Consumer complaint received 2021-04-27
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Company: Summit A*R, Inc. (FL)

I was participating in an auction by NY XXXX on the site XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/2021 ( evening EST ). One lot ( a XXXX watch ) came up for auction. The red Bid tab was displaying an amount of XXXX USD. I clicked on it ( XXXX ), nothing happened as if the site was frozen or my bid was held at bay, and then suddenly the bidding jumped to XXXX on the side window, and then the side window showed XXXX and said I had won it for XXXX. I did not ever bid on XXXX, an XXXX bid never appeared on the auctioneers site for me to click on. 

Normally, on the screen, the lot shows up with a picture and below that picture, a red tab with the amount for bidding shows up. When we click on that amount on the platform/site, the site says bid has been sent. The site continues to provide feedback such as " winning '' or " bid again '', etc. All internet auction sites provide feedbacks on your bidding, and you know your bid has gone through, without which the auction will be improper. In my case, these events and feedbacks did not occur. There were no feedbacks about my bid. 

I immediately contacted both NY XXXX and the XXXX XXXX by phone and emails explaining what had happened. Several emails followed between NY XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and me, and no one explained to me how a XXXX bid could translate into an XXXX bid without my doing anything or the lack of feedback on my original XXXX bid. It appears that there were instances where this exact same thing had happened to other bidders on this platform as well. Mine was not an isolated case. In addition to NY XXXX and XXXX XXXX, I had communicated to others as well about this incident. There are additional issues we have found with this auction as well. I did offer NY XXXX to buy the lot for my original bid of XXXX, but they refused. There appears to be other issues related to this bidding as well. 

I really tried hard to explain what had happened, but these two entities have pursued a wrongful claim causing much stress. 

The next thing I received was a letter from Summit AR collection agency and their agents started to call me what appears to be very shortly after sending the letter, violating the 30-days-time frame for my reply. The agent I happened to speak with was coercing me to pay the amount despite my explanation as to what had happened. The agent warned me that my credit score will be ruined if I did not pay ignoring my description of the incident and the fact that I do not owe any money to NY XXXX or this agency. He then wanted me to call him when I send my letter etc. I found these excessive, unwarranted and harmful. This has caused much mental stress at a particularly difficult time for me and my family. I have sent a cease and desist letter to the collection agency. 

Finally, in response to my complaint to XXXX  on XXXX XXXX and NY XXXX, XXXX XXXX has now admitted there was net work issues related to this bidding and they will be discussing with NY XXXX to sort this out. I have attached it with this complaint. I am worried that Summit AR will report to credit agencies before XXXX XXXX  sorts this out in a timely manner. 

I had even pointed out that there was a breach of accounts at XXXX XXXX.