U.S. Collections West, Inc.

Review: I was contacted by Mr [redacted] for a bad debt issue. He first spoke with my wife and told her I was in big trouble and owed their company lots of money. After returning his call he informed me that they may have the wrong person. He said the company had a algorithm to try and find people with debt issue and their system matched me with someone else. At that time he informed me I should check my credit because the company had filed a credit complaint.Desired Settlement: I would like them to assure me that no credit issues have been reported against me. Why should it be the consumers responsibility to check their credit against a company that identified the incorrect person

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:

I received the complaint and reviewed it.

I listed to the only message left for Mr. [redacted] and also the single conversation with Mr. [redacted] and I respond as follows.

We never spoke to his wife. We left one message. We never told anyone or left a message that stated "any one was in trouble" much less "BIG" nor did anyone state to the [redacted]'s that lots of money is owed. Once the collector confirmed Mr. [redacted]' social security number he stated we have the wrong [redacted]. Mr. [redacted] stated he was getting lots of calls all of a sudden from other collection agencies. Mr. [redacted] made the suggestions to have Mr. [redacted] check his credit so that he may protect his credit from fraud. Mr. [redacted] never said the company filed a credit complaint.

Review: On my [redacted] Personal Credit Report there is a collection for the amount of 1,863.00 from US Collections West, Inc.

They listed as partial account #[redacted]. This is an appeals case and until the outcome of trial is complete

this company has no right to list this on my credit report.Desired Settlement: Have this removed from all credit reports immediately.

Business

Response:

Please see attached.

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait until for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,

I was contacted by one of the employees for US Collections West about 2 months ago regarding charges from an apartment I had been evicted from in 2012. The man who I spoke with, told me he wanted to collect money from the judgement that had been issued against me (in the amount of a little over $1200) and also wanted to collect other monies associated with this eviction totaling close to $4000. The first thing he did was ask for a large lump sum from me and when I told him I couldn't afford what he wanted, he jumped right to wage garnishment threats. He read off a list of charges from the property, including $150 worth of trash bags, 6 holes in the wall, and a replaced bathroom sink. I had told the man that I did not believe these charges to be true, as I know that the last time I saw the apartment, there were no holes in the wall, nothing wrong with any bathroom sinks, and certainly not enough trash to require $150 worth of trash bags. I told him that I would set up a payment plan in the amount of $50/month, which he agreed to, but I told him that I was not going to pay the excess amount, only the amount of the judgement. The man told me that he was not going to agree into a promissory note for only the amount of the judgement. I told him that I was not going to pay for the other charges as I did not believe them to be true, the man from US Collections West told me that the property had pictures to prove these accusations, when I asked him to send them to me he said it would take a little while for him to get them, and then he would mail them to me; he verified my mailing address to be correct and then said to, "keep in contact" before ending the phone call. I never received pictures and I never heard from this man again. Last week I got a letter from an attorney dated October 1, 2013 telling me that if I did not pay the judgement (plus interest) by October 15, 2013 they would begin wage garnishment proceedings. The day after I received this letter, I began calling US Collections West to try and set up a payment plan (at the time, I was still waiting on pictures because I was not going to agree to pay something that I did not feel I owed). I left multiple messages at US Collections West, for different people, beginning on October 10, 2013. I did not receive a return call until October 14, one day before these wage garnishment proceedings were supposed to be filed. The man I spoke with (who was the same man I had spoken with every time), read over his notes on my account and we seemed to be on the same page - or at least as I heard him reading his notes I agreed that what he was saying was, in fact, mostly, how our conversation the previous time had gone - then he read aloud how he had contacted the property who the money was owed to originally, and they were under new ownership and did not have the pictures anymore. At this point, the man still would not agree to a payment plan with me for just the judgement, even without proof he still wanted to me to pay the almost $4000. He also said he would not accept just $50 a month anymore (because I had not yet set a payment but that is because we never agreed on anything!!!) and he wanted 12.5% of my income. He was incredibly rude and would not even let me get a word in edgewise to explain myself or try to talk or ask questions. When I asked if he was going to let me speak at all, he said, "go ahead, but I am not going to change my mind." He was completely unwilling to come to any sort of agreement with me, because he thinks that he can just take me to court and get 25% of my net income. I am a single mom with 2 kids and $50/month is all that I can honestly afford, 25% of my net income, or even 12.5% of it would literally put me, and my 2 young children, out on the streets. I am agreeing to pay my debt, but they are being unreasonable, unethical, and unfair with their collection practices.

Review: US Collections West has violated the [redacted] with constant phone calls where harassment and abuse have taken place. They claim I owe a Debt to [redacted], a landlord that owns property where there is constant crime, where leases are broken all the time, where tenants move in other people who are not on a lease into their apartments, where tenants can put up [redacted] and [redacted] on the sidewalks in direct violation of their leases. I asked US Collections West to send me proof of the debt they claim I owe within the 30 allowable days according to rhe [redacted], but they refused to send that to me with an itemized list of the reason for the debt. They claim I owe $2500.00 to their client. I offered to make a settlement of one half of this debt verbally and in writing to them, and they refused. They hang up the phone on me when I made such an offer. The also claim they are allowed to threaten me with lawsuits, and sending information to the various credit bureaus damaging my excellent credit. They claim they will send me mailings with lawsuits and threats. They keep calling me on the phone every single day making threats, refusing to tell me how to contact their attorney. When I told them I have an attorney, they refused to accept the information from me. My lease with the landlaord allowed a 30 day notice of intention to move, and I gave them that notice. Please help me!Desired Settlement: I have asked the agency to stop contacting me as listed in the [redacted] which states I can request for them to cease and desist all futher communication. I have sent them an email to [redacted] with a letter that says this to them. I am sending them this same letter tomorrow by certified mail.

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:

We received the complaint and respond as follows.

The allegations that we vio lated the [redacted] are false. I placed 2 phone calls to Mr. [redacted] . The first call was on 10-22-14 and the second call was on 10-30-14. I never harassed the consumer . I did receive multiple calls and voicemai l messages from the consumer on 10-10-14 and on 10-28-14.

Iadvised Mr. [redacted] of the debt as well as what the charges were for. Mr. [redacted] immediately denied owing the debt. He then offered to pay half of the charges for a total of $1,250.00. I advised him we would contact our client regarding the settlement offer. On 10-22-14 I received our client's response to the settlement offer. I then contacted Mr. [redacted] and informed him of the counter offer of $2,000.00.

Mr. [redacted] became very upset and angry. I explained again to her of the charges and informed him I would send validation of the debt to him for his to review. Mr. [redacted] confirmed he received the validation however stated that the date was changed on the 60 day vacate notice. I advised Mr. [redacted] to forward additional proof to us via email or fax however he refused. He then stated our company was harassing him and he'll be filing a complaint and cease and desist all communications.

Our client confirmed all charges are owed but they agreed to accept $2,000.00 as settlement in full if paid within 30 days

On August 26th I received a message from US Collections West Inc. from Mr. [redacted] at at 10:22AM. [redacted] chose not to ID his company on my voicemail which I'm aware is not against any [redacted] violations but it seemed sketchy to begin with. None the less I chose to return his call to ###-###-#### at 12:01pm. It took me a moment to get [redacted] to ID his company after I asked a couple times. He was reluctant to properly tell me which company he represented, not per-say break the law and say he was calling on behalf of his client before identifying me. However this is another red flag for collection companies. I actually have previous knowledge of Donald and US Collections West and I am aware they are not walking a fine line of following the [redacted]. I decided I no longer had a reason to continue my conversation with [redacted]. 2 minutes later he called me back after I disconnected my call to try and harass me. This isn't a major violation however it is a poor way to act and go about their business. Also they have yet to validate whatever it is I supposevely owe. 2 violations and I doubt this is the first time this has been reported.