Consumer complaint received 2017-09-28
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Communication tactics — Used obscene, profane, or other abusive language
Company: Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. (NJ)

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX 's company which is apparently called XXXX XXXX XXXX, initially contacted me back in the middle of XXXX in regards to a debt I had owed for a Victoria 's Secret credit card. They went back and forth with me in regards to amount I could financially afford to pay them per month and they came back with a number ( $ XXXX ) which I thought I could possibly handle. They said they would email me a contract, to review that contract, and sign and email it back to them. I foolishly had given them my bank account information prior to reading this contract, and I felt uneasy about this, so after I had gotten off the phone with this gentleman, I started investigating the company and did not feel comfortable letting them access my bank account monthly, so I declined the contract ( I do have screen shots of this ). I must have asked the gentleman on the phone, repeatedly, that if I do NOT sign the contract, there will be no funds withdrawn from my bank account in which he did reply with " correct. '' However, sure enough, on the date they had agreed to withdraw money they went ahead and took it out of my bank account. I called and disputed charges with my bank, and changed my debit card in order to avoid future charges - because I was under the impression since I had not signed the consent/contract, that they should not have been doing this. Fast forward to yesterday - XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - I received a voicemail at XXXX after XXXX missed calls from the same number, from a " XXXX XXXX XXXX basically degrading me, telling me I am a habitual liar, and a thief and a fraud and how he was going to forward all of the tapes they have of me agreeing to things over to my bank - how based on my XXXX XXXX I am a habitual offender, along with multiple " punitive charges '' - and how my Victoria 's Secret credit card must have been worth it and all of the women 's lingerie I purchased was hopefully worth this - I literally sat there listening to the message appalled that someone in a professional setting was able to say these things to me - not knowing my situation, my history or my personal life. I have saved this voicemail. I also made sure I had screen shots of me declining to review the contract/consent. I am just baffled as to where to go next. I plan on going into my bank and trying to give them all of the information I have regarding this, in case they do follow up with them and with whatever " tapes '' they have - which would also have me asking them, on more than XXXX occasion ( because I knew I was being recorded ) if I did not sign the consent, would they still be withdrawing the funds ( in which they responded with a " no '' ). Like I mentioned, I also do have screen shots of the phone number in which they called from, I saved the degrading voicemail that they left me which I believe is in violation of the debt collector harassment laws section XXXX ( XXXX ) because I was verbally called a liar, a thief and a fraud. I am a single mother, working full time, trying to provide the best I can for my son and I do n't think bullying me with verbal abuse will get anyone anywhere. I am hoping for some help, guidance and/or advice on where to turn next. I really do not want to have to be in contact, or have to contact this company or this gentleman any time soon. Thank you so very much.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation