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Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 6:46 am Subject: Checksmart is making threats

I have recently signed up with T&C for the consolidation of my PDL loans. I know that many people here have dealt with T&C consolidating loans with Checksmart. A man from Checksmart left a message on my phone at work saying that I had until 8:00 PM to come into the store and pay back my loan or he was going to turn me in. I am very nervous about this. I have talked with T&C a couple of times in regards to Checksmart and they said that they will handle it, however,I need to know from those of you whom have dealt with Checksmart, if T&C took care of them. I have only sent in the initial paperwork and $155 retainer fee to T&C. I sent that back almost two weeks ago. I am sending two weekly payments today. I am also going to call T&C back this morning as soon as they open, but I just needed and update from those of you working with Checksmart. Thank you so much for all of your help!!!

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 6:51 am Subject:

What state are you in?

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 6:53 am Subject:

Darnit my fingers were working faster than my brain...I meant to say...The only thing checksmart can do is a)turn you over to a third party collection agency or b) take you to court as a CIVIL matter...so I don't know exactly who he was planning to turn you into...

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 6:54 am Subject:

I haven't personally dealt with either company, but it is most likely just an empty threat to try to get you to pay them. You have signed up with a consolidation company. Even if we did live on some planet where they could "turn you in" and you could go to jail, the judge would see that you aren't trying to avoid paying them, you've hired a company to help you. But you can't go to jail for defaulting on a payday loan, so that isn't a worry. The worst they can do is turn you over to collections. I would call T&C as soon as they open and tell them what the company said, and that you are nervous about the call. I've heard good things about T&C . . . .

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 7:04 am Subject:

I have an insane amount of experience with Checksmart - 7 years worth and have probably given them over $10,000 of my hard earned money - no exaggeration on that either. Did you write them a check on a closed account, or did the check just bounce? Also, keep in mind, you'll have the store calling you and the corporate office. The store is easier to talk to - corporate is just plain nasty. I have a friend who's actually going to court with them next week, but that's because he was writing them checks out of a closed account.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 7:17 am Subject:

Thank you for the replies. I live in Ohio. I have done quite a bit of research on these PDL's that I have. I just want to get out of this mess that I have put myself and my family in. I have been watching this forum here for quite some time and I have learned a lot of things and I thank everyone here for that. I called the Department of Consumer Finance on Friday to see what the law states about repayment plans were for the State of Ohio. She told me that the laws are not very specific about repayment plans. She did also tell me about a website that that the payday advance industry has started. It is cfsa.net. There is some good information on there that states the the companies in this affiliation are to follow a certain criteria called best practices. It does state on there that the PDL company is to offer a replayment plan for people who are having trouble repaying the loan. I am wondering if I sould call Checksmart back and disclose that I know this information?

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 7:46 am Subject:

I have too put Checksmart under T&C and going through the same stuff as you (i'm also in Ohio). T&C have told me many times they worked with Checksmart before. I'm putting my trust in with T&C and hopefully everything works out ok. I just don't like knowning the what if's but I guess I put myself in this situation. I also called Dept of Consumer Finance and they told me to send a letter to Checksmart corp office to ask them to accept my repayment with T&C and to call them back if this should go to court. But to be completly honest with you, I've heard you have 48 hours to repay before this is submitted to court for weeks now. Last week I sent T&C my first two payments and told T&C to pay them first, so hopefully I can tell you more in a few days.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 7:48 am Subject:

I finally paid them off. Checksmart's corporate office is not pleasant at all. One woman was actally screaming at me on the phone telling me they don't take payments so they can sue. Go into the store. They are much easier to deal with. I spoke to Audrey Hutchings at the Division of Financial Institutions and she said to not even deal with the corporate office. Go directly to the store with some money in hand and make arrangements with them directly. I didn't do that but I can say that they will eventually take you to court but a few months went by before that happened. I paid them with my income tax.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 7:50 am Subject:

I just called T&C and I talked with Jessica there. She told me not to worry, that this will probably happen for awhile until these companies started accepting the payments. She said that she will call them for me. Also, Checksmart corporate office called me a couple of minutes ago and asked when I could come in and payoff the loan. I told her that I have signed up with T&C and that they would be calling her today. She told me that they will not work with T&C. Has anyone had success with T&C working with Checksmart? T&C says that they will Checksmart say that they won't. I would just like to know for sure who to believe. I know some of you here have dealt with T&C and Checksmart. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 7:50 am Subject:

I am or was in OH too, repayment plans are allowed by the state of OH so my recommendation is to go into the store as well...I had the same problem with the corporate office

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 8:00 am Subject:

What is T&C? Is there a place that works with payday loans? I have taken care of mine myself.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 8:08 am Subject:

T&C is a place that consolidates payday loans.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 8:16 am Subject:

I'm in Ohio as well. I don't have any experience as far as working with T&C though, sorry. I just took a personal loan out a few weeks ago to pay off $2200 worth of advances to 4 places and some outstanding medical bills. Luckily I have a credit union that I've been dealing with for 2 years that was willing to lend me the money even though my credit is in the pooper.

Do not call corporate, do not talk to them, it won't do you any good. When they would call me, I would just tell them that I was working with the store and if they had any questions, contact them and I'd hang up. I know what you mean though about them screaming at you. I had one girl a few years back go crazy on me over the phone. I called back and asked to speak to a manager immediately. He pulled the conversation tape (which I was never informed I was being taped) and heard the things that she said to me. He called me back a little bit later to apologize for her behavior and said that she was immediately released.

At the same time, you might consider sending the cease communication letter that's posted all over on this forum just to save some sanity for yourself. I understand how they are though. They will call your house, your work, your family, friends, anyone that you listed as references on your original application.

Unfortunately, my brother got in the same scenario with them and the store did take payments, but they insisted on him paying half up front. They were calling me all of the time about his account too. I told him that they disclosed all of his loan information to me which I'm pretty sure by reading everything on this forum is illegal to do.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 9:23 am Subject:

C&D don't apply to original creditors and inhouse collections.They are exempt from fdcpa.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 9:47 am Subject:

There are supposed to follow "best practices" but they do whatever they want. I have noticed though that if I am dealing with one really nasty person if I wait awhile that person usually isn't working there very long. I wondered if you should file complaints when people are being harrassing and yelling and screaming unnecessarily?

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 9:52 am Subject:

Now everyone is suggesting that I go into the store and make payment arrangements. My question is, since I have already contracted T&C to consolidate these, should I offer up something different? T&C told me that they would take care of this for me and to not worry. I just don't want any further trouble from them. I just want to make arrangements to pay them back.

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