Consumer complaint received 2025-12-16 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: GREATAMERICA FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Summary of Complaint Companies involved ( collector XXXX XXXX ) : Collector : XXXX XXXX XXXX ( contact : XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) Creditor named by collector : XXXX XXXX ( alleged equipment lessor/assignee ) Original supplier/contract counterparty : XXXX XXXX My business : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Complainant : XXXX XXXX XXXX ( owner ) XXXX XXXX : Debt collection ; unfair/abusive practices ; refusal to accept tender of goods ; inaccurate balance ; potential credit reporting risk. 

What happened We entered into an equipment agreement with XXXX XXXX, not XXXX XXXX. The equipment was defective. We notified XXXX and were released by XXXX from the agreement we signed with XXXX. We paid all amounts through the date of notice and release. 

A XXXX XXXX  ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) is now attempting to collect an alleged lease balance for XXXX XXXX. We have repeatedly offered to return the equipment and have asked for a return address/XXXX, but XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX refused to provide return instructions. This refusal makes it impossible to comply with any continuing possession/return terms while the collector continues to demand payment that does not reflect the suppliers release and the equipment defects. 

Update ( today, XX/XX/year> ) : We heard again from XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX still refuses to provide updated return information ( address/XXXX  ), which prevents us from returning the equipment and forces ongoing storage costs at our expense. The collector also can not provide an individualized payoff figure that excludes charges tied to their refusal to accept the equipment return. 

Why we believe this is unlawful / unfair UDAAP ( Dodd-Frank Act ) : The Consumer Financial Protection Act prohibits unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices in connection with consumer financial products or services. See 12 U.S.C. 5531, 5536. Demanding payment while refusing to accept a tendered return of defective goods released by the supplier and withholding basic documentation ( chain of assignment, itemized payoff excluding possession charges ) is unfair ( causes unavoidable injury not outweighed by benefits ) and abusive/deceptive insofar as it misstates the nature and amount of the obligation and blocks mitigation. 

FDCPA ( if XXXX XXXX XXXX acts as a debt collector for a personal/household lease or reports to consumer bureaus ) : The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, XXXX U.S.C. 1692 et seq., prohibits, among other things, false or misleading representations ( 1692e ), unfair or unconscionable means to collect a debt ( 1692f ), and failure to provide/validate the debt upon request ( 1692g ). 
Persisting in collection while refusing return instructions and failing to validate the actual assignee/standing and a correct, itemized payoff raises 1692e/f/g concerns.

XXXX  ( Florida adoption ) Leases & Good Faith : Florida has adopted the Uniform Commercial Code Leases ( Chapter XXXX, Florida Statutes ) and the obligation of good faith in enforcement ( Fla. Stat. 671.203 ). Under Article 2A, a lessee may assert supplier warranty/defect defenses and related remedies ( see, e.g., XXXX XXXX  XXXX beneficiary of supplier warranties ) and XXXX ( lessee remedies ) ). A creditor/assignee can not ignore the suppliers release and defect record, then block the return while continuing to accrue charges. Doing so violates good faith and mitigation principles. 

FCRA accuracy ( if they are or will be furnishing ) : If XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX is reporting or plans to report to consumer bureaus, they must furnish accurate information and correct errors. See 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2. Reporting amounts that include charges caused by their refusal to accept the return ( or that ignore the supplier release ) risks inaccurate reporting.

Timeline ( abridged ) Prior to defect notice : All payments made. 

After defects discovered : We notified XXXX XXXX ; XXXX released us from our agreement with XXXX. 

Repeatedly since : We offered to return the equipment ; XXXX XXXX ( via XXXX XXXX XXXX ) would not provide a return address/XXXX. 

XX/XX/year> phone call & subsequent emails : We reaffirmed willingness to resolve and asked for XXXX and a payoff amount excluding equipment-possession charges. No XXXX ; no proper payoff. 

XX/XX/year> ( today ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX confirmed XXXX XXXX still refuses to provide updated return information. We continue to incur storage costs solely because they wont accept the equipment. 

What were asking the CFPB to do Require XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX provide an XXXX/return address and accept the equipment. 

Require a complete, itemized accounting and chain of title/assignment ( lease, schedules, amendments, any assignment and notice of assignment, and full payment ledger ). 

Require a recalculated, individualized payoff that excludes any charges stemming from their refusal to accept the equipment after our tenders of return and that reflects XXXX release and the defect history. 

Bar any negative credit reporting or require correction/deletion of any reporting tied to these disputed, inflated amounts. 

Require reimbursement or offset for storage and related costs we have incurred due solely to their refusal to provide return instructions. 

Direct them to cease unfair/abusive collection practices and conduct all further collection in compliance with 12 U.S.C. 5531, 5536, 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq., and applicable XXXXFlorida law XXXX

Company public response: Company disputes the facts presented in the complaint
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation