Universal Fidelity (BBB accredited) violating consumer rights

I would send them a cease and desist letter, since it's not your debt.

I've considered that, as well as validation request, however upon further consideration I decided to wait until I get a clearer picture. My first name is very common, I'm not sure they ever mentioned last name, it could be just a coincidence. I'm concerned that if I send a letter they'll just use it to update their files, causing more trouble.

I have a debt with Sonic Payday (1858.) It is now with UF. I sent a Validation request after first being notified and had a reply today. It is a copy of my loan note, etc. It does not show any payments that were made - only the original note. Is this all they needed to send? I had asked for proof that they were licensed, but did not receive anything. What should I do next? I do not have the total amount to pay them and do not want to be taken to court. I am afraid to call them - have heard so much about the company that I hate the thought of talking to them. I have an account with credit counseling - do you think they could add the UF debt?

Has anyone tried to contact them through email to get a debt verification letter? Just wondered if this woould work?

I think we messed up! Universal has been calling us about a $110 debt with Penney's from 6 mos ago which we never received a statement for - we had moved - they never updated our address. We've asked Universal for a statement for 1 month. They've reported it to the credit agencies and our otherwise great credit rating has dropped over 100 points. We talked to Universal again this morning, and they gave us the same story about accepting payment only over the phone. Out of frustration, my husband gave them a credit card number. After reading these posts, we're calling our credit card company, but we're not even sure under what name Universal will post this charge. What should we do now? Thanks.

Your bank should be having the transaction code of Universal Fidelity. Talk to the supervisor and block the company immediately, otherwise you will never get your money once gone. After this is taken care of, write a debt validation letter to Universal if they call you again for this debt. You should have the confirmed info that they are collecting for a legitimate debt with them.

Thanks ArDeN, for the information. The debt is valid - I found the receipt back from February. I don't mind paying, but after reading all this about Universal I'm concerned about them having our credit card number. My husband just spoke with our credit card company. They've flagged our account and will notify us if anything other than, or in addition to the, the $110 charge comes through from Universal. I just hope we've done enough.

I got a call from UF about a month ago, saying I had an overdue bill on a Mervyns department store account. I closed the account well over ten years ago, so I asked for a statement in writing so that I would know exactly what I was disputing. Since then they have called me almost every day. They will not give me any address or phone number information to dispute the bill or to file a complaint about all the calls. This morning I got a call from "Eric" who told me my account was in the last stages of collections and that if I did not agree to pay the bill in full he would send someone to my home to collect the debt in person. I asked him if he was threatening me and he kept repeating "you know what I mean" I told him that it was illegal to make those sort of threats and he asked me what I was going to do about it. I said I was going to complain and he said "go ahead, you can't prove anything, you can't even prove I called. I asked him if we were on a recorded line and he said that we might be, and that it didn't make any difference, that people complain all the time, but they can't prove anything. Are all collection companies this bad? Does anybody regulate these guys?

I have received many call from Universal Fidelity concerning a debt they claim I owe Dell Financial. I have told them that I do not owe it and that I am not going to pay it. I have sent certified letters to both Dell Computer and Dell Financial regarding the charge they have both ignored me.
I called Dell Computer because I was having a problem with my Dell computer and I had purchased the extended warranty. I thougt that reinstalling the problems might solve the problem. They charged me $80 (or it could have been $85). The computer still not work. I called Dell again and they sent a techniction to my house who later replaced several components in the computer. That solved the problem. But when Dell computer originally charged me, they added the account I had set up when I originally purchased the computer. The debt for the computer has been paid off.
Dell computer would not respond to my request to credit the charge. Dell Financial ignored me when I told them I did not feel that I owed it. They sent me collection letters for a while but then apparently turned it over to Universal Fidelity. I have also received collection letters from other collections companys. I have never been harrassed by any of them except Universal Fedility.
I am a retired credit manager with 30 + years experience. I am not saying that I could be wrong about owning the originally charge which is now over $250 with penalties and interest.
I have explained all of this to Universal Fidelity but they continue to call me - I have never received anything in writing.
I received a call from Universal Fedelity less than 30 minutes ago. When I requested their address so that I could send them a certified letter, Christna hung up on me.
Ed Baggett
Personal info removed for your safety - Mike

I am dealing with Universal Fidelity right now and they are VERY RUDE. I just tried to see if they could postpone a payment for a week because I just found out my debit card had been duplicated and someone decided to have fun at a betting and sports book outside of the country with it. Anyway, I'm already upset that this has happened to me and I feel violated, I can't use my card until my new one comes in. Anyway, the guy I spoke with (didn't get a name, of course) was very rude and said that the payment couldn't be stopped unless it was payed earlier than the date it's supposed to come out and that I needed to borrow money from friends or family to cover the check because it's coming out of my account no matter what. And that if my story were true then it shouldn't be a problem for family to help me out and if my story wasn't true, which is "highly unbelieveable" then the check will still go through and that the money always "finds its way in the account." So basically he called me a liar. He hears the sob stories all the time blah, blah, blah... anyway I have an address, well a PO BOX and a phone number for the buttheads.

PO BOX 941911
Houston, TX 77094-8911
phone number 614-789-4823

Be careful with them, do a little research about the company, they have a few lawsuits against them. They did contact me but until I have written correspondence from them, I would just ignore them and call the attorney generals office in your area.

I have been having issues with this company for a few weeks now. First I asked to move a payment so they did but the ended up taking the money out any way wich caused my account to overdraw and bounce other bills. Then they kept on trying to take the payment out 2 more times causing even more fees. So I called and told them to cancel all my payments. So what happens? They take the next payment out giving me even more bank fees because my account was already negative from the last one. So what do I do? I called my bank and told them what was happening. They put a stop payment on everything from UF, and they're having them investigated for bussiness fraud. Do I stop there? No! I filed complaints to the Better Bussiness Bureau and the Attorney General in every state they have an office in. Then I found a company that sues debt collection agencies for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. So now they are investigating them as well.

I am dealing with UF right now. I have found some rude people and some nice people.
The problem is they harrased me wanting me to post date a check for an amount I could not afford to pay. I told them I did not feel comfortable doing it, but they told me that was the only way and they would send it to the attorney's if I did not. They also told me it had to be for a specific amount. They said if I needed to change the amount to call 4 days ahead of time. I called and reduced the amount 4 days ahead of time with no problem. Then several days later someone called me saying I made no payment. The person had cancelled the check and never posted another one. I paid that day and setup to have another withdrawl for the end of the month. I called to change the amount from $200 to $100 (they said I could do that), and the manager stated he changed it in the computer. At the end of the month the withdrawl posted for $200. Thank goodness it did not overdraw my account. I do not want to make another post dated check with them now. I received a call 2 weeks later saying I need to make good on this debt or else. I have made 2 monthly payments totaling 1/2 of the debt. I have not called them back because I do not trust them with my account information. I am planning to send in what I can afford this month by mail. I want to pay this debt and am trying, but they are still harrassing me as though I have not made any payments. Can they, or will they sue me if I am making monthly payments?

hey people this is Misty. i work in Universal Fidelity. You Can Ask Me Whatever Questions You Want

Misty,
I am making monthly payments. I can't always make such high payments as $200 month. As long as I'm making monthly payments will that be enough? I always feel highly pressured and told I can not make payments over the phone unless they are $200 - $300 payments. I made my last payment on line and it cost me a $5 fee. I've paid half of my bill so far.

Guest 2006.. It depends on your a/c balance cos it directly effects your CBR. however if you continue making regular payments and post date cheques then all the collection calls which are coming at your place will stop and you will have 1 less thing to worry about. you can also take a settlement on your a/c and see if you split it into parts and negotiate the amount mutually. The best part with doing a post dated cheque arrangemant is you would be charged only one time cheque fees for about $5 to $10. Rest you are the best judge for your finances.

Take care
Misty