Consumer complaint received 2015-11-24
Product: Debt collection — Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: Performant Financial Corporation (FL)

The US Dept of Treasury turned over my account to Performant collection agency for collection. Upon being contacted I disputed the amount due and requested an explanation of all the various fees that has taken my debt from {$1800.00} to over {$3000.00}. All I received was a copy of the list of the fees and their amounts without explanation of what each fee is. Fees such as a XXXX fee and a XXXX fee and a Bonus Fee. These fees are being listed as " Potential Fees '' by the Dept of Treasury but are included as my balance due from Performant. I have not received an explanation of what these fees specifically are only that the Dept of Treasury can charge what ever fees they like since they are the US Government. Immediately after only providing me this list of fees instead of an explanation of what these fees are, XXXX XXXX with Performant attempted XXXX time to call my phone in XXXX and then immediately began the process of to have my wages garnished, including phoning my Human Resources Department to verify my employment. Upon speaking with XXXX, I explained I had disputed the amount due pending an explanation of the various fees, at which point he told me he removed the dispute on the account in XXXX because they sent me the list of fees and considered that as their explanation. After a heated discussion with XXXX, I was finally able to make arrangements with him in the amount of $ XXXX/mo. My first payment was to be made on XXXX XXXX, 2015 and each payment to be made the XXXX of each month. I asked XXXX if there was any leeway in the due date as I would like to make the payments as close to my pay period as possible and he said I would be fine as long as I did n't go past the XXXX of each month. I asked if I can send personal checks and was told that I had to call my payments in each month, that I was not able to make payments by checks. On XXXX XXXX I phoned in my first payment and was told they would process it as an electronic check and to allow about 5 business days for it to show on my bank account. In XXXX, the XXXX fell on a Sunday and they were closed so I called in on the XXXX and received XXXX voicemail. XXXX called me back and took my debit card information and processed the payment which hit my bank account on the XXXX. A week later I received a statement from Performant dated the XXXX showing I was late with my payment and that my XXXX payment would be {$300.00} Since it was only a few days apart, I assumed their systems did n't update and disregarded the statement. However, I noticed their statements say I can mail my payments to the US Dept of Treasury using a check but XXXX says I 'm not allowed that option. On XXXX XXXX I phoned XXXX and left a voicemail to attempt to make my payment. He did n't return my call, so on the XXXX, I called him again and made my payment. That payment hit my bank account on the XXXX. Today, XXXX XXXX ; I received a statement dated XXXX/XXXX/2015, stating I am late in my payment and my XXXX payment is to be {$300.00}. I also received a threatening letter dated XXXX/XXXX/2015 stating I 'm not keeping up my agreement with the Dept of Treasury and am delinquent in my payments. I have not been delinquent in my payments and their letters are being sent days after the payments clear my bank account. I am also being charged over {$700.00} in fees with no explanation on what these fees are. These fees are labeled as " Potential '' by the Dept of Treasury but Performant has them included in my full balance due.