Consumer complaint received 2025-01-06 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Payday loan debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Sued you without properly notifying you of lawsuit
Company: UNIVERSAL COLLECTION SYSTEMS, INC
State: DE

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/year> I received a call from an unknown number. I did not pick up because I generally do not answer calls unknown. So the unknown company left a very detailed message with a claim number that I had needed to immediately give them a call. 

XX/XX/year> because I am XXXX and have many things going in my health. I waited until I was able to call to see what this matter is about. I had to give them this case # XXXX. They could not tell me who they were which was strange. But mentioned that a loan company I received a loan from is taking legal action against me, they were their attorneys. They demanded I pay them and set up automatic payments or I will be sued and have to appear in court? I don't know how when I am XXXX and unable to do that. 

Out of fear and them bringing me distress and added more anxiety. I set up payment which they were electronically taking {$150.00} out of my old bank account with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Strange as I have high security for payments being pulled due to being a victim of theft. The company known as Universal which I only found out about from the financial drafts tried to draft the funds from my account before the agreed day. I also told them I keep my debit card locked because of issues in the past. Again victim of theft. 

Onward, the company kept telling me if I don't make payments then I will have to face them off in court, said if I make payment and failed to keep making payments, I will be required to pay what I owe, any other outstanding fees in addition to court fees. So I got nervous and stated I will try to make payment as best I can. Asked what's the minimum I can pay per pay, because I am on a fixed income. They said I could not pay less than the {$150.00}.

I received 8 calls from them over the course of months since XX/XX/year>. Some of The calls because they could not draft from my account due to my debit card being locked. Some agents even tried to say they will stay on the phone until I unlock my card. Just to ensure they receive payment, it went to brief moments where they had to place me on hold to go upstairs to process a payment? Not sure about that process, then they would come back to say it went through. I said what company are you all, one agent said Universal I asked where are they located and I have not got the answer. 


Fast forward to today, i have missed a call from Unknown again, with the same voicemail message like on XX/XX/year> but slightly different. It stated to give them a call to settle a matter. So I called, and they asked me for my case number, I have provided the case number. I asked what company is this for again. They said they could not disclose that information. Told me to call XXXX I asked who was this again because I have bad memory issue from time to time. They told me this is an attempt to collect a debt. I said I understand that but who are you? They proceeded that they were just going to sue me, and have the city of XXXX XXXX come and get me, after threatening me with me paying more than what I owe including legal fees. I told them I could not pay my last payment to them, because I have fallen on hard times, trying to catch up, if I could pay them at the end of the month? They told me be prepare for XXXX XXXX XXXX to come find you at your place of business. I don't have a business. I said I can't make arrangements. The so called attorney said I will be located by the city of XXXX XXXX and I will be forced to court and pay more than what I owe on top of legal fees? So now my anxiety is up I suffer from XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. I said I am in no condition to show up or be forced by the city of XXXX XXXX  out of my residence over a payment I try to get an extension. 

Just looking for help please with this matter. Thank you!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation