Consumer complaint received 2025-01-10 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Payday loan debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened to sue you for very old debt
Company: Greenwood and Allen Financial
State: VA

Complaint narrative:
This company contacted me saying I owe a debt to XXXX XXXX. I was provided with the name and amount ( {$610.00} ). However, I explained that this was not my debt and that I suspected my identity was stolen. I was given a bit more information, but they could not tell me anything about the original debt, aside from a workplace that I did not work at and that it was a storefront loan that I signed for. I asked where the store was and they originally tried to tell me in VA ( where I currently live ). I told them I had only lived here for a few months, then they changed to they did not know where it originated from but said they had an affidavit from my bank that the funds were deposited. I told them I would not pay it and they told me that they would send it back to the original creditor who would be filing a lawsuit. I was supposedly speaking with someone in their legal department at this time. I hung up and called my bank and they denied that they had spoken with them or sent them an affidavit or that I had received any money from XXXX XXXX. I then called XXXX XXXX. They had no information on me or any loan. The individual I spoke with also told me that they do not have lawyers or any store fronts in VA. I called this company back and told them this information. They became aggressive. I said I would be sending them a letter requiring them to send proof of the debt. The individual on the phone said they do not have to do that because they are not a debt collector. However, the email the sent me states : : " A consumer has the right to request in writing that a debt collector or collection agency cease further communication with the consumer. A written request to cease communication will not prohibit the debt collector or collection agency from taking any action authorized by law to collect the debt. 

This is an attempt to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. This communication was sent by a debt collector from a professional debt collection agency. '' This is copied and pasted directly from the email they sent to me. When I again tried to explain to this individual what was told to me by XXXX XXXX, she stated that they ( AA ) no longer have my debt. I said okay, then who is taking me to court, she said the lawyers for XXXX XXXX. I said, so they still have my information if they are the ones taking me to court. She got angry and again I was threatened with court action and that they would submit my information to the XXXX system. She very specifically claimed that they are not required to send me any information because the are " not a debt collector, '' despite this being in their email and being listed with the BBB as a debt collector. 

Further information, they kept claiming to be " debt arbitrators '' working XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX up the debt. I was told multiple times that if I did not want to pay now, then they would send my file back to AA for them to file their complaint. I asked for a website ( and tried to find XXXX ) so I could verify the type of business they are. However, they do not have a website or any information about their " company. '' Since everything I can find ( i.e., BBB and their own statements in their email ) states that they are in fact a debt collector, they are required to send me verification of the debt.

Company response to consumer: Untimely response