vivekkopthsd/cfpb-consumer-complaints huggingface dataset:
Consumer complaint received 2016-12-22 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Transaction issue — 
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
On XXXX XXXX, I attempted to purchase a personalized gift card from American Express using my American Express credit card. However, when I attempted to complete the order, I got a server error message and never received formal confirmation that the order was successful. I called Amex several times that day and spoke with XXXX people for over an hour! I wanted to cancel the gift card because I was so disgusted that so few know what they are doing in customer service and each time the gift card group was attempted to be contacted, the line would disconnect or the wait time was over 10 minutes and I would get disconnected again. But American Express would not allow me to cancel because they stated the charge was pending. That I had to wait 48 hours for the transaction to go to pending to recent activity. I checked my activity online every day since and the pending amount of {$77.00} was no longer there when I checked on XXXX/XXXX/16 but it was not on my recent activity. So I was not sure what was going on. At XXXX XXXX EST I received an email from American Express stating that the gift card was shipped. But when I checked my account activity several times prior to XXXX EST and afterwards the {$77.00} charge did not appear on my activity nor pending. Proof attached. I was again angry because American Express has a terrible customer service group that is mostly outsourced. I spoke with someone at XXXX EST and I asked why I was not able to see the charge before having the ability to cancel the order? 
So they shipped the card to the recipient and when I asked about cancelling the order I was told they would do it but then the recipient would receive a card with no funds. It is absolutely ridiculous. How could I cancel an order and have a gift card sent to someone without any funds? What is illogical to me is that if I order something online from a large department store, I have the ability to cancel the order within 30 minutes of the transaction. 
But I ordered something from American Express and they would not allow me to cancel the transaction before being approved. So in my view, what Amex just did is not within normal standards and I was never given the proper opportunity to cancel the gift card before it officially appeared on my activity. They basically cornered me and I felt forced to leave the charge as is because I could not in good conscience have them ship a card to someone without any funds. This is n't proper procedure in my view and I find it a violation of ethical and regulatory standards.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-01-05 00:00:00
Product: Prepaid card — General purpose card
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX Contacted AMEX BLUE BIRD the call was outsourced to XXXX XXXX the XXXX fellow instructed me on what to do. I did as told and XXXX gave me online confirmation order # XXXX I was told by XXXX fellow I would received deposits within a day or so to the Bank account I gave him. On XXXX AMEX made XXXX deposits # XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX XXXX # XXXX XXXX Days later I deposited. I opened XXXX sub accounts and deposited over {$2000.00} dollars days later The Bank account was tampered with for abut the same money. On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX AMEX refused to allow me to take my money. They send e-mail to XXXXXXXXXXXX with my Social Security and Pay stubs via fax to XXXX. I send the data requested and waited for my money but it was never send every time I called thereafter they would tell me then send the money to US government. They never provided a government agency phone, name and or address. I recently called AMEX BLUE BIRD a staff answered in XXXX XXXX ask for my name and account number # XXXX XXXX security code XXXX exp XXXX. The Fellow said account was suspended by security but I can opened same. I said I want my money back. He said that was the fastest t way to get my money back. He placed me on whole while waiting I XXXX/research similar issues with AMEX. The stories on line were all the same AMEX keeping people money and the outsourcing country XXXX and XXXX were accused of tampering and

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2016-03-10 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed — Debt resulted from identity theft
Company: LTD Financial Services, L.P.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Debt Collector is attempting to collect on a fraudulent account that is not mine I sent an Affidavit of Fraudulent Application on XX/XX/2014 to the creditor.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Consumer complaint received 2015-08-02 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card
Issue: Taking/threatening an illegal action — Threatened arrest/jail if do not pay
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: WI

Complaint narrative:
Midland Funding , LLC ; BY ITS SERVINGS AGENT ; MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT INC XXXX CA XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX LAW FIRM ; XXXX WI XXXXthese creditors are trying to collect a third party debt from me after I informed them that I do not pay third party debt collectors or their attorneys. I do n't know what the original debt was for or from, nor do I care.. Do not contact me, or any third parties regarding this or any other unsecured debt. 

Furthermore, I formally dispute the validity of this debt, due to the fact that several unsecured debts credit card, medical debts, and student loan debts, personal loans, cell phone bills, utility bills, bank overdraft charges, unsecured auto loans, payday loans and/or the like have engaged in the practice of selling and reselling the original debt for collection by agencies and law firms such as yours. This has the result of turning an single debt into multiple debts from various collection agencies all for the same debt plus costs, handling charges and/or the like assorted fees. 

