Leading Edge Recovery Problems
Date: Sun, 11/25/2007 - 04:57
Understand that at that very moment my sister was in the midst of some harsh cancer treatment out of state and I was staying with her kids - not really in good form in the ole noggin...
This gal assured me that she would review tapes of the conversation with the other rep. I told Ms. Grippando that while I really didn't remember this credit card and that I certainly hadn't hidden for 11yrs, if she said it was mine, I wanted to make it right. She asked me to hold and came back stating tghat "their client" had agreed to cut the bill approx in half. I was to make 3 pmts. the first of which had to be right then - the next due 11/30 and final pmt 12/30. I gave her my acct info (I know, I know, plz don't flog me any more than I have flogged myself) and agreed to make the next 2 pmts. She mentioned post dating checks and mailing them. I didn't pay any mind to it - knew I wouldn't do that. I asked Ms. Grippando to send me an e-mail stating where payments were to be mailed and the amounts. She did so. Ironically, included in that email was a transaction with Ms. Grippando and somebody in the company stating that the letter they gave her to send to me was for a man and to please send her the right letter (still the red flags didn't go up)
Within a few days, the company began calling me again questioning where the other two payments were ... huh? I told them that payment would be forthcoming on the dates due and hung up w/o further convo. There were a number of these calls - many, I just didn't answer.
Yesterday I got a call from the company again regarding post dated checks being sent via overnight mail. I told the woman who called that I had never heard a word about overnighting anything and that my agreement stated the dates due. She put me on hold and Ms. Grippando got on the line and told me that she had told me that it was a requirement that I send post-dated check immediately. She said that their client required "physical representation" in the file or they would audit the file and the agreement would be voided. I told her I would cross that bridge when and if I got there.
THEN I did my research. I honestly don't believe I owe this bill. The only address Leading Edge had for me according Ms. Grippando was from 1996 - I've moved 2x since then and have left forwarding addresses each time. Why didn't Citibank contact me? I've had a listed home phone number until Katrina (8/05). Why didn't they call me? How in the world did they get my new cell phone number when they hadn't been able to contact me otherwise in 11yrs? None of it added up, so the following is what I e-mailed and faxed today:
[quote]November 24, 2007
Camille M. Grippando
Leading Edge Recovery
5440 N Cumberland Ste- 300
Chicago , IL 60656
VIA Fax: 773-380-6232 and e-mail: Camille.Grippando(at)LeadingEdgeRecovery.com
Dear Ms. Grippando,
I have instructed my neighbor to remove all outgoing mail from my mailbox.
In retrospect, I am completely unsure that the bill you called me about is mine. I have no records supporting a Citibank bill from 1996. As such, I am requesting all supporting documentation, including but not limited to, the original application with my signature and copies of any charges billed on the account.
Upon receipt of this documentation, I will then review and consider if any payments are warranted. If this account is found to be invalid, I am demanding full reimbursement of payments previously extended to you in good faith.
Please understand that at the time of your original call, I was under extreme stress due to cancer in my family. I should have researched further before allowing any payment from my account. No further payments are authorized at this time.
Sincerely, [/quote]
Please advise me what regarding else I need to do. I'm worried to death they will take more funds out of my account without authorization. I'm a single mother of a 12yo with only my income - trying to restart our lives after Katrina took our home and every single thing we owned.
I know that the $522 I gave them that day is gone, but can I prevent them from accessing my account again? If I need to clarify anything else, just ask!
thanks
wow
I have been reading these boards since yesterday and I am amazed at how naive I was in this situation.
This whole deal has me freaked out. I even dreamed about checking my bank acct online and seeing that an unauthorized draw had been made. I so wish I had been thinking right on that first conversation with LRE - yeah, I know, hindsight and all that gobbledygook.
I feel like I've been scammed. Like they played good cop/bad cop with me. Do collection agencies do that?
Close out that checking account immediately and send them the de
Close out that checking account immediately and send them the debt validation letter in my signature at the bottom of my post. Send it certified return receipt mail and read the other links in my signature to get familiar with the laws regarding this matter. I am not sure if you reset the sol for paying on a ancient debt and a lawyer must be consulted on that matter.
Thanks for the help. For some reason, I couldn't pull up my c
Thanks for the help.
For some reason, I couldn't pull up my credit report at any of the three agencies. One of the security questions was regarding a mortgage taken out in July 2005. I've never had a mortgage loan, so I'll be curious tomorrow to see just exactly what it going on with this mess.
The whole thing just has my stomach in knots.
kls/gbird
Cajun is right, send the letter demanding validation. And, yes
Cajun is right, send the letter demanding validation. And, yes close the account, but open another account with a different bank, otherwise they might get to the money anyway.
another question - and pardon me if I keep popping up with more.
another question - and pardon me if I keep popping up with more. You know, the learning curve...
LER has never sent me any communication in writing other than the email I received regarding the payment set up. What exactly were they supposed to send me within 30 days?
okay, here's another - do I file a complaint in the state I am living now, the state where they are or the state where the address is that they had from 11yrs ago?
Regarding that one security question, they always have those wei
Regarding that one security question, they always have those weird questions regarding mortgage loans and junk like that. You just answer none of the above and you'll be on your way. Even when you do have a mortgage, they sometimes put it a list of companies you don't have a mortgage with or they change the amount just for security purposes. After all, these systems are put in place just for your protection at the highest level of security; don't sweat it.
A complaint must be filed in the jurisdiction where you now live
A complaint must be filed in the jurisdiction where you now live.
I would file a complaint asap with the state you are in now. I d
I would file a complaint asap with the state you are in now. I did and I got a copy of a letter my DFI sent to LER and she was pretty short with them and asked for a whole bunch of stuff and even the recorded calls and gave them 15 days to respond. I also sent out my letter to them. And I finally got a letter from them on Sat. ( over a week after I got their first call) and they want me to call and settle or they will turn it over to their attorney network for further action. But the best part is when I last talked with them they said they mailed the letter out on a certain date and the date on the letter is 5 days AFTER they said they first mailed it. I am thinking this company is going to get burnt from my state on this.
Well, I just returned from my bank. My account is frozen with en
Well, I just returned from my bank. My account is frozen with enough for outstanding checks and auto withdrawals (insurance and cable co.) only. They also had me fill out a form that they will file for me to get the original $500 back.
After discussion with the bank manager about this company and their experience with them, I am now more convinced than ever that this bill isn't mine.
We'll see how it all works out. I'm headed to the post office now to send LER the letter recommended here.
Anybody heard of the term "fishing fraud"? The bank mgr mentioned that term and I hadn't heard of it.
Yes, it's called "phishing". You get an email which looks exact
Yes, it's called "phishing". You get an email which looks exactly like it is from your bank, ebay, or PayPal, etc. asking for information. It is really from a con artist. Actually, I suppose that using old, out of SOL debts is basically phishing as well.
as long as your first check cleared, and you have no outstanding
as long as your first check cleared, and you have no outstanding balance with your bank
tell the bank you think someone got a hold of your account number, and you want to open a new account
again as long as you dont owe the bank money and have any other checks floating around
close it and open a walmart account- there are there own bank.
then you give out the walmart account info to the ones that you are going to pay
they cant touch your walmart account" cause it not linked to any banks"
PS.never give out more than 1 post dated check, they will deposit them all and the bank WILLL CASH THEM