First of all I want to say I love my job. Let somebody that knows tell you a fantastic story about this debt collector.
My client just got a settlement letter from her attorney indicating that they wanted to settle the case. A few months back my client got a phone call from one of the collectors from this debt collector. The agent did in fact do much of what several of you have complained about. The agent said a warrant would be issues for her arrest if she didn't make good on a check she had written to Ace Check Cashing. The agent was very abusive and made several other threats to my client.
I could go on and on here but I won't. My job is helping people file lawsuits against debt collectors. I am a referral agent for an attorney who gets the job done. The particular debt collector is one of the worst of the bottom-feeders I've seen for a while. I wish they would call me on something I would love to have the money.
Debt collection is a business and one blogger was right. If its run correctly there is no reason a debt collection business should not be allowed to operate. My problem is I have a problem with a company paying a few cents on the dollar and them trying to collect the full amount. A mark-up on a product or service is okay. However, to expect and on top of it in some cases threaten, harrass, or lie to a consumer to try and collect the cash is just wrong.
Well I started this by saying let me tell you a fantastic story. So, here it is. Vandenberg screwed up and is paying the attorney for my client $5,000 for a check to Ace for only about $300. During the past few months Vandenberg sold or assigned the bad debt to another bottom-feeder out of New York. Guess what??? Here is the cool part... This new debt collector called my client and said they were collecting on a judgement for a check from Ace. Guess what? No judgement was ever entered. A lie. A debt collector must be honest in dealing with you. In addition I contacted the debt collector and during the conversation I asked (6) times if they were a debt collector. Finally they admitted they were. That was funny also because the so-called person I was speaking to was suppose to be a manager in charge of the floor. So he violated the law by not identifying himself. In addition he threated to take my client to court if she didnt' pay the debt. I told him point blank she was not going to pay the debt. Then is when he said they would take her to court. I reminded him that threating to take somebody to court and then not doing it was another violation of the fdcpa. Just to add some icing on the cake I'm going to wait (5) days and then contact the attorney. I'm pretty sure they will not do the (5) days after the initial contact with the debtor thing.
Well thanks to all. That's two lawsuits in the bag over just one $300. check to Ace Check Cashing.
By the way I'm looking to put together a class action lawsuit against Vandenberg, Chase, and Associates. Please contact me personally with your story.
P.S. Please stop talking about putting these kind of places out of business. I get paid from companies like this. Have a heart...