Consumer complaint received 2024-07-22 00:00:00
Product: Debt or credit management — Debt settlement
Issue: Confusing or missing disclosures — 
Company: Lockhart, Morris & Montgomery Inc.
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I enrolled in XXXX college XXXX to XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. The tuition I owed for the program was {$3900.00}, and my payments was to be made to a third party servicing company tuition options. I withdrew from the semester but I still owed the balance. I spoke with tuition options multiple times and I was told by multiple different representatives as long as I make a payment, my account will not close. I made my payments to tuition options ; {$200.00} payment ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$200.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$80.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$200.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$200.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$200.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$100.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$50.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$100.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$50.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$50.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$100.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$50.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$100.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), {$50.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), and {$50.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ). In XX/XX/XXXX I was contacted by a collection agency called Lockhart Morris and Montgomery who claimed they had my account and I had to make all payments to them. I contacted tuition options and informed them that I received this call from another agency and I was informed by tuition options that they still had my account and I still have to make payments to them, I also contacted XXXX College and they confirmed that my account was still with Tuition options. I continued to make payments to tuition options. Both tuition options and Lockhart was reporting to my credit report for the same balance with XXXX College. I disputed Lockhart and it came back as a confirmed debt. 
I contacted XXXX again on XX/XX/XXXX and spoke to XXXX XXXX, who sent a email to XXXX and ccd me in the email asking for the school to confirm who my account is with and noted that I contacted the school multiple times about this matter and I have not received assistance. On XX/XX/XXXX I sent a follow up email because I still did not hear back from them. XXXX XXXX responded back and confirmed that tuition options is the right place I should be in communication with and ask for me to send communication I received from Lockhart and she will get back to me. I sent over my credit report information, but I did not receive a response back. I continued to receive calls from Lockhart and tuition options requesting payments, I was unsure who I should pay, but as the school directed, I only communicated and made payments to tuition options. On XX/XX/XXXX I made a {$50.00} payment to tuition options. On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted the school for assistance to get Lockhart off my credit as I am trying to purchase a home and the balance is being reported on my credit from XXXX different agencys. I received an email on XX/XX/XXXX from XXXX XXXX stating that the school did not receive a payment from me since XX/XX/XXXX, therefore my account was closed and reported to Lockhart. I responded and informed her that I made payments to the account on XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX and I was informed multiple times by XXXX XXXX  if I make any kind of payment my account will not be closed and I went months without know who I should pay because I was recieving calls from XXXX different agencies. XXXX response was that the school did not receive the other payments that was made and I should communicate with Lockhart to resolve my debt. I than received an email from XXXX XXXX from tuition options on XX/XX/XXXX stating that tuition options is the owner of my account but was directed to close my account by the school. 
On XX/XX/XXXX I received a email from XXXX XXXX that my account is outstaying for {$3900.00} and I should handle my account immediately to avoid being sent to collections and a payment link was included in the email. I contact XXXX and informed him that I was lied to multiple times by tuition options and XXXX college about this matter, they are practicing very deceitful ways to collect this debt. XXXX informed me that they have been backed up with accounts and he was unaware of what was going on and he will contact his manager but he received my account without any information about what was going on and he was unaware that my account was already in collections. He assured me that he will address the matter and get back to me, I still have not heard back from him. 
XXXX College, Tuition Options and Lockhart Morris and Montgomery have lied to me and practice unlawful and deceitful practices. They have not offered me any assistance and XXXX different collection agencys reporting to my credit for the same debt and lied to me on multiple different times to attempt to collect money from me. I was informed that my payments the was made XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX was never even applied to my account and the school was not aware of those payments, thats why my account was closed. No one offered any assistance to this matter. I will like them to be investigated for these unethical practices

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation