Consumer complaint received 2021-06-18
Product: Debt collection — Payday loan 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: Populus Financial Group, Inc. (F/K/A Ace Cash Express) (CA)

Complaint:
THIS LETTER WAS SENT TO ME ON WEDNESDAY XX/XX/XXXX -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - FINAL NOTICE FOR FAIR ACTION ( Fair Debt Collection Act 811 ) Case File # XXXX Last Date to File Lawsuit-XXXX XXXX XXXX Cost of the Lawsuit-XXXX Courthouse Address-XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX  XXXX NY XXXX ). 

Legal Charges-Section 19 ( A ), Clause 21 ( US ).

Case Format- Fair Debt Collection ( FC/SC ) Due Amount- {$500.00} Dear Debtor, This is to notify you and requires your immediate attention.

We are going to file a lawsuit in next 24 hours at XXXX  Civil Court ( XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, NY XXXX ) .against your Name and SSN. After giving several notifications we did not received any response from your side. We will consider that you are ignoring this matter and you want to dispute. We are in a process to inform the Social Security Administration & major Credit Bureaus as well. 

If we do not hear from you today, we will be compelled to seek legal representation in the Court House. We reserve the right to commence litigation for intent to commit wire fraud under the pretense of refusing to repay a debt committed to, by use of the Internet. In addition we reserve the right to seek recovery for the balance due, as well as legal fees and any court cost incurred.

Note : If we don't get any response from your side, we shall have no alternative but to take action through the local County Courthouse to recover the amount due together with court costs and legal fees including all taxes which cost approximately {$5800.00}.

Note : The Legal Charges Section 19 ( A ), Clause 21 ( US ) is against you and if you ignore this case then our legal department will take immediate action you.

If we receive the remaining payment from you thereafter we will provide you full and final receipt stating that your case file is closed permanently with remaining XXXX  balance. Don't take this matters lightly otherwise once the case file is downloaded thereafter we won't be able to help you out. 

If you fail to respond us the Charges will be pressed against the name are : 1. Violation of federal banking regulation act 1983 ( C ) 2. Collateral check fraud 3. Theft by deception ( ACC ACT 21A ) Which carries a maximum sentence of 3 years of prison and a fine up to {$5800.00}.

YOU CAN APPLY FOR AN OUT OF COURT RESOLVE OPTION ( OOCR ) : All you do is email us back for taking care of this matter outside the court house.

PS. If you fail respond within 24 hours this Legal Action will be activated. You will be Entitle for an OOCR, By requesting an offer in compromise, but if you are failed to do that then we shall start the process of pressing those charges against you.

To resolve this issue ASAP, Kindly emails us immediately.

Thanks & Regards, ACE CASH EXPRESS. 
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - After I agreed to handle this matter outside of court, like any other normal person would want to do on XX/XX/XXXX, They followed up with this EMAIL on XX/XX/XXXX -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS- As a legal department, we are very much sensitive to our client 's security so we don't allow you to reveal your bank & card details over the phone and the Internet by any means to maintain privacy. We suggest you the best payment model for you is a Prepaid Debit card ; we avoid the chargeback and exchange of personal and confidential information. 

As per the company policy, the mode of payment would be through XXXX XXXX XXXX  because we have an agreement with XXXX  XXXX  that's why we are allowed to accept this card only because XXXX  is associated with XXXX XXXX. 


All you have to do is get a XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( You need to load the funds {$450.00} XXXX, from one of the stores mentioned below. 

You can get the card at these stores nationwide : XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX. 

Once you clear this debt, we will send you a settlement completion letter stating that your account has been paid in full with XXXX  balance which you can keep it for future records. 


Note-Please attach you receipt and Image ( front and back ) of the XXXX XXXX XXXX  along with this e-mail. 

Do not buy a XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

Kindly respond back for confirmation. 

Thanks & Regards Debt Settlement Division Inc. 
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Today XX/XX/XXXX after not receiving ANY TYPE OF SETTLEMENT LETTER, I decided to look them up on XXXX. Come to find out, it was ALL A SCAM!!!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation