I feel I am being scammed.
Complaint
Dave
Country: United States
I received a voicemail from someone claiming to be from Sandcastle "Litigation" today and was asked to call them back by the close of business today.
I called the agent back who mentioned that their client (someone I owed a legitimate debt to years ago and settled and paid in February 2015) was trying to "mediate" a debt in the amount of $2,694.23. She also stated that the "client" was looking to file charges for "theft of goods and services". There is no Sandcastle Litigation, however there is a Sandcastle Mediation.
I pulled the email of the settlement letter that I received and explained that this was resolved in February, 2015. She went on to say that the firm that agreed to the settlement was not authorized by the initial client to do so. The original firm is a big box retailer who shall remain unnamed, and the settlement was through a law firm they hired in their behalf.
She redirected me to a "Senior Attorney" who opened the case file and saw that indeed the settlement amount had been paid, but the issue was that it wasn't paid on time. So this is the second story I was told. I told him the date of the settlement letter was 2/19/15, and he acknowledged that the firm he represents received payment in full in 2/23/15, four days later.
I got him to acknowledge that now it wasn't an issue of whether or not the settlement was approved, but that the payment terms weren't met . I did not tell him that as part of the settlement that I would be able to make monthly installment payments beginning the following month.
I spend most of the day at the attorneys office who initially settled this for me, my bank getting old bank statements, time reviewing statements, and then trying to sort this out. I also called the initial debtor, who stated they had no issue, as well as calls to the FL and AR Attorneys General Offices and the FTC.
When I called back they were careful to say they were mediating the case. When I asked for a name and contact for the other side, I was told that because of confidentiality issues, they could not provide and I would get served and have to go to retain an attorney and go to court. I also advised that if they are trying to mediate, that mediation is a two way street and requested that they have the client mail me a letter directly about trying to collect a debt. At that point, the person I was talking to stated no one was trying to collect a debt. My rebuttal was then why are we even in the phone the . He stated he is trying to mediate this and get me to agree to pay the money.
At no point refarding this specific issue have I received written notice of any debt collection from Sandcastle or the "firm" they claim to represent.
If these folks call, be very cautious.
I firmly believe they are scamming me, but am not willing to state that with 100% certainty. Again, be cautious.
I called the agent back who mentioned that their client (someone I owed a legitimate debt to years ago and settled and paid in February 2015) was trying to "mediate" a debt in the amount of $2,694.23. She also stated that the "client" was looking to file charges for "theft of goods and services". There is no Sandcastle Litigation, however there is a Sandcastle Mediation.
I pulled the email of the settlement letter that I received and explained that this was resolved in February, 2015. She went on to say that the firm that agreed to the settlement was not authorized by the initial client to do so. The original firm is a big box retailer who shall remain unnamed, and the settlement was through a law firm they hired in their behalf.
She redirected me to a "Senior Attorney" who opened the case file and saw that indeed the settlement amount had been paid, but the issue was that it wasn't paid on time. So this is the second story I was told. I told him the date of the settlement letter was 2/19/15, and he acknowledged that the firm he represents received payment in full in 2/23/15, four days later.
I got him to acknowledge that now it wasn't an issue of whether or not the settlement was approved, but that the payment terms weren't met . I did not tell him that as part of the settlement that I would be able to make monthly installment payments beginning the following month.
I spend most of the day at the attorneys office who initially settled this for me, my bank getting old bank statements, time reviewing statements, and then trying to sort this out. I also called the initial debtor, who stated they had no issue, as well as calls to the FL and AR Attorneys General Offices and the FTC.
When I called back they were careful to say they were mediating the case. When I asked for a name and contact for the other side, I was told that because of confidentiality issues, they could not provide and I would get served and have to go to retain an attorney and go to court. I also advised that if they are trying to mediate, that mediation is a two way street and requested that they have the client mail me a letter directly about trying to collect a debt. At that point, the person I was talking to stated no one was trying to collect a debt. My rebuttal was then why are we even in the phone the . He stated he is trying to mediate this and get me to agree to pay the money.
At no point refarding this specific issue have I received written notice of any debt collection from Sandcastle or the "firm" they claim to represent.
If these folks call, be very cautious.
I firmly believe they are scamming me, but am not willing to state that with 100% certainty. Again, be cautious.
Comments
Mediation or litigation is double talk for debt collector (so they are lying there too).
Looks like the creditor (or debt collector) sold off the "balance" in violation of the settlement agreement, to some low life "mediation" debt collector, probably for pennies on the dollar, since there was no basis for actually claiming you "owed" any more money when there was a settlement. It's clear they are fully aware this was settled when they are prepared with "excuses" for why they can still demand more money.
"Mediation" is the term these scam debt collectors use for their lies and threats, which are just "arguments" for why you might "choose" to pay them some more money.
You've got a negotiated settlement agreement, AND documentation of payment to satisfy it.
If the creditor had some issue with the payments, the time for them to have brought that up was before they accepted your money. By accepting it (whether late by a few days or not), they are bound by the settlement agreement, and their attempt to get more, or even sell off the account, could be viewed as a breach of contract, subject to treble damages, and deceptive collection through negotiating the agreement in bad faith..
Consumer reports a call threatening to sue, not even naming who they were going to sue.
Company didn't even bother to respond.
That looks like their M.O.
In your complaint, include the details that you settled and paid the account with the original creditor, and list the various threats and deceptive excuses made in their demands for more money beyond the already paid settlement.
Sandcastle
Sandcastle Litigation
Sandcastle Mediation
Sandcastle Mediation Services
I'd be weary of any form of Samdcastle anything calling and claiming there was unpaid debt.
I believe he is in New York. He used to be on Facebook- not sure if he still is.