ComplaintsforHauge Associates, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  04/23/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt Hauge Associates, I do not have a contract with Hauge Associates, they did not provide me with the original contract as I requested

  Business response

  05/01/2024

  RE:      Response to Complaint ********
  
  Hauge Associates, Inc. reviewed this consumer’s information in our system.  This consumer does have a pending account balance with the creditor.  Hauge Associates contracts as a debt collector for this creditor and the agreement is between the creditor, our client, and the consumer.  Hauge Associates, Inc. will follow up this response with a letter to the consumer with an explanation and documents. 
  
  If you should require any further information, please let us know.
  
  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  12/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt with ** **** ******* ********* *******, I do not have a contract with HAUGE ASSOCIATES. They did not provide me with the original contract as i requested.

  Business response

  01/05/2024

  TO:      Better Business Bureau
              **** * ******
              Omaha NE 68137
              Attn:  Nikki Hocker, BBB
  
  FROM:  Compliance Coordinator, Hauge Associates, Inc. (HAI)
  
  DATE:  January 5, 2024
  
  RE:      Complaint ID # ********
  
  Hauge Associates reviewed this consumer’s information in our system.  This consumer spoke with our office and requested a copy of the contract and the call disconnected when our representative was attempting to explain the charges.  This request for the contract was made on December 28, 2023 the same day the consumer filed this BBB complaint, not providing sufficient time for any information to be provided.   We are a third-party debt collector for the creditor.  We do not own this debt.  The agreement is with the consumer and the creditor.  The client’s offices were still on holiday hours and limited staffing when this request was made and until after the New Year holiday.  We have received a copy of the statement on this account from the client and the statement and any additional documentation will be sent with a letter directly to the consumer by 1/28/2024.
  
  If you should require any further information, please let us know.
  
  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  12/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I’m not liable for this with Hogate associates. They did not provide me with the original contract as I requested

  Business response

  12/28/2023

  TO:      Better Business Bureau
              **** * ******
              Omaha NE 68137
              Attn:  Nikki Hocker, BBB
  
  FROM:  Compliance Coordinator, Hauge Associates, Inc. (HAI)
  
  DATE:  December 28, 2023
  
  RE:      Complaint ID * ********
  
  Hauge Associates reviewed this consumer’s information in our system.  This consumer has knowledge of this account and has spoken several times to our office regarding settlements and payment plans.  We are a third-party debt collector for the creditor.  We do not own this debt.  The agreement is with the consumer and the creditor.  A letter is being sent to the consumer with a copy of the consumer’s statement from the creditor/client as well as a copy of the signed consent to receive services from the creditor/client. 
  
  If you should require any further information, please let us know.
  
  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  12/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  12/20/23 transaction of 104 withdrawn from my account without consent. Company was notified on 2 previous occasions they no longer have consent. Per their own terms they need my consent. They were notified my wages were being garnished, and I could not afford the monthly payment until the garnishments were honored in full.

  Business response

  12/28/2023

  TO:      Better Business Bureau
              **** * ******
              Omaha NE 68137
              Attn:  Nikki Hocker, BBB
  
  FROM:  Compliance Coordinator, Hauge Associates, Inc. (HAI)
  
  DATE:  December 28, 2023
  
  RE:      Complaint ID # 21038130
  
  Hauge Associates reviewed this consumer’s information in our system.  The consumer has a series of accounts currently in our legal department as the result of a legal judgment. The consumer did contact that department in October 2023 and the legal department did cease the payment plan.  Accounts with our legal department are not eligible to have payment plans established by the consumer in our payment portal without direct authorization by the legal department staff. 
  This consumer does have additional non-legal accounts still owing and the consumer set up a payment plan on these non-legal accounts in our portal in July 2023 to make payments through September 2024 in the monthly amount the consumer is disputing.  The consumer is not able to withdraw consent in the portal, however the portal instructions provide the phone number ************ that the consumer is to use to contact our collection department directly to make changes to the payment plan. 
  Our Hauge Associates Collections Supervisor *** **** is contacting this consumer by phone today to provide assistance to the consumer with this matter and to discuss options on assisting the consumer with the payments the consumer has already submitted and any future payments on these accounts.  The consumer does need to discuss these accounts over the phone with our office.  The consumer can return a call to our Collection department directly at ************ and ask for *** *****  If *** **** is not available the consumer can speak with *** ******t in our legal department for assistance.   
  
  If you should require any further information, please let us know.
  
  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  10/19/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am adding documentation to show that the Social Security office in Durango, CO mishandled(lost paper work) my request to reinstate my Part B and the employee (*****) reinstated my Part B (special enrollment) before enrollment date (January 1,2024). Submitted documentation three time to Social Security.

  Business response

  10/19/2023

  Hauge Associates has already addressed this complaint through the CFPB earlier this year. The consumer has also submitted another complaint to the CFPB about this same issue.  This office has spent considerable administrative time on this matter. While we are pleased to answer this consumer's complaint and review the updated documentation the consumer provided, I would like to request of the BBB that the consumer be informed that further responses about this complaint will be answered on the CFPB site so that we don't have to spend time answering the same complaint with both the BBB and the CFPB.  Please let me know if this is acceptable to your agency.  Thank you for your consideration.  

  Business response

  10/25/2023

  Please consider this our response to this consumer's complaint.  See below.  Thank you.

  TO:      Better Business Bureau
  

              1181 P Street
              Omaha NE 68137
              Attn:  Nikki Hocker, BBB
  
  FROM:  Compliance Coordinator, Hauge Associates, Inc. (HAI)
  
  DATE:  October 25, 2023
  
  RE:      Case # ********
  
  This consumer’s complaint has been previously answered.  At the time of our response in August 2023, the consumer had not provided the additional information we requested to document that an appeal had been filed on the insurance coverage.  The new documentation the consumer provided with this complaint has been submitted to the client for review.  Per client request, this office has cancelled the account back to our client.  The client has stated they will reach out to the consumer and will work with the consumer directly about this matter.  Any further questions the consumer may have about this account should be directed to the client. 
  
  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  03/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My account was paid in full for the agreed amount of the total original debt for the amount of $******, this payment was posted from my bank account to Hauge Associates on 2/07/2023. This debt Collector agreed to delete this account from my credit report when the debt was paid however after over 43 days the report still remains on my credit profile. This companies lack of updating my credit profile is affecting my ability to get into a safe home for me and my wife.

  Business response

  03/31/2023

  TO:      Better Business Bureau
              **** * ******
              ***** ** *****
              Attn:  ***** ******, BBB
  
  FROM:  Compliance Coordinator, Hauge Associates, Inc. (HAI)
  
  DATE:  March 31, 2023
  
  RE:      Case # ********
  
  Hauge Associates confirms it posted payment in full for this account from the consumer on 02/06/2023.  Hauge Associates contracts as a data furnisher to TransUnion and Equifax credit reporting agencies (CRAs). As a data furnisher, Hauge Associates, Inc. role is to update the information in our system as it is reported to the CRAs, which Hauge did.  According to our records this account is not being furnished by our agency to those CRAs. The CRAs have the sole authority to act on updating the consumer credit file in their systems.  The timeframes for processing furnished updates are also up to those CRAs.   Hauge Associates contacted TransUnion and Equifax and both CRAs stated the account in question is not reporting for this consumer. The consumer is encouraged to contact those CRAs directly through their websites if there are still any questions about what is being reported on the consumer’s credit report.  Thank you.
  
  
  If you should require any further information, please let us know.
  
  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  02/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have been paying on medical bills for over ** years. They allowed me to setup payments, then arbitrarily stopped withdrawing the payments. Then we received a notice that my paycheck was being garnished for lack of payment when they themselves stopped taking payment. In their own words they stop taking payments after a certain period so that you can renegotiate your payments (ie: they want more) but they are not required to notify to via letter or call you once a garnishment has been issued in the past. Then after garnishment is complete I setup payments again and they stop taking payments so they can send it to garnishment again. Now they no longer let you setup payments online because that eliminated the need to be harassed, and I mean harassed by the person you call in to. The person I spoke with Tammy ******* flat out admitted they removed the option to make payments online. They outright refused to take my payment because, "they could get more through garnishment." So unless I paid them more than I could afford each month they would send it back to garnishment again. When I asked her to be clear and say they would not stop taking payments until the balance was paid she just kept saying, "Make sure to check each month and if for some reason the payment doesn't come out you need to call us right away or it will be sent to garnishment again." If I'm attempting to pay how can they refuse payment because they don't think it's enough money?

  Business response

  03/02/2023

  TO:      Better Business Bureau
              **** * ******
              ***** ** *****
              Attn:  ***** ******* ***
  
  FROM:  Compliance Coordinator, Hauge Associates, Inc. (HAI)
  
  DATE:  March 2, 2023
  
  RE:      Case # *********
  
  Hauge Associates, Inc. reviewed the call recordings for all calls to date concerning this consumer’s accounts including the call with Ms. *******.  The consumer set up payment arrangements in the company’s web portal when the company’s former version of the web portal allowed for a maximum of 10 payments to be set up at a time.  The consumer had set up the series of 10 payment twice and in the amount of $*** per month.  The consumer was receiving payment receipts until April 2022 when the second series of 10 payments ran out.  By the time these payments ran out, the company had issued a new version of its online payment portal and accounts in legal collections were/are not allowed to be set up on-line at this time.  The consumer received a final payment receipt in April 2022 but did not contact us about setting up additional payments.   Hauge legal collections did attempt to contact the consumer several times by phone to discuss resuming payments, however, the representative was unable to reach the consumer.  Actions to consider re-submitting the remaining balances for garnishment were not taken until August 2022.  Ms. ******* did reject the $** per month payments as they are only half the amount of what the consumer themself previously had set up online.  Ms.  ******* offered the concession to resolve this balance in the form of a **-month payment plan at $*** month to accommodate the consumer’s desire to avoid re-garnishment.  This a concession was accepted by the consumer, who is currently on a new payment plan to continue to move toward resolution of this remaining balance.   If the consumer has any additional questions about this arrangement, the consumer is invited to contact Hauge directly for assistance.
  
  If you should require any further information, please let us know.
  
  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  01/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  they need to stop calling me at work. this is for a procedure that i had done ********************. they removed it *********************. i know i owe the money, i am not disputing that. however, the company they are collecting for are a bunch of ***** and wont let me do a small plan. *********************************************************************************************** they are to stop calling me at work. i could lose my job.

  Business response

  02/08/2023

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2023/01/20) */ TO: Better Business Bureau ************* ************** Attn: Nikki ******, BBB FROM: Compliance Coordinator, Hauge Associates, Inc. (HAI) DATE: January 20, 2023 RE: Case # ********* Consumers have the right to communicate to a debt collector inconvenient times/places to discuss an account. Hauge Associates, Inc. reviewed the call recordings for all calls to date concerning this account. The consumer only connected with our collector on one phone call and the consumer hung up. The consumer has now communicated in this BBB complaint, the desire to not receive calls about this account at the consumer's place of employment from our office. This request is acknowledged, and the phone number for the consumer's place of employment will not receive further calls about this account at the phone number on file. Hauge Associates would be pleased to work with the consumer. This office does typically offer payment plan options. The consumer is invited to contact this office to discuss options to resolve this account and to provide specific details this office can take note of regarding any preferred times of day/week that are more convenient for the consumer to discuss this matter. If you should require any further information, please let us know. Thank you. Consumer Response /* (2000, 7, 2023/01/23) */ (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.) i apprecite you not calling me at work. as i said, i know i owe this. i have larger medical bills that i need to concetrate on *****************************************. i will look forward to mailed informatioin on taking care of this bill

• Initial Complaint

  03/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I paid 5 accounts in full that were in collections **************, Hauge has informed me that they will not remove the accounts from my credit report for 13 years which is against fair reporting guidelines. I have called and asked that they do a goodwill deletion as the accounts are paid in full, all accounts were for medical services, and have found Hauge to be unresponsive and ****. Because these accounts are paid in full and 7 years old I would like for them to be deleted from my credit report. I wish all accounts to be considered and the corrections made to all 3 credit bureaus

  Business response

  04/15/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 8, 2022/04/04) */ TO: Better Business Bureau *********************************** **************** Attn: ****************, Dispute Resolution Specialist FROM: Compliance Coordinator, Hauge Associates, Inc. (HAI) DATE: April 4, 2022 RE: Case # 3******** Hauge Associates, Inc. reviewed the consumer's accounts. There is no record of the consumer being informed that these accounts were being reported to the credit bureaus for longer than the allowed time. In the state the consumer resides in, an ex-spouse can be held responsible for debts occurred while married. This consumer's accounts are showing paid. As a courtesy, HAI has separated the ex-spouse unpaid accounts in our system. HAI has submitted a request to the credit bureaus HAI contracts with for deletion of this consumer's paid accounts from the consumer's credit file. The consumer will need to contact TransUnion and Equifax directly if the consumer wishes to obtain an updated copy of the consumer's credit report. If you should require any further information, please let us know. Thank you.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