I have informed them of this XXXX times already. Now they want me to meet them in a Court commissioner office on XXXX XXXX, 2015. The attorney says that I am in contempt of court for not contacting her. I do not believe that America has a debtor prison or debtor prison collection system. Please have them leave me alone.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2016-08-14 00:00:00
Product: Student loan — Federal student loan servicing
Issue: Dealing with my lender or servicer — Received bad information about my loan
Company: MOHELA
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
My loan is serviced through MOHELA and is at a 9 % interest rate. In XXXX, XXXX, I called to inquire regarding my high interest rate and possible options to lower payments, etc.. I was told that I 'd been charged incorrect interest since the loan originated ( XX/XX/XXXX ) and to " hold off payments '' until MOHELA 's accounting department could reconfigure my balance. On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, I received a letter that my terms had changed to 8.17 % and balance reduced from {$36000.00} to {$23000.00}. This reduced my payment significantly and I made many financial decisions based on this information. I proceeded to make a home purchase, my credit improved, and I took a new job in another state. Subsequently, on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, I received another message from MOHELA stating that the terms had been CHANGED BACK ( 9 % interest rate ) and my balance had actually gone up because they 'd put my loan in forbearance while their accounting department calculated what my new payment would be at 8.17 %, etc.. In calling MOHELA, I was told that the original person who 'd given me the information " had been XXXX '' and could not be reached. I then spoke with multiple supervisors in Customer Advocacy. " XXXX '' is my primary contact and states she is " trying to get Senior Leadership to do something but having a hard time ''. I 've gone weeks at a time without receiving a call back and it has taken hours of my time to try to get this resolved. I am a XXXX working at a XXXX and do n't have time in my day to constantly try to get an answer. I feel like I 'm being ignored and it seems unethical and illegal that a financial institution of any kind could change one 's loan terms on a whim. I made financial decisions for my family based on information received, only to have them change it back " because we made a mistake ''. The change in terms was in writing and they should be held accountable. I understand I have an obligation to pay my loan, but MOHELA has an obligation to provide accurate information and abide by the terms they provided me on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. I encouraged them to utilize their " mistake '' for future training of employees or in looking at their processes. XXXX and financially, I was so relieved to hear that my balance had been reduced and that I would be able to meet some financial goals I 'd been pursuing. For MOHELA to make such changes on a whim, without this in consideration, is completely unethical. Something NEEDS to be done.

Company public response: Company believes complaint is the result of an isolated error
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2016-12-28 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Disclosure verification of debt — Right to dispute notice not received
Company: TRANSWORLD SYSTEMS INC
State: VA

Complaint narrative:
I found a collection for an old utility bill that was paid several years ago. It was reported by Transworld Systems on XX/XX/XXXX. I never received notice of this collection to be able to dispute. I spoke with several people at the collection company, XXXX telling me that they showed the debt had been paid in XX/XX/XXXX. A supervisor told me they were mistaken. When I asked them to remove the collection from my report and send me documentation on the debt, I was told that it was a process and would take a while to resolve. 
I spoke to the original Creditor XXXX ( Who I still have an account with ) to address, they told me they did not know why it was reported, they showed no open collection account for me.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2016-04-05 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card
Issue: Communication tactics — Frequent or repeated calls
Company: LTD Financial Services, L.P.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
There are several numbers the debt collector calls from. I have talked to them repeatedly and have asked for more time to pay the debt and I have told them I will pay them. My problem is they call me every 15 minutes all day. The numbers are XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX and that is all from today. That is six times already and they called 11 times yesterday. I asked that they stop calling so much, to call once a week. They are going to get me fired and then I will never be able to pay.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Consumer complaint received 2016-07-20 00:00:00
Product: Prepaid card — General purpose card
Issue: Unauthorized transactions/trans. issues — 
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: OR

Complaint narrative:
I placed {$1000.00}. on my wife 's prepaid card a month or two ago. Almost immediately the money was stolen by fraudulent charges made in XXXX. Amex refunded a couple XXXX dollars after a month or so but refuses to refund the remaining fraudulent charges. The customer service reps in XXXX are poorly trained and completely useless and nobody at the amex company in XXXX will talk to us, call us back, take us seriously etc. Please help.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-02-14 00:00:00
Product: Student loan — Non-federal student loan
Issue: Getting a loan — Can't qualify for a loan
Company: TRANSWORLD SYSTEMS INC
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Hello : XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, I consolidate my student loans. Than XX/XX/XXXX I received a notice that my student loan for {$7100.00} was being collected by a collection agency. When I spoke to the agency, they would not work with me, they wanted payment in full or they would garnish my wages. I could not get a loan or borrow this amount, so my wages were garnished. XX/XX/XXXX the account was paid and my wages were no longer garnished. As of this morning, I ran a credit report and it shows that National Collegiate Trust as me in collections starting XX/XX/XXXX is the amount above and it is not paid. I contacted the agency reference as collection agency XXXX XXXX XXXX at XXXX, they indicate my account was turned back over to National Collegiate Trust XX/XX/XXXX with no other status they could provide me. I am lost as to how to get this removed from my credit or show it has been paid in full on my credit. I am trying to buy a house and I am being denied for this account. Thank you, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2016-08-25 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
1 the entire amount was {$400.00} plus 2 I try to get my annual fee remove because I was n't aware of it. 
3 I closed the account so I can pay the amount little by little but nex mouth was XXXX or XXXX more 4 I wanted to pay them what I owe but the y keep on bringing the amount up 5 the were always extra fees or purchase from California I do n't live in California

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Consumer complaint received 2016-10-25 00:00:00
Product: Student loan — Non-federal student loan
Issue: Dealing with my lender or servicer — Don't agree with fees charged
Company: TRANSWORLD SYSTEMS INC
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
XXXX college took out a private loan in my name and then when they closed i found out that they had taken over {$20000.00} in federal loans plus $ XXXX+ in Pell Grants and XXXX Separate private loans for XXXX $ XXXX+ and XXXX XXXX XXXX for $ XXXX+. My tuition was only {$29000.00}. So this does not add up. The private loan company for XXXX has no idea what to do as far as discharging my loan. I need help!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2016-11-15 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Medical
Issue: Communication tactics — Frequent or repeated calls
Company: TRANSWORLD SYSTEMS INC
State: OR

Complaint narrative:
We have set up an automatic payment plan to pay this debt and yet we get XXXX calls every day and when answered there is no one on the line and the call is dropped.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2016-08-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Cash advance fee — 
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
I have paperless statements from my credit card. In reviewing the statements and referencing the card member agreement. I believe the card issuer is not applying my minimum payment to the balance with the highest interest rate.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2016-05-07 00:00:00
Product: Mortgage — Conventional adjustable mortgage (ARM)
Issue: Loan modification,collection,foreclosure — 
Company: HSBC NORTH AMERICA HOLDINGS INC.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
We refinanced our home in XXXX, XXXX with XXXX XXXX. In doing so, it was a predatory ARM. We received a letter from the bank officer stating that we would refinance incurring no additional fees after our credit rating had improved within six months. The mortgage was then turned over to XXXX XXXX which in turn sold it to HSBC without our knowledge until we received the monthly mortgage statement with HSBC in XXXX, XXXX. With the building trades businesses failing in the Michigan downturned economy, jobs losses, our family was forced to file bankruptcy in XXXX, XXXX and we did not affirm our home. In doing so, the present mortgage servicer HSBC Home Mortgage Services , Inc. will not renegotiate with us concerning a lessening of the terms of our original note. We have an ARM of 8.45 %. We have paid up to XXXX % of our home income to be able to keep living in the home which we built and raised our family in. We had to apply to StepForward of Michigan to get the mortgage current in the amount of {$5400.00}, the interest was deferred on the back of our loan which is now a total {$8900.00}. The help that we received at that time was much less than the deferred interest amount! We have worked with a FHA Housing Counselor since XX/XX/XXXX to get this onerous mortgage reduced to no avail other than loan modifications that reduced our monthly payments in the ensuing years, but they only backended the interest so our principal reduction in the loan is added on, with interest on top of interest. We need a path to be able to keep and afford our home before we are forced into retirement which will be upon us shortly. I hear about all of the HARP Programs that will expire XX/XX/XXXX, we need your help. HSBC is not a TARP participant which was detrimental in our case. We are asking for a conventional fixed mortgage instrument with a manageable interest rate in step with the rest of the public. Due to the nature of our mortgage, we have not been able to pay down our principal like it should have been, and because of our market conditions in our area, we are still under water with this note. We saw the settlement the State of Michigan received from HSBC and would like to have relief from this predatory note. Please consider our plea.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2015-09-02 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed — Debt is not mine
Company: First Federal Credit Control, Inc.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am not aware of receiving medical care from this company. Please investigate. 

Thank you.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2015-05-13 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Other — 
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: MN

Complaint narrative:
I was an authorized user of American Express business credit card as a business manager. AMEX informed all three credit bureaus as collection account treating it as a personal account on XX/XX/XXXX affecting my credit scores drastically. We have entered in to a contract to buy a house and this reporting is affected my ability to get a housing loan. This business card account was opened XX/XX/XXXX for business purpose and it has never shown up as a personal liability on my credit reports since than. I was taken by surprise to see it apear on my personal credit report suddenly. 
Requests to pay the outstanding amount by installment on XX/XX/XXXX with AMEX failed and representative advised that the account should be closed first and than the supervisor will call with in 24 to 48 hours to discuss the options. No one ever contacted me or left a voice mail. Upon seeing thison credit report I called AMEX and I was advised to contact XXXX. After contacting XXXX I entered in to an agreement of payment and I have paid {$4200.00} as XXXX of the XXXX installments on XX/XX/XXXX under duress as no other option was available and this is causing hardships.The outstanding balance is being paid to AMEX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2016-02-22 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card
Issue: Improper contact or sharing of info — Talked to a third party about my debt
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: VA

Complaint narrative:
I have been making ACH payments through my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Ga for over a year. I found out de facto that XXXX had closed their business sometime after withdrawing my XXXX 2016 pmt. The company did not inform me and apparently sold my debt to Midland Credit Mgt. Midland immediately placed a dunn for non pmt on my credit reports. I am absolutely not responsible for any of these ocurrances. I have been paying this account faithfully & should not be penalized by their oversights.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Consumer complaint received 2016-05-20 00:00:00
Product: Prepaid card — General purpose card
Issue: Unauthorized transactions/trans. issues — 
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
ON XX/XX/XXXX16 I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A PHONE PAYMENT WITH MY PRE PAID CARD TO MY CELLULAR PHONE COMPANY BOOST. I WAS UTITLIZING THIS METHOD TO ESTABLISH A PAYMENT HISTORY VIA MY PRE PAID DEBIT CARD. AS I BEGAN TO FOLLOW THE PROMPTS FROM MY CARD HOLDER, I INADVERTENTANLY PUT IN THE WRONG ZIP CODE, AND I WAS DENIED ANY FURTHER ACCESS TO THE ACCOUNT DO TO THE FACT I HAD FAILED THAT PART OF VERIFICATION. AS I WAS INSTRUCTED TO START AGAIN, I GAVE ALL ACCURATE INFORMATION, AND MY PAYMENT WAS PROCESSED. IT WAS A SHORT TIME LATER THAT I SOON DISCOVERED THAT I HAD BEEN CHARGED TWICE FOR MY CELLULAR PHONE BILL. AS I CONTACTED BOTH PARTIES, MY CELLULAR PHONE COMPANY HAD ONLY RECIEVED XXXX PAYMENT, HOWEVER MY CARD HOLDER HAD INDEED PROCESSED THE FIRST PAYMENT, BUT PLACED A HOLD ON IT DUE TO VEIFICATION, AS WELL AS CHARGED A SECOND PAYMENT IN THE FULL AMOUNT, WHILE THE PAYMENT WAS APPROVED. AS I HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH MY CARD HOLDER AND MY CELLULAR PHONE COMPANY, IT WAS QUITE EVIDENT THAT MY CARD HOLDER WRONGFULLY BILLED MY CARD AT THE ONSET OF MYINITIAL TRANSACTION WITH THE FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT I DID NOT PROVIDE ACCURATE VERIFICATION INFORMATION, AND FOLLOWED SUIT BY BILLING ME AGAIN WITH THE ACCURATE INFORMATION, HOWEVER MAKING NO ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY THIER PREVIOUS MISTAKE, AS WELL AS LAY BLAME ON MYSELF AND MY CELLULAR PHONE COMPANY BY STATING THAT THE FUNDS WOULD HAVE TO BE HELD FOR XXXX TO FOURTEEN DAYS TO ASSURE THAT THE CELLULAR PHONE COMPANY DOES NOT PROCESS THE TRANSACTION.

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Consumer complaint received 2015-11-29 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Rewards — 
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I have XXXX Amex cards. Both cards ' page after log in showed " spend certain amount on a mainstream retailer and get specific amount of cash back '' under the card benefits section. When I spent those amounts, the credit card refused to honor the cash back. They said I had to enroll in the offer. There was no option to enroll the offer ( into the cards ) earlier. 

Now after I have made the transaction, the offer to enroll the cards has appeared but only for smaller lesser known merchants and retailers. That mainstream retailer offer above is no more. Nor would they honor the offer when I called in. I think it 's a bait and switch kind of scheme to defraud customers. I expect millions to have been defrauded by Amex!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2015-04-07 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed — Debt is not mine
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE ALREADY SENT A LAWFUL NOTICE TO THESE PEOPLE AND NOW I HAVE SENT ANOTHER XXXX ABOUT READY TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION ON THAT COMPANY. THEY ARE STILL CONTACTING ME AND STILL REPORTING ON MY CREDIT

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation