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kscornell · 08-29-2006, 04:22 PM

I just had to share this! As I work for a huge HMO in Northern California (Starts with K, ends with R)I called payroll today as I was advised to find out about voluntary wage assignments and whether they are honored.
I was hooked up with the Garnishment Supervisor (yep, we're so big that we've got one!), who told me that not only do they send all of the ones back from sleazy PDL's, the worst one and I quote "is one that's homebased out of Canada!! (gee, wonder who that could be?? Could it be SONIC??--like SATAN??) and yes it is!! The best thing was that she said that since they've sent so many back, Sonic has stopped sending them!
Anyway, the only ones my company does without a court settlement is IRS and State Taxes. Now this means I have to pay those debts off timely, but I'm gonna die trying!
The upshot is that these bozos can call me all they want, but they have to get paid on MY TERMS!!! And there's NOTHING they can do about it!!
I just had to share.....

finsfan13 · 08-29-2006, 04:26 PM

That's awesome!!!

Being payroll myself, I can tell you that generally the only wage assignments we get are from sleazy companies (like sonic!). My company DOES honor them unless revoked, but soooo many companies are thumbing their noses up at these things. It's a skanky, sneaky way to collect money anyway...I'm so glad those thieves at Sonic are being denied!!!

kscornell · 08-29-2006, 04:29 PM

I know! And I forgot to say that I also told her to write a note on them when she sends them back telling them to "drop dead!!" (She said she had to be professional)) )

anthony · 08-29-2006, 04:30 PM

Is it only Sonic that is turned down? There are many other companies that are violating the state laws. Is there any other loan company that is denied in your company, kscornell, finsfan13? Some caution will be put in use.

kscornell · 08-29-2006, 04:35 PM

In my case, she told me that my company does not do voluntary wage assignments from any company whatsoever, except for IRS and Franchise Tax Board (California State Tax).
The only way they would do it would be through court order--and she said that these douchebags won't go that far, because it would be thrown out because they are ALL violating California law.
California law re PDLs, from what I can see is:
You can only have one PDL at a time
The max interest that can be charged is 15 percent of the total--meaning no more than $45 on a $300 PDL
You also CAN NOT be criminally prosecuted for defaulting on a PDL in California. This means that any crap these collectors give you about the sheriff coming to haul you away in chains is just that--CRAP!!

polly · 08-29-2006, 04:44 PM

Sue sent me this link awhile ago:

http://www.corp.ca.gov/enf/info/dr/06pdf/sonic.pdf

anthony · 08-29-2006, 04:48 PM

hmm. sounds good. I hope more companies can apply this. There are many lenders that use illegal ways of wage assignments. Voluntary wage assignment can be revoked by all means. But many employers are not aware about this. In some cases, the person has to research for his rights and acquire the knowledge before he informs his employer. Your company is big enough and the employees get better facilities. I mean the illegal things are not sheltered due to the lack of legal information.

Teleport · 08-29-2006, 04:55 PM

Perhaps your company should hold a seminar about payday loans. Obviously, if the garnishment supervisor was willing to release such information, there is a slight problem with the employees taking out payday loans. Maybe you could be the one to organize this. You could put together your ideas, and ask your work about doing their own loans. Loans are just a bad idea, but seeing how people are taking out so many loans, it couldn't help.

Regards
Mike

awknox2003 · 08-29-2006, 05:02 PM

I appreciate the info, although were not out of the woods yet. I am also dealing with Sonic, although they won't go down with a fight. I was told by them they will contact my employer and send my account over to Universal Fidelity. I'm trying to keep my credit in good shape, and I don't want anything going over to a collection agency...Just a few things I'm still worried about

Teleport · 08-29-2006, 05:21 PM

I wasn't aware of Sonic using Universal Fidelity. I was udner the impression that they used their in-house collections, E-Care Centers. Keep us informed about what is happening to your account, if it stays with them, gets written of because you raise the heat on them, or gets turned over to Universal Fidelity.

Regards
Mike

kscornell · 08-29-2006, 06:01 PM

Polly,
I read the link, and as always, you are awesome!! This just is the icing on the cake. The only thing that would have been better if the Cease and Desist order would've been issued in Northern CA, but hey, who cares that LA got the honors, right? Thanks again for sharing that they are NOT licensed in the State of California and CAN NOT issue loans here.

finsfan13 · 08-29-2006, 06:34 PM

It is interesting that there seems to be a lot of payday loans at your company. I have filed wage assignments for rent-to-own companies and high-interest-rate credit cards and also a child support wage assignment(not garnishment) but I have never seen one for a payday loan!

My husband does my same job at a different company..we both work for large, national companies. You may've heard of mine, you've DEFINITELY heard of his. Anyway, his company does not honor voluntary deductions of any kind, which is what a wage assignment is. He said he gets assignments sent to him frequently from PDLS...And it's not just Sonic. I'm going to have to ask him who the biggies are.

kscornell · 08-29-2006, 07:04 PM

Hey Fins,
Thanks for the info; MAN, I love this site and the people on it!!
I'm sure my company (which if you live on the West Coast, you've heard of, trust me!!), has probably also done Child Support ones, since you need a Court award for those, right?
I would also like to go through our EAP program to find out how many of us there are. I'm sure it's many...

08-30-2006, 10:27 AM

Mike,

Universal Fidelity and National Capital collections are part of E-Care Contact centers.

CycloneFan · 08-30-2006, 01:56 PM

Well isn't that an interesting piece of info about Universal Fidelity. So they aren't legit either then?? Canadainside - tell me more and please join us, we welcome information like that.

finsfan13 · 08-30-2006, 02:42 PM

ks...

You don't ALWAYS need a court writ for child support, although it is the norm. There is a wage assignment for child support also, it's usually just an amicable agreement between the two parties. The court does sign this assignment, but it's not ordered like a garnishment. I think even companies who don't accept voluntary deductions have to honor this. (but don't quote me on that!)