan — 
Company: Upgrade, Inc. (CA)

I took out a loan in XX/XX/XXXX through Upgrade, an online lender for a total of {$1500.00}, primarily to up my credit score as I didn't actually need the money at the moment. As of XX/XX/XXXX, I have an outstanding balance of {$550.00}. When our company had run out of money in XX/XX/XXXX, and with it, I lost my excellent health coverage, I was XXXX  in the XXXX ( on XXXX XXXX ) for a number of days while they fought to save my life as I was XXXX to death XXXX. They discovered I had severe XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX, which was attacking my XXXX and required XXXX to stop the XXXX XXXX. I had lost XXXX by the first time I was discharged after two weeks and COVID-19 was hitting the US in large numbers. I was then XXXX  two  additional times in XXXX and XXXX. Since XXXX, I have been going back and forth with both Social Security and EDD ( I was an XXXX XXXX in the XXXX XXXX for the previous 18-months and therefore ineligible for standard unemployment assistance, but was told I would qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assitance. For the time being, I can not work anywhere near where I may be exposed to COVID due to my XXXX XXXX being heavily compromised from the massive XXXXXXXX  I have to take to control XXXX 's. I have been told flat out, if I was to contract COVID, I would not survive ). The backlog produced by COVID from both the Social Security and EDD offices should be taken into consideration by ALL creditors as we are living in extreme times. I have more tests this week with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to try to get a handle on my XXXX 's as I am completely incapable of working at the moment due to unimaginable pain and XXXX XXXX. As I have had no income since XX/XX/XXXX, I have had to rely on cash advances from credit cards - and have been paying a reduced minimum to Upgrade until this month. I am down to XXXX in my checking account. My other credit card companies, including XXXX and XXXX XXXX, are bending over backward to help me by extending forbearances while my financial situation works itself out. However, I have contacted Upgrade numerous times, explaining my plight. They absolutely refuse to work with me on any forbearance, only a reduction in monthly payments which are impossible to make at this moment. I have lost my apartment because I could no longer afford the rent and have had to move in with a friend. I also lost my health and am now at the mercy of Medi-Cal for an endless parade of specialist appointments resulting from my XXXX XXXX ( I'm being admitted to XXXX XXXX again tomorrow morning for more tests ) and I have to rely on Cal-Fresh to eat. In addition, I have to borrow money from friends just to make my car payments so I can get to the many doctor 's appointments I have each week. I have lost everything. Each of my creditors is being incredibly patient and understanding because I have always paid early on any balance and often more than the minimum. My credit score said as much. But not Upgrade. Any deferment, they won't even discuss. Perhaps a class action lawsuit will get their attention. Taking advantage of those directly affected by a pandemic -- as well as someone with a newly discovered medical issue that has nothing to do with personal fault, is the height of corporate greed and displays a total lack of compassion or humanity, especially when the loan is almost paid off.