Collection Agencies Mistakenly Harass Debt Free Man
Date: Wed, 11/07/2007 - 18:54
While he doesn’t owe any money, collection agencies have been harassing 82-year-old Willie Young for nearly two decades.
His name is similar to a man who defaulted on his student load and now Young is paying the price.
Young, a father of four who has been married to his wife for more than 50 years, built his house with his own two hands. He has never been in debt.
"There is no mortgage, never been a mortgage,†Young told News 2.
Young said he grew up in a time when people paid cash or they went without.
“I never had any debt period. I worked with my hands all my life,†he said.
Young said the harassing collection notices for the unpaid student loan began arriving in 1992 and for 15 years, one collection agency after another has tried to collect on a loan he never applied for, at a school he never attended.
"Just the other day, this girl called and said, ‘Are you Willie Young?’ I said, ‘Yes I am’ and she started on me like gang busters. She didn't give me the chance to say you have the wrong person. She said, ‘You owe the government $23,000’,†Young told News 2.
Amidst the paperwork Young has received over the years is acopy of the original loan, from 1989. It was for $4,000.
A man named Willie J. Young secured the loan to go to Tennessee State University and study accounting.
Gail Lee is the oldest of Young’s children. She said collection agencies don't care.
She said, “He gets very upset. This last call last week the lady was rude told him she would make him pay the money.â€Â
Running the man's social security number and date of birth, News 2 confirmed Willie James Young, a 42-year-old who has been in and out of trouble with Metro Police, is the person collection agents are really looking for.
News 2also discovered he continues to rack up debt that eventually winds up in the form of collection notices, sent to the elder Young.
Young’s family said it has hired a lawyer, gone to court, commissioned a private investigator, called collection agencies as well as several state agencies and still, the errant notices keep coming.
A spokeswoman at the Department of Education in Washington D.C. said they deal with similar types of problem and often can right the wrong, if the loan belongs to them.
Young told News 2 a trouble shooter for the agency has already contacted him, requesting all his documents to get to the bottom of it.
Apparently there are hundreds of people with the name “Willie Young†in the system.
When asked why he didn’t change his phone number, Young said he's had this same number for 30 years and wasn't about to go changing it now.
His name is similar to a man who defaulted on his student load and now Young is paying the price.
Young, a father of four who has been married to his wife for more than 50 years, built his house with his own two hands. He has never been in debt.
"There is no mortgage, never been a mortgage,†Young told News 2.
Young said he grew up in a time when people paid cash or they went without.
“I never had any debt period. I worked with my hands all my life,†he said.
Young said the harassing collection notices for the unpaid student loan began arriving in 1992 and for 15 years, one collection agency after another has tried to collect on a loan he never applied for, at a school he never attended.
"Just the other day, this girl called and said, ‘Are you Willie Young?’ I said, ‘Yes I am’ and she started on me like gang busters. She didn't give me the chance to say you have the wrong person. She said, ‘You owe the government $23,000’,†Young told News 2.
Amidst the paperwork Young has received over the years is acopy of the original loan, from 1989. It was for $4,000.
A man named Willie J. Young secured the loan to go to Tennessee State University and study accounting.
Gail Lee is the oldest of Young’s children. She said collection agencies don't care.
She said, “He gets very upset. This last call last week the lady was rude told him she would make him pay the money.â€Â
Running the man's social security number and date of birth, News 2 confirmed Willie James Young, a 42-year-old who has been in and out of trouble with Metro Police, is the person collection agents are really looking for.
News 2also discovered he continues to rack up debt that eventually winds up in the form of collection notices, sent to the elder Young.
Young’s family said it has hired a lawyer, gone to court, commissioned a private investigator, called collection agencies as well as several state agencies and still, the errant notices keep coming.
A spokeswoman at the Department of Education in Washington D.C. said they deal with similar types of problem and often can right the wrong, if the loan belongs to them.
Young told News 2 a trouble shooter for the agency has already contacted him, requesting all his documents to get to the bottom of it.
Apparently there are hundreds of people with the name “Willie Young†in the system.
When asked why he didn’t change his phone number, Young said he's had this same number for 30 years and wasn't about to go changing it now.
Great story!! That poor man!!! I hope he gets this straighte
Great story!!
That poor man!!! I hope he gets this straightend out soon! At his age he shouldnt have to deal with this!
:shock: :shock: This goes to show you a clear case that some co
:shock: :shock: This goes to show you a clear case that some companies could not skip trace their way out of a wet paper bag. He should sue them for max damages possible.
