Consumer complaint received 2024-04-11 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Collected or attempted to collect exempt funds
Company: The CBE Group, Inc.
State: OH

Complaint narrative:
I was contacted in XX/XX/XXXX by the CBE Group which I learned was a debt collection agency. I was unaware of the debt they were contacting me for because they said it was over {$1500.00} for a medical debt with XXXX and the representative told me it was debt that I received this debt in XXXX due to a hospital visit. I found this odd because during XXXX i was covered by insurance and I did not go to the hospital. I immediately questioned the collector he told me if i didnt pay the debt today it would just accumulate more interest and my wages would be garnished or it would be taken out of my taxes. I wanted a copy of the bill and he said he didn't have it and I was transferred to his supervisor. She told me that the bill was likely due to prescriptions and that I was " lucky '' that XXXX caught it this early and sometimes they don't catch it for 10 years and people owe tens of thousands of dollars. She also told me that I would have no luck getting the bill because its likely XXXX  doesn't have it anymore and it would take too long for me to get it and I would just be adding daily interest to my bill if I tried to get a hold of XXXX  to get the bill. The supervisor told me that my wages or taxes would be garnished if I didn't pay it. She offered me payment plans half that day and half in 2 weeks, I'm a single mom that was not practical. The supervisor told me that a payment plan with lower payments would take time to develop and they would need to get approval from the Treasury and we would have to sit down and go through all of my finances to figure out lower plan. 
I finally got a copy of the actual medical bill and it was for prescriptions from XXXX 3 months after my divorce from an XXXX XXXX military member and it was for {$700.00} which is {$800.00} less than what the CBE Group charged me. The CBE Group called me everyday during work hours and never left a voicemail so I had no idea who was calling me for a while until i finally answered. I have already paid the {$1500.00}. Not only did the CBE Group more than double my medical and pushed me into pulling out a loan to pay for the medical bill because I was afraid my wages would be garnished in the full amount and I wouldn't be able my bills and I was seriously afraid for me and my XXXX well being. But it still has hurt my family and thsi company didn't even bother to work with me. I am afraid that they added more interest and will try and come after me for that in another 7 years saying I owe another {$1500.00}. 
I have both the bills send by the CBE Group and its titled " Message regarding US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY account # XXXX XXXX and the actual bill from XXXX  to show that my bill was not only doubled but this company would not work with me to make payments and I had to make the full payment in 2 weeks. Additionally, the part of the account number in heading of email doesn't match the full account number on the debt letter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief