Consumer complaint received 06/29/2016 about Debt collection (Payday loan) with Premier Recovery Group (TX).
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Impersonated an attorney or official

Complaint: A man named XXXX XXXX called from Premier Recovery Group ( as I found out later ) and left a message stating he was investigating a loan fraud in my name. I figured it was a scam so I called to ask to be removed. I was not loud or confrontational, but I was blunt that I wished to be removed. He sounded frustrated and spouted off the loan date, store and my SSN and asked me to confirm that info. I told him I would look in to it myself. When I said that he asked me if I wanted to just go ahead and settle it right then. This is when I realized I was speaking with a collector, since he never identified himself or his purpose as such. I said again that I would look in to it and he then very firmly told me to seek legal council and hung up. He never told me what company he was with, only who the debt was with. I called XXXX XXXX and got in touch with the company who held the debt and the woman who answered was extremely rude. She stared off listening to my story and said that he told me that because the parent company had a fraud investigation dept. I asked if that was his title. She said she did n't know, but began spouting off the " this is an attempt to collect a debt ... '' line. I asked for his name and she said she could n't give it to me. I told her that was ok because I figured it was on recording anyway. She then said ( yelled ) that my refusal to pay my debt was also on recording. For the record, I never refused to pay anything. It was simply not the issue I was trying to discuss with her. I asked for her name, which she provided ( XXXX XXXX ) and then asked if she had an employee ID or any other identifier. She yelled that I had no reason for wanting her info and that she was done with me and advised me to call a lawyer because they will come after me. I asked her to please not hang up on me and she yelled something else that I do not recall and then the line went momentarily to hold music before her supervisor came on the line. I did not catch his name. I was admittedly in tears, not while talking to XXXX, but immediately after she disconnected because I was beginning to be afraid. He repeatedly told me to calm down ( I was by no means hysterical or anything ), even after I was clearly and repeatedly assuring him in a calm voice that I was ( I believe he was trying to instigate me ). He blew me off saying he would look in to it and he did n't know who the original caller was. He confirmed the number was theirs though. So I called the original guy back myself and he answered with his name and I then hung up. I was afraid to speak to him again. He then called me and said I needed to quit calling him ( I only returned the one call and then did call and listen for his name ) I was n't harassing him or anything. He also said that I am " going to see '' that and again said to call an attorney. He said my " best thinking got [ me ] in to this situation '' ( I am not sure what that means but I think he basically called me XXXX. In any case, it was an insult ). I called a bit later to speak to someone else to legitimately discuss the debt, as this was the first notice I had of it. But she just confirmed my number and said that the systems were down and they could not help me at the time. I called a few hours later and I got a similar response. This was all on Friday XXXX/XXXX/16. They have called me back this week, but I have been at work and unable to answer. They have called at least 4 times today alone. I have XXXX XXXX 's messages and can send them if needed.

Company response to consumer: Closed