Consumer complaint received 2018-06-26
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened to arrest you or take you to jail if you do not pay
Company: Premier Holdings (FM)

Complaint:
I was contacted at XXXX EST on XX/XX/XXXX from XXXX by someone stating they were from the " Criminal Intent Unit '' of Premier Holdings. They stated they were calling in reference to a debt from XXXX XXXX of XXXX and that I owed $ XXXX and that if I did not immediately pay they would see to it I was jailed and sued for insurance fraud. They did not state they were a collections agency, and did not validate who I was. I stated that I did not owe Mr XXXX any money and for them to cease and desist contacted me. They began to use profanity. They then said they would transfer me to their " attorney ''. The supposed attorney continued to use profanity and call me names and said if I didn't pay I was going to jail. I terminated the call. Shortly after I received a phone call from Mr. XXXX #, but the collector was actually on the call and stated he had called me on a 3-way call to prove they were calling on behalf of Mr. XXXX. I hung up the call. They left several voicemail messages on my phone calling me profane names, and in the last voicemail made reference to the movie XXXX, which I took to be a threat of violence against my family. I called back asking for the Bar # of the attorney and he told me it was Texas  XXXX and that all actions they were taken were being done on the behalf of this attorney. The supposed attorney stated that since this was a " commercial matter '' the FDCPA did not apply and they could do whatever they wanted. The Texas Bar # came back as belonging to a Mr. XXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX they contacted an associate of my realtor at her place of work and stated that I had committed insurance fraud and owed Mr. XXXX and a Mr XXXX money. Additionally they left a voicemail on my wife 's phone on XX/XX/XXXX stating that I now owed Mr XXXX as well for a total of $ XXXX. 

Mr XXXX had performed contracting work for us in XX/XX/2017, and had agreed to directly bill the insurance company and not charge us anything if the insurance company didn't pay. He walked off the job without completing it and we had to hire another contractor to finish the work. 

Mr. XXXX bought a house from us this year and claimed we had failed to disclose a pool leak to him. I provided details of the leak and the temporary repair to my realtor who provided it to Mr. XXXX realtor. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I was able to speak to the actual Mr. XXXX who confirmed he was the general counsel for this company and he would ensure the debts were " written off '' on Monday XX/XX/XXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I spoke to Mr. XXXX who confirmed he had hired this company and attorney to collect on his behalf. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted the Texas Attorney General 's office who did not believe me and said they refused to assist. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted the XXXX County Sheriff 's office who had a deputy come speak to me about the threat of physical violence. As  it was not directly committed by someone in FL they could take no action. 

I received no further communication from Mr. XXXX or the collections agency on XX/XX/XXXX so I contacted the original # I was called from. The supposed attorney stated the had " picked up two additional '' debtors and would be coming after me for them as well. I then called the actual Mr. XXXX who stated he had not taken any actions to resolve the matter. I asked him if he could promptly resolve the matter in the next couple of hours and he would not. I stated I would be filing formal complaints and hung up the phone. 

I am happy to provide the CFPB copies of all voicemail messages.

Company public response: Company believes the complaint is the result of a misunderstanding
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation