How do I deal with a collection agency?

You are right-the Collection Agency I am dealing with has used a variety of techniques to "help" me such as:

Threatening legal action

Giving my info to a lender to lend me money to pay hem back

Calling every hour

Refusing to properly validate they even have the debt, and have passed it to about 6 of their DBAs

Contacting me before they validate

Telling me what loosers we are, husband is a deadbeat

threats of garnishment

These are just a few of the ways they have tried to help. I know there are good collectors, I know some and my friend is one here, but not all agencies will or do go by the regulations..karen

LOL what a joke, yes the helpful collection agency, seldom heard of and never seen.

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you show me a helpful ca and i have oceanfront property in south dakota to sell.

Good Guy! You are so precious!

I want some of whatever you're on, because it darn well has to be some good sutff!

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Hi I am your friendly neighborhood debt collector! You do know that you owe $$$$ to XXXX yes? great! Well, you can take care of that right now...no, you know what? You are such a nice person that we will take care of it all for you, consider it paid off. Don't worry your pretty little head over it any longer! You have a beautiful, wonderful day!

((This is the newest CA tactic....get you to die of heart attack shock..then call and harass your next of kin to pay the debt.)))

You know what's sad, GoldenBast? I have actually heard some horror stories of CA's hounding a deceased debtor's family for money.

A friend was telling me about a friend of his that had passed away, and a CA kept calling his parents asking to speak with the deceased when they had already been told he had passed away. The family finally retained an attorney to go after the CA, and the CA called them asking how they could afford to hire an attorney but they cannot pay their son's debt?

That's pretty pathetic and disgusting.

I am not surprised. They threaten all sorts of things, say all kinds of demeaning, hurtful things. They even get creative and tailor it to your particular situation....they prey on your weaknesses and fears.

Back in 2004 I received court documents stating a collection agency was taking me to in May of that year. These people has bought my credit card acount in early 2003..I never heard a word from them until I went to court! Surprise! Surprise! Hey Good Guy..you forgot to add how helpful they are and just brighten your day!

All your worries and fears could disappear. All the abuse, and 'harrassing' phone calls, too. Here is the secret to no longer being contacted by the mean little bill collectors...

Pay... your... bill.

Perhaps when a ca calls and you ask for proof that you indeed own this debt will someone pay you...ever heard of the fdcpa :twisted:

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Ever thought that you should spend a little less time worrying about how I do my job, and instead, fill your time with being a person who actually keeps their word, and pay your bills? Debtors think they're special. They think they're the only ones who have ever had hard times, and that means they don't have to pay their bills, until they feel like they're ready to. News flash: you are not special. You don't get to get out of paying your bills, while the rest of us have to scrounge money and pay our bills.

Most of the time, when a debtor is asking for their big 'validation' letter, it's just a stall tactic, and no, it doesn't work. I get 5, 10 minutes into a call, the person has already acknowledged that they owe this debt, and then they start to realize they're not going to squirm their way out of it. Next up... "Well, I need some documentation about, blah, blah, blah."
I flat out tell them, "Mr. Smith, you've already acknowledged you owe this debt. Your weak attempt at trying to stall making a payment is transparent. It's time to pay your bill, just like everybody else has to pay their bills."

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LOL :lol: LoneGunman...excellently put!

I love that. I know exactly what this person means by 'acknowledged the debt' yup. I have seen that tactic before. They launch into their spiel and ask you to pay today, some outrageous amount. You sputter that you can't afford that (CA assumes you are agreeing you owe when you are actually shocked at what amount they give) then it dawns on you how much they said and you respond that it can't be right, it was only half of that. They keep up on it and finally you ask for validation and they gleefully tell you they don't have to validate, that you acknowledged the debt....um..no....you acknowledged you have debt at a certain amount, not what this CA is saying so you need some validation on that. Heck, even if you KNOW you have debt, you still have the right to see validation, to make sure they are who you should pay, the amount is correct, that it isn't out of SOL.....

CAs just seem to think that debt validation is only for identity theft or mistaken identity. But it is also to put a stop to unlawful interest rates, collection fees, wrong company collecting, out of SOL debt, etc.

Wow...collector stated...
"Debtors think they're special. They think they're the only ones who have ever had hard times, and that means they don't have to pay their bills, until they feel like they're ready to. News flash: you are not special. You don't get to get out of paying your bills, while the rest of us have to scrounge money and pay our bills. "

I would say that you collector NEW FLASH>>>...must think you are special to try and skirt around laws of debt validation and accusing people of doing something wrong because they ask you to validate...

If you are on the up and up you would not think it is an intrusion to provide validation... and consumer would accordingly respond with payments...
collector..don't be a HATER..be a VALIDATOR..would make your job a lot easier I think

I don't know what else I can add to some of the already excellent responses. I do have just one point to make.

GetYourCheckBook Said:

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you might possibly also add....

see me LATER when your facts are STRAIGHTER....
:roll: :roll: :roll:

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A good collector is helpful. A bad one isn't. It helps make my job a lot easier for me to think that I am helping people sort this problem out so that when it's done they can focus their interest on something else and then get that resolved and so on.

"His only goal is to get you out of the hassle of debt." --His only goal is to make a commission. Get real. Why would some collector personally care about you otherwise.

collector statement above very confusing to me...

"A good collector is helpful. A bad one isn't. It helps make my job a lot easier for me to think that I am helping people sort this problem out so that when it's done they can focus their interest on something else and then get that resolved and so on. "

My opinion is this...
I think a good collector is only helpful to themselves..a bad one isn't helpful to anyone...

of course if they are bad=No $ to anyone involved...!!!!
hmnn..when you are helping people sort this problem out..I can't help but think collector intentions are to help sort their own problems out..becuz you depend on payments to sort your life problems out and make them better...yes or no?

TO GET YOUR CHECKBOOK,YOU MAY NOT THINK OF US AS SPECIAL BUT I THINK YOUR VERY SPECIAL.SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!YOU'RE THE FIRST TO RECEIVE THE PAUL MEMORIAL...LET'S LIVE IN THE ANCIENT PAST AWARD.

THE CRITERIA FOR SAID AWARD IS AS FOLLOWS

A)A REFUSAL TO ACCEPT CHANGE
B)A BITTER ATTITUDE TOWARD LIFE
YOU QUALIFY, WELL DONE YOU DESERVE IT YOUV'E EARNED IT.

????????????????
:lol: Just wondering Mr. Good Guy, which collection agency do you work for?

??????
ahh, checkbook, youre back again I see. What, you didnt get your back side handed to you enough last time? Still telling the same half-truths and sticking to it, I see.
I tried this back in June, and you never answered it. Sure, you can whine at length about them nasty debtors, but I am still waiting for your response to my experience with your company. You had nothing to say relevant to the matter then, you sure did put some effort into trying to talk around it, but you couldnt be honest enough to say what we all knew about what I posted. So, in the interest of fairness, I will try again.
I had gotten calls from OSI. The calls were pertaining to an account I had genuinely never heard of before. Come to find out that they didnt even have the friggin name right. When I told the moron on the phone that he didnt even call someone with the right name, and requested validation of the debt in writing, I was told, word for word, "You're in no position to request anything, youre the idiot that owes this debt and refuses to just pay it like a man".
NOW, the instant you begin using insults, congratulations--you have just left "rude" behind and become verbally abusive. And this was my first time talking on the phone with OSI...and only a few minutes into the call!
By the way, the little bit of "help" you did try to offer was ridiculous at best---you said to go to the police, after telling the guy on the phone that I dispute the account. Well, I did tell the guy from OSI that--and since OSI refused to provide me with the validation that the law requires, what exactly do you propose I take to the police??? Should I have just written it down on a piece of paper? Dude, come on already, we dont expect you to be a rocket scientist, but I DO expect you to use some common sense.
Validation...ah, yes, let's take a little look into that. You say you know the law. You say that OSI schools you guys every 6 months on it. You say that you know it better than we "debtors" ever will. Do why do you consistently get this one wrong? This was your comment earlier in this thread:
??????????????????????
Well, you are flat wrong there. Let's say you call me. You tell me that I have a past due account with, I dont know, Sears. Let's say that I even tell you that yes, I do have that account. SO WHAT? You clearly forgot the part of the law that says a consumer can dispute the debt OR ANY PORTION THEREOF. A validation letter is NOT always to prove that the debt is really theirs. Suppose you tell me that I owe 1900 to sears, and the reason I want the documentation is because of THE AMOUNT?? That is NOT some "weak stall tactic". It is THE LAW. And you dont follow it.

chirp, chirp, chirp (nothing but silence and the crickets chriping in the background}

Skydivr7673, looks like you're not going to get your question answered agagin. It's funny how the CA's that do break the law are very vocal when they are intimidating someone that may not know their rights and extorting money from them they may not have. Let them get someone that can stand up for themselves and does know their rights under the fdcpa (yes an actual law, not an imaginary one) and they suddenly clam up.

I'll keep a lookout and see if you ever get your answer.

I needed a good laugh today! They want to be your friend............thats the funniest thing I have heard all day LMAO. They want to see which button they can push to piss you off enough or make you feel guilty enough to get you to give them all of your money.

ron I agree....

Socks! Is that an emoticon? That is too cool!

ron pm me and I will tell you site with pics don't want to promote anything here

TO THE MORONIC MUSHROOM,I WOULDN'T LET YOU GET 2 MINUTES INTO A CALL.WITHOUT VALIDATION I WOULD HANG UP ON YOU.

Scenario One:

I call you and inform you of the debt you know you rightfully owe. You immediately pay this debt in full, or send in an initial amount large enough to show you are serious about paying it along with regular interval payments that demonstrates such. Shortly you are out of debt, you have your self respect, your credit improves, and everyone is happy.

Scenario Two.

You stonewall and lie. You give us no choice but to pursue legal action. A judgement is obtained against you because you owe the debt. Your credit is now completely destroyed and there is a public record of your irresponsibility. We garnish your wages, attach your bank account, and take liens against your house and property. Your lack of ethics has ruined yours and your family's life.

You make the choice.

HOW ABOUT THIRD CHOICE?YOU VALIDATE NOTHING,YOU CALL ENDLESSLY,YOU TRY TO GET A DEFAULT JUDGEMENT.I FILE A MOTION SAYING I WAS NOT PROPERLY SERVED.YOU GO AWAY SOUND GOOD? IT DOES TO ME.

Oh wow, what happens when the validation I requested in the first place is requested again in the discovery phase as a motion to show cause? You can't ignore the request then as validation shows that your agency owns the debt and is legally entitled to collect on it, which is what the judge wants to know during the trial in the first place so the judge will grant said motion. This in turn becomes a court order to present validation.

There is no third choice. You will be served and sued and lose. We will then use that judgement to clean out your bank account (for starters).

The only sound choice is get a payment in now.

There is no escape for you. We will win.

We knew a day could not go by without you. Have a great week end under the rock you crawled out from.

Ok, but will you be able to provide validation under court order?

When (and I say when because as I stated previously it show written proof of everything that the judge wants to know and gives absolute substance to your agency's case) the motion is approved and it becomes a court request you can't say it is a stall tactic because the plaintiff could be held in contempt for that.

I had a agent accuse me of being a professional debtor and that I was stalling because I requested validation on a couple of medical bills. Thing is I don't doubt they are mine but I want more information because the only times I can recall going to the hospital for anything in those years were from work related injuries, which were covered by state workers compensation commission. If it is then either A. the hospital forwarded the file by accident or B. state workers comp didn't cover something (either due to oversight or due to it being filed wrong on the hospitals end via billing dept.) if it's B. then I want to know so that I can contact workers comp. to have it resubmitted to have them cover the portion that was not paid previously.

Unfortunately the agency rep I spoke with doesn't (or can't) want to provide me with the information that I seek. I told them they didn't even have to mail this information to me just see if they can dig up the information on the day these services were performed and if possible (if they have the information) what services were performed.

I wanted to get it squared away but I was insulted instead.

I am eagerly awaiting your response collector.

UH-HUH,LIKE ALL THOSE OTHER TIMES YOU WON,WHEN YOU COME UP WITH AN EXAMPLE WE'LL BE HERE.I WON'T HOLD MY BREATH WAITING. :lol:

I wouldn't hold your breath if I were you JCEMT. :lol:

I'm holding mine lol!

:lol:

OK now, 2 days and still no response. I'm going to have to make a decision on his behalf and I guess we can mark it as a "Refusal to Pay." Oh sorry, thought I was working with the "Guest" at his zombie CA; was stuck on all the cliche' answers they give.

I'm looking forward to his next entertaining post tomorrow, it is the start of a new work week after all.

Fun!

Scenario Three.
You call somebody twenty-five times a day over a debt that isn't even theirs. Maybe bluster a bit, belittle the poor guy, talk down to him. All that, after telling his 9-year-old kid the other day that he's going to spend years in prison for the lousy twelve bucks you claim he owes, reducing the poor girl to hysterical tears. Yeah, this sort of thing is technically illegal. But, hey... You're at the top of your form, looking forward to a fat bonus check at the end of the month. The guy tried repeatedly to tell you it isn't his account, but you ignored all that, and called him liar, thief, deadbeat...... Just as long as you get that bonus check, it's all good, right?
Problem is, you don't know one damned thing about the poor slob you've been screaming at and belittling for weeks. Maybe he's just a normal working stiff, with no idea that you can't legally do what you've been doing. But maybe he's not.... Maybe he's had about enough of your abuse, and the incident the other day with his little girl was just what it took to push that guy too far. Hell, maybe he just doesn't like your Camden, NJ accent.
Maybe he'll document your consistent pattern of abuse, and then sue your worthless ass back under the rock you were born under. Or maybe he's a little more determined than that. Maybe it's personal now.
Ya know, all that marvelous technology that we all take for granted sure makes it easier for you to harrass this guy every hour, on the hour. But, did ya ever stop to think, it could work both ways. Given the state of technology today, it's a trivial matter to trace your phone calls from any internet-connected PC. Even if you've illegally blocked or tampered with your outgoing caller ID. All it takes is a little know-how, some free software, and about five minutes, and then your 'helpless' victim knows exactly where you're calling from, right down to which office in the building.
Damn, sure hope that guy isn't the type to take matters into his own hands. That could be No Fun At All for you. I know, it isn't very likely that he'd actually do anything illegal. After all, the law prevents that sort of thing, right?..... News flash. It has happened before. And given the economic climate, the rising incidence of folks with one or another psychiatric disorder, and your consistent pattern of abuse, it could happen again. More to the point, it could happen to you.
You make the choice. Pleasant dreams.....

"GET YOUR CHECK BOOK AND PAY YOUR BILL?"
IT IS A SARCASