Williams Fudge, Inc

2018-08-15

GA

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt is not yours
Complaint: I was attending a XXXX school called XXXX XXXX College that promised us that we would be able to take college classes for free at XXXX XXXX University and they would take care of the expenses. I took classes from XXXX to XXXX but I'm being charged for the last class I took in the spring of XXXX while i was a minor but not charged for any other class. Now the school is shut down and everyone associated with the school has been transferred or fired and i cant contact anyone to help resolve this. The debt doesn't even show up on my credit report and I couldn't dispute the debt sooner because every attempt to contact me was sent to an address i hadn't lived at in years.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-08-14

Colo Spgs, CO

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Federal student loan debt

Debt is not yours
Complaint: I attended XXXX XXXX XXXX College, XXXX XXXX XXXX, in XX/XX/XXXX through XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX in XXXX XXXX, CO. I filled out my needed financial aid paperwork and documents to try and get a loan either from Federal or State. Since at the time I was under the age of 25 I needed my parents financial information in order to complete my FASFA. To the best of knowledge my parents have not talked too each other since XXXX. Neither one of them wanted me having their financial information in case somehow the other got a hold of thiers. This created a problem in moving forward with the FASFA. The financial aid director, sorry I don't remember her name just that she was a female, took me I could start and continue with my classes while the FASFA was being processed. She explained to me that if it did get denied that the only way I would be held liable for any costs with the books or classes is if I re-enrolled for my next semester. It didn't get approved and I never enrolled for classes past that semester. I made sure that at the student services center, or enrollment offices, that they knew that 100 %. I did receive a few, two and possibly a third, letter from the State of Colorado within in the next two years when I received the bill in the mail. And each and every time I responded to the State and the School. Never, ever did I hear about a response from either of the two. After the last response I sent I never heard another word from either of them again. This was XXXX at the latest. I never went to court nor was I even summoned to court about the issue. Then in XX/XX/XXXX, 9 and 1/2 years after the fact, without letter or notice the debt was placed into collections and reported on my credit report. Seven years from last hearing from them I have a debt collection on my credit score. My best friend 's father is a loan officer and works closely monitoring people 's credit and issues associated with thier credit. After explaining to him the sutitution he informed me that what they, XXXX, did was illegal mainly due to the length of time involved. Unfortunately since such a great and lengthy time has passed I do not have any of the original bills or responses because I thought the issue was dismissed or handled.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-08-10

Cataldo, ID

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Private student loan debt

Used obscene, profane, or other abusive language
Complaint: On Thursday, XX/XX/2018, I received a phone call from XXXX XXXX at Williams & Fudge Inc. Williams & Fudge is located at XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, SC XXXX. As of XX/XX/2018, the balance owed was XXXX ( an e-mail message has been attached to show the information regarding this and for contact information ). When XXXX calls me, her phone number is displayed as XXXX, however, her direct line is XXXX. She was calling me in regard to a private student loan that had been sent to Williams & Fudge to collect on. We had spoken before ( an e-mail message from our first conversation on XX/XX/2018, is attached with her contact information ) and I explained that, due to my current financial situation, I was unable to make larger payments and could only afford to make payments of {$50.00}. Which she made note of and expressed that at least it is an effort to show you are willing to make payments toward bringing the balance down. On XX/XX/2018, when she called me, she failed to notify me of the proper disclosures, mainly if the call was being recorded or not. As the call continued, she then began to ask me if I had spoken to anyone about receiving any sort of help. I explained that I do not have anyone who can help me financially and unfortunately this was all I was able to do for the moment. She then asked, " What about the house you're living in? It's valued at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX dollars. '' I explained to her that the house I live in belongs to my parents, it is not mine, that is their mortgage and they have a number of their own financial issues. I have no legal right to the house I live in. I am not on any agreement, mortgage, deed, etc. and I should not have been told the value of that domicile. She and Williams & Fudge made a direct effort to find the value of my parent 's home and not inform me, or them, that that was taking place. After her telling me about the value of a home I do not own, we talked more about the account. During the discussion, I felt as thought she was pressuring me to make a decision and to find someone or someway to get the money. She stated at one point that she could guarantee that if I settled the account, they would accept me being responsible for only half of the amount owed. She then made a comment in reference to my payments that would arise from the settlement and being around {$50.00}. However, at the end of the call, she stated that I would need to start finding a way to resolve this and making larger payments 'for my sake. ' She repeated this phrase several times to me. While not directly threatening me using specific verbiage, it felt and carried all aspects of a threat.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-08-05

MA

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Other debt

Debt was already discharged in bankruptcy and is no longer owed
Complaint: Ive notified this company of my XXXX and that Im classified as collection proof. Im still being contacted and the company continues to attempts collection on a 7 year old debt Im not liable for
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-28

Olympia, WA

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Federal student loan debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-23

Val Verde, TX

False statements or representation

Debt collection: I do not know

Attempted to collect wrong amount
Complaint: Was lied to about the payment and what the payment was. Harassing calls XXXX-XXXX -XXXX+ collection calls. Family members began to complain about the harassing calls that came from this company. XX/XX/XXXX I began to answer calls from this company about my debt. Talking with this company I was told that the payment they wanted was a settlement for my account. I talked to Williams and Fudge XX/XX/XXXX about settling my debt and what they would do to my account. They told me since it's a settlement it will clear my account and it would be off. On XX/XX/XXXX I made the payment and was told the payment would post to my account in 20 days and I would receive receipts via email I never got. XX/XX/XXXX more than 20 days after I payed my settlement my account has not been cleared. Instead of it being a settlement like I was told they used it as a payment towards my debt. When I called Williams and fudge on XX/XX/XXXX they said that it was a miscommunication and that it was not their fault my family and I received calls at XXXX-XXXX. when I waited for the time they told me it would take said I waited too long to call and was treated like I was the one at fault
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-22

NY

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Other debt

Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Complaint: As of XX/XX/2018 there is a collections account from Williams And Fudge showing on my XXXX report for {$6000.00} with XX/XX/XXXX as the date opened listing XXXX as the original creditor. First, I have never owed XXXX any money, and I have received no mail from them requesting money from me. Secondly I have received no notice Williams and Fudge you regarding the debt this is a violation of FDCP. By doing so the company has also interfered with my right to contest and verify the debt. This account needs to be removed from my credit report immediately as it is not only frivolous, but the rights allowed to me regarding the matter were infringed.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-20

Houston, TX

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Private student loan debt

You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-20

Cocoa, FL

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: Other debt

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-19

Lincoln, NE

False statements or representation

Debt collection: Private student loan debt

Attempted to collect wrong amount
Complaint: I am getting calls for a previous tenant at my apartment regarding a debt collection. However, my phone number is from my previous address, and previous address before that, for more than 20 years. Whoever this person is that used to live here, she never knew my phone number, and she never could possibly have given it for any purpose to anyone. The collection agency has been hounding me for the better part of the last decade to pay for this girls debt. Obviously my own debts, which are now paid, have my telephone number as a mark for low life debt collectors who see dollar signs next to my name. These bottom feeders belong in prison.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-19

Dallas, TX

Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly

Debt collection: Private student loan debt

Talked to a third-party about your debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-17

Belleville, IL

False statements or representation

Debt collection: Private student loan debt

Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-16

Oxford, GA

Incorrect information on your report

Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting

Account information incorrect
Complaint: William and Fudge is a collection agency that works for XXXX XXXX. I agreed to a payment plan with the Williams and Fudge collection agency to prevent any negative remarks from being reported to Credit Bureaus. The Williams and Fudge collection agency received my payment and then reneged on our agreement. I spoke to several rude and incompetent supervisors that work for this collection agency. XXXX XXXX was the main supervisor that was extremely unprofessional and rude. XXXX XXXX is the supervisor that reported the negative remarks on my credit report. I contacted XXXX XXXX directly and resolved this matter by paying the {$670.00} in full. The XXXXXXXX tech business office assured me that everything would be taking care of and the negative remark on my credit would be removed from my credit report. I received an email from the XXXX XXXX business office stating that the William and Fudge collection agency informed them that the removing of the negative items on my credit report would take 2-3 months to remove. Unacceptable!!!
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-12

Smyrna, SC

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Problem with customer service
Complaint: My sister received a call from a company called Williams and Fudge. From a rep named XXXX or XXXX. She proceeded to tell my sisters sensitive information about my student loan account which I was already aware of. I told her at that point I did not want to work with their company because I was handling the matter through my university. She became very disrespectful saying that I was constenting for my loans to be dilinquent. Which I never verbally consented to do. The phone call escalated with me hanging up. I called back to complain and that female caller was rude as well. I asked her multiple times to send my call to a manager and she would not. Eventually she sent my call to a supervisor name XXXX who was just as disrespectful. I said i will pay the loan but I didn't want to work their company. They said it was either them or the highway. I hung the call up because yet AGAIN we were getting nowhere. These people will try to intimidate you and threaten you. Beware!
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-11

Glendale, CO

Communication tactics

Debt collection: I do not know

Frequent or repeated calls
Complaint: I've counted over a dozen phone calls from this company to my personal and work numbers in just two days alone ( XX/XX/18-XX/XX/18 ). They never leave a message so I finally answered today long enough to let them know they can no longer attempt to reach me by phone. I can not receive debt collection calls at work and am worried these calls are jeopardizing my work situation and am appalled someone would call this many times and never leave a single message. I am not sure what this could be in regards to, ( I even checked my credit report today to see if I am missing something which I am not ), but I am more than happy to work out any debt dispute via email or regular mail. Calling over and over and over like this, especially when you have to go through a receptionist to get to my direct line, is absolutely harassment and specifically meant to embarrass and intimidate. My next step will be to go to my state attorney general and report abusive collection tactics.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-09

Scottsdale, AZ

Took or threatened to take negative or legal action

Debt collection: I do not know

Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Complaint: A debt that I was not aware of because I never received any letters or correspondence from the company was placed on file with the credit bureau giving a date of XX/XX/2018. Even if the debt was valid, which I'm disputing since I have not received any information on it, it would not be from XXXX of 2018. The only reason I found this debt was because I check my credit regularly. This caused my credit to decrease by almost 50 points. Since I have no information about this debt prior to this I do not believe it is valid. I also have not been in school 4 years so even if it was a valid debt which again I am disputing it would be from years ago not XXXX of 2018. This company is trying to make it seem as though I have a new debt which I do not.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-07-04

Mabank, TX

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: I do not know

Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Complaint: I recently reviewed my credit report and saw that an account was sent to collections from Williams & Fudge Inc. The original amount for the reported debt was {$610.00} and now reporting {$950.00}. This is NOT a request for verification or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION.I respectfully request your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-06-29

Rupert, ID

Written notification about debt

Debt collection: I do not know

Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Complaint: On XX/XX/2018 William 's and Fudge added a collection to my credit report in the amount of {$520.00} and I don't know why. My credit score dropped a lot because of this, almost 90 points. I have never heard of them before nor have ever been contacted by them either by phone or in writing. It says that I owe them {$520.00} and the school listed is XXXX XXXX XXXX College. I haven't been to that school in almost 5 years and don't remember owing them anything. I have students loans through XXXX but pay on those monthly and on time through Federal loans. It's unfair that William 's and Fudge added this derogatory mark to my credit report without even trying to contact me first. I don't believe I owe this money. I have a copy of my final billing statement with XXXX and it doesn't say I owe them anything. Since leaving college I still have the same phone number and mailing address which the college still has. Please help. Thanks!
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-06-26

DC

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Received bad information about your loan
Complaint: I received a collection notice from a company in South Carolina earlier this month stating I owed over {$22000.00}. I called the company and was told this was for year XXXX for a balance due to XXXX XXXX. I let them know I did not owe XXXX any money when I left the school 27 years ago and have received no bills or notifications. The collection company told me XXXX sent a bill in XXXX. I sent both the University and the collection company letters to validate the debt. XXXX sent paperwork for a loan in XXXX. According to my student loan account 3 loans have been paid off and were for that year. Under Fair Debt Collection practices, it seems unfair to send a bill 27 years later for something that has been paid. I am not in default according to the Student Loan Financing Company who handles my loans today. My transcripts have never had an issue being released all of this time and I do not owe this money. I never emailed XXXXXXXX XXXX. I sent a letter and received a response back to call them.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-06-26

Lewisville, TX

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Private student loan debt

You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-06-22

Columbus, OH

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: I do not know

Debt is not yours
Complaint: My family members ( Grandmother and Mother ) are consistently receiving collections calls from Williams & Fudge on a debt I do not owe. They are looking for someone with my same name, that has an outstanding debt with a college in the XXXX XXXX area. I have never lived in California and we don't have the same birth date. I repeatedly have to call them and say you are looking for the wrong person, just to have someone call back. This has been happening since 2012!
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-06-20

LA

Communication tactics

Debt collection: Private student loan debt

Frequent or repeated calls
Complaint: They called my place of work ... harrassing me and my coworkers.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-06-18

Bellevue, TN

Attempts to collect debt not owed

Debt collection: Private student loan debt

Debt was result of identity theft
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-06-14

Mount Holly, OH

Dealing with your lender or servicer

Student loan: Federal student loan servicing

Don't agree with the fees charged
Complaint: I had a Perkins Loan at the University of XXXX XXXX in XXXX, Texas. I am enrolling in college at another university in the fall, 2018 and my admission into the university is on hold due to the University of XXXX XXXX putting a hold on my transcripts. I have spoken with the XXXX contact at this university for several months now who has been rude, condescending, and unprofessional to me in how he has spoken to me, however, he suggested that I do a loan consolidation to pay off the Perkins loan. I did do this loan consolidation and the loan was paid ( approximately {$2800.00} ) except now the XXXX contact says there is still over {$1000.00} that needs to be paid before my transcripts will be released. The XXXX contact says that a Williams & Fudge agency has been contacting me about my loan. I have never received any letters, phone calls or e-mails as far as I can recall about any correspondence with any Williams & Fudge agency and in fact when I did speak to XXXX ( my loan provider ), I was told that my Perkins loan had not defaulted. I have been unemployed and XXXX XXXX and unable to work and that is why the payments were late, but now even after the loan has been paid, University of XXXX XXXX is still unwilling to release my transcripts until I probably have to pay this extra {$1000.00} + I'm guessing as collection fees. Again, I do not recall getting any information from any type of Williams & Fudge agency correspondence and I most certainly do not agree with any additional fees which are 1/3 the cost of the overall balance of my Perkins loan. Best regards, XXXX XXXX XXXX
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response

2018-06-06

Bg Bnd Ntl Pk, TX

Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly

Debt collection: I do not know

Contacted your employer
Complaint: I had a debt collector call my place of employment on XX/XX/2018 in reference to a debt that does not match my records. This is an old debt from over a decade ago that has been resold so many times that I can't actually find out who owns it now because they have all lost the paperwork. I told them that it was illegal to contact me at my place of employment ( my employer has a no personal calls policy that I can be fired for if I violate ) The caller insisted that it was not illegal for them to call me at work. I told them that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits them from calling my place of work if they have such a policy but was again told it was not illegal for them to call me. Which is a complete untruth. I then told them I have the ability to sue for violations of this Act and I ended the call.
Company Response: Closed with explanation

Timely Response