Consumer complaint received 2023-03-02
Product: Debt collection 
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt
Company: HSBC NORTH AMERICA HOLDINGS INC.
State: KS

Complaint:
Yesterday, XX/XX/XXXX, my husband was contacted by someone asking for me by my former married name. I called the number back at XXXX. I spoke with XXXX XXXX who talked very fast and told me that they are prepared to file suit against me in my home county of XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. I live in XXXX, now. 

XXXX XXXX gave me file # XXXX. He proceeded to tell me that they are going to get a judgement against me to garnish my wages from the State of XXXX  and place liens on my assets. I was shocked and explained that I do not have any idea what he is talking about. 

He said that they had mailed something to me back in XX/XX/XXXX. I explained that if they sent this in my former married name, it was probably thrown away because I only get junk mail in that name these days. 

I asked XXXX XXXX to slow down many times so I could take notes. He stated that I agreed to arbitration when I signed up for the card and with that, it allows HSBC Household/XXXX  XXXX to pursue this debt for up to 15 years and that it went to collections in XXXX. 

I again, stated that I have no idea what he was talking about and that I haven't had any defaulted credit cards since I left my ex husband in XXXX or XXXX and that he was supposed to have been paying the credit card bills. XXXX XXXX stated that that is about 90 % of what he hears. 

XXXX XXXX stated that they have not yet filed a complaint, but are prepared to do so on XX/XX/XXXX. He stated that the debt owed is {$2200.00} but if I make a XXXX time settlement, they would knock {$1000.00} off so I would only pay {$1200.00}, but if they take it to court, it will cost me over {$5000.00}. He also offered me a payment plan of $ XXXX, but that I would be paying the full amount, if I chose that option. 

I asked XXXX XXXX what company he's with and he stated that he is with XXXX XXXX in XXXX and they are mitigating this debt on behalf of XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX, XXXX. 

I explained that I needed time to talk to my husband and someone else about this and he stated that he would need to get permission from an " administrator '', ( I believe ), to put this on hold. He placed me on hold and came back and told me that he would need to hear back from me by the end of the day. I explained that I and my husband both work and I need more time than that. He stated he would give me until Friday or Monday and he would email me a " Validation of Debt ''. He gave me an outdated email that I haven't used in over 10 years. I gave him an updated email address and he sent me a form that I was supposed to initial and send back via XXXX. XXXX XXXX then gave me call back phone # XXXX ext. XXXX. 

The first document I was sent, asked me to respond by XX/XX/XXXX. I called XXXX XXXX back at the phone number on the document, XXXX XXXX, ( a XXXX XXXX, CA area code ), and stated that I needed that date corrected and XXXX XXXX stated that he would get that changed to XX/XX/XXXX as it is now on hold. I received that corrected document and will attach it if able. 

I've reviewed this document and can not sign something that I do not know anything about. IF I owe this debt, the last payment on this would have been around XXXX and it doesn't make sense that they would wait until XXXX to put it on my credit. 

I've done research and obtained advice from an attorney who recommended that I file this complaint, that the debt is time-barred by the statute of limitations, and that it is illegal for them to threaten to sue, garnish, and place liens or to actually take these actions. 

I have tried to obtain addresses for XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX, but was unable to find them in XXXX, XXXX, nor XXXX. I do not have any kind of address for these people and am beginning to wonder if this might be a scam altogether, which is worrisome as they have my personal information such as SSN and DOB.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation