Consumer complaint received 2025-12-21 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Sued you without properly notifying you of lawsuit
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: WY

Complaint narrative:
Between XX/XX/year> and the present, XXXX XXXX XXXX initiated a lawsuit against me in XXXX  to collect an alleged debt. At the time the lawsuit was filed, the firm was not licensed with the Wyoming Collection Agency Board or Division of Banking, as required by Wyo. Stat. Ann. XXXX.

Despite my court filings objecting to their lack of legal authority, and requesting verified proof of any contract or standing, the firm has continued to pursue the case including filing a Motion for Summary Judgment without producing : A valid collection agency license issued by the Wyoming Division of Banking at the time of suit ; A signed agreement or promissory note bearing my signature ; Any lawful evidence of assignment, authority, or real-party-in-interest status. 

Filing a lawsuit to collect a debt in Wyoming without a collection license is a violation of state law, and engaging in any collection activity without proper authorization may also constitute violations of FDCPA ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e, 1692f ) for misrepresentation and unfair practices.

I request that the CFPB initiate an investigation and require XXXX XXXX XXXX to respond with direct proof of their legal authority at the time of the lawsuit filing. A response that omits this specific timeline should be considered evasive and non-compliant. 

Additionally, XXXX XXXX XXXX included written threats of garnishing my wages and even attempting to take protected veterans benefits in clear violation of federal law and fair collection practices. They also filed a Motion for Summary Judgment relying solely on an internal affidavit signed by the plaintiff, treating it as conclusive proof of the alleged debt, despite the fact that I have raised ongoing jurisdictional objections and have received no verified contract or accounting. The firms use of affidavit-based summary judgment, while acting without a Wyoming collection license, is misleading, coercive, and procedurally abusive. I view these tactics as an attempt to intimidate and deprive me of my right to a fair trial. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX included a document titled Notice of the Right to Claim Exemptions and to Hearing in their legal packet, which was not marked as proposed and appeared to be issued by the court. This document lists various categories of protected federal benefits and personal property ( including veterans benefits, Social Security, workers ' comp, and homestead property ) and implies that seizure may occur unless the consumer files a written objection within 10 days. No judgment has been entered in the case, and this document was not signed by the judge. 

Presenting this document without clearly marking it as a proposed or future notice is misleading and coercive. It gives the false impression that a court has already authorized garnishment or seizure, despite ongoing legal disputes over the alleged debt and the collectors authority. This is a direct violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, specifically 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 2 ), 1692e ( 10 ), and 1692f. It is also a bad-faith tactic designed to intimidate the consumer into silence or default under threat of losing exempt funds and assets.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation