About collection agencies

Hey all,

I'm doing some background research on the collections industry and had a question for everyone. What types of things embarrass collections agents with their coworkers or peers? Do they care about harrassment or being too aggressive (judging from your stories, I'd say probably not)? Do they worry about low sales? How are debt collections companies judged by their peer companies? On recovery rates, customer relationships, relationships with their clients (like the credit card companies they collect for) or something else?

Obviously, these questions are best answered by an ex-collections officer, but any insight would be helpful. Thanks!

Thank you for responding today. Today I met with lawyer and they said if I get sued either judge will order to have my wages garnished or if I can not pay any thing at all the judge will be obligated to put a lien on my bank account. And the CA can always after I get a real paying job after I am done with school start collecting and garnishing from that employer. Today I also found out that collection agency is sueing me.
I appreciate any word of advice.

My name is Gregg Williams and i am a debt settlement agent for settle a debt in Ny. We are an attorney based debt settlement agency with over 30 years of experience, typically getting settlments between 30 and 55 percent. our goal would be to stop your harrassing phone calls and set you up with a payment plan for ALL YOUR UNSECURE DEBTS THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD. if you have any questions as to how i can help you please call deleted.

sorry greggy,but no solicitation per TOS rules.

Good Evening,

My fiancee has been layed off for 9 months and a debt collection has been calling and making threats about taking him to court. Well he is hard of hearing and now they are threating me saying they will take everything I own. But the debt is in my fiancee's name. Can we file a suit or something against them? I sound like a broken record when I say he is layed off he is layed off I am tired of it and now they are calling his mother. Its very embarrasing for us. Its not his fault for getting layed off. I thought maybe they will help you out but I guess I am wrong.

who are these imbeciles?one,they can't even touch you on his debt unless it's in your name as well.also contacting your mother,someone who has nothing to do with this is also against the law.i would check your state laws in regards to recording calls.have your mother do the same.i take it they have sent nothing in writing.time to look into your legal options.your fiancee's situation is not unique.complie your proof.have your mother do the same.then go to NACA.NET.there you should be able to find a consumer attorney who will sue this place on a contingency basis.time to make these places pay for their illegalities.

If they do sue you even though you have been paying payments what happens in court. I wrote my problem 3 differant times today and havent got an answer. Please someone read. Maybe paul mergel could pull my posts and help with some info. I just get tired typing it over and over.Thanks

well then you show the judge all the bank statements showing you were paying.that should cut ice in that case.were you paying whoever is suing,and does the receipts,or statements reflect that.if so then you should have no problem getting the judge to dismiss.

I was paying the collection place,

so the place you were paying is suing right?

Yes it is a collection agency. He will accept my payments but only if I post date checks for the next 2 or 3 months. He said to show that I am sincre about paying the debt.I told him I was in the red and I don't want to make things worse. I"m just scared that if i went to court the judge would take $800 amonth( 25% of my salary a month) and everything would just start to fall around me. My rent is $1500 a month and car ,gas,and food for the month another $700. I'm just not sure what would happen and hate to lose everything. I have never missed a payment and never had to be tracked down. I have increase the payment by $50 a month. I dont mind paying him but he wont deal with me unless I post date checks over the phone. He told me if I can't do that he was going to turn it overto his legal dept. I'm not sure how much is bluff and how much is real. I have been paying on line with my debit/visa card. Does that mean he has my banking info already. Thank you very much for helping me. I have been dealing with the IRS ($13000) State of Colorado ($1000) 3 credit card companies ( $1000 each) Getting them paid and no problems so far.This guy at Wakefield and Assocaites is the collections supervisor and don't want to do this any way but by check over the phone deal. Any ideas or has anybody ever heard of this place. Thank you so much.

Let's let this hang for a little bit, to see what the other regulars think, but...

In your place I'd offer him his payments by money order or cashier's check only, and only via US Mail. If that wasn't good enough, I'd tell the idiot to go pound sand. I'd also document my sincere good-faith effort to pay by whatever means I had to. CMRRR, recording phone calls, etc. BTW, Colorado is a one-party state, meaning that you don't have to tell him you're recording. If he wants to take you to court after that because you wouldn't post-date checks, let him. He'll look damn foolish in front of a judge, explaining why your documented offer of payment wasn't good enough.

Under no circumstances would I give my banking information to a CA. Any CA. Too easy for them to clean out the account, leaving me (you) with nothing.

Depends on how they handle card processing. They won't have your account number, but they may well have kept your debit card number. Capturing that information online is painfully easy. Go talk to your bank. Most banks will re-issue debit cards for free (or cheap) if you have a security issue. It's cheaper and easier for them to re-issue a card than to deal with fraud, ID theft, etc.

Totally what Uncle Wulf just said! He is being unreasonable and let me tell you, I think the only reason he wants post dated checks is because he can turn right around and cash them. Yup. Because he will have your banking info from the check and can submit payments as electronic transactions. If they bounce, so much the better for them because now they can lean on you with threats of legal action against you for bounced checks. This is the way these people operate.

Stop messing with the joker by phone (unless you record..then let him hang himself). Send a certified letter outlining your payment arrangement and make your payments via money orders. A judge would not be very happy with this guy for dragging you to court just because you are not proving post dated checks.

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Thank you all for the stress relief in dealing with this guy.You all seem very wise on these matter. I was just under the impression that if I went to court without a lawyer that the judge would just take the collectors side.Thanks guys. I did tell him that since hewas going to threaten me with taking me to court that I would be forced to post date checks, but I guess I can still tell him that I found out that I don't have to be bullied into it. I did send him a letter saying that I would pay him $200 a month ($50 more a month) and try to give him a lump sum of $600 in the next 3 months and dont call my work phone which is my cell unless he agees to these terms. I sent it certifed mail, but he calls everyday anyway. He said he has to have a phone # to contact me. I dont have a personal phone and I told him to email me. Dont seem to be doing no good. He wants me to give him $200 cash by friday at his office by noon, I said no problem. He thinks I am overdrawn on my checking account and I told him I dont want to bounce a check. I'll let you know how it went.Big thanks to all.PS How long does it take to go to court?

i would still find a way to record his blither.a couple of other things.

1)don't give him another dime without something in writing.he could agree over the phone to anything.
2)if he decides to sue it won't be a quick process.you will have time to get your ducks in a row as far as that goes.
3)start documenting his calls if you can't record.tale a snap of your caller id s further proof he violated a C&D.
4)i hope you only told him about droping 200.00 by to get him off the phone.he doesn't deserve another dime until he proves legal right to collect.
5)if he does sue demand validation during discovery.if he can't validate.then you can have any monies paid to him returned to you.i think since he gave you nothing in writing,and you got no receipts from him.he might not be able to validate.

just some thoughts by me.