Consumer complaint received 2018-01-10
Product: Debt collection — Auto debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (NV)

In XX/XX/XXXX, I took out an Auto loan in the amount of {$10000.00} while I was in college. Through college my job schedule changed repeatedly as I pushed through internships and classes to get completed. I fell behind making payments which was all on me. Upon graduating, I moved out of state to start my career job, but at that point there was not enough time to catch up and the car was repossessed. Following the repossession, I made contact with the collection department to reach a settlement. 
In XX/XX/XXXX, a settlement verbal agreement was reached in the amount of {$3000.00} over 3 months of payments and my debit card was provided. 

The first payment was made and processed on XX/XX/XXXX for : {$1000.00}. 

The second payment was made and processed XX/XX/XXXX for : {$1000.00}. 

The third final payment was setup for XX/XX/XXXX, but the payment was never withdrawn. I contacted the collection department on XX/XX/XXXX to inquire, but was informed everything was fine and the withdraw will take a couple of days. The payment of XX/XX/XXXX was never withdrawn, so I took a screen shot of my available balance on XX/XX/XXXX showing 2 deposits in the amount of {$1900.00}, but they never requested a bank statement for back up. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, my bank flagged my account for fraud for what they report as suspicious activity and withdraw attempts. On XX/XX/XXXX a payment was made for {$310.00} using temporary debit card via online portal ( maximum limit for temporary card ). On XX/XX/XXXX, this must have triggered them ; I received a call from the collection department questioning why the third XX/XX/XXXX payment was not received. I informed them that the payment was never taken from my account. They requested a payment be made immediately and that is when I informed them of the fraud on my account. I told them I could provide a letter from my bank verifying the fraudulent activity. They did not request a letter, but began to question my integrity and whether or not the funds were available. I informed them of my past conversations and my follow up, but they still demanded payment be made immediately. Between the fraudulent activity on my account, their rude and threatening attitude, I did not feel comfortable providing my direct bank information to provide another payment. 
On XX/XX/XXXX, I received my new visa debit card and I made the final of {$700.00} which was processed via their online portal. 

The payment on XX/XX/XXXX must have triggered them again as I received a call on XX/XX/XXXX stating they had received the payment, but the settlement for not valid due to missing the XX/XX/XXXX payment. They informed me by balance is {$2600.00} or for a one-time payment of {$1400.00}. I attempted to explain past correspondences, but was cut off and put on hold to look up information. They kept circling back that I did not adhere to the agreement previously made and a new settlement was made. They stated there is nothing they could do unless I wanted to settle. I informed them that I am no longer willing to make any future payments. 

XX/XX/XXXX, I submitted a cease and desist request form via their online portal. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, received a call from a collection agent attempting to setup another settlement. I informed the agent of past correspondences, but they agent did not offer any solutions other than settlement attempts. I informed the agent that I do not want to proceed with any type of payment and do not want to be contacted further. 
To this day I still receive about 1-2 phone calls each month, but I do not answer. Over the past years they have called my references, my place of employment attempting to contact me. 

In total, I have paid {$14000.00} and the original loan was for {$10000.00}. This does not include the sale of the repossessed vehicle. 

Being young and not understanding the system I wish I would have received a settlement agreement in writing prior to making payment. The amount of pressure they put on you to pay today or else is what forced my hand. I requested multiple times the phone records for them to reference past conversations with no avail. I completely understand and take responsibility that I fell behind on payments. However, I believe I have more than compensated this agency.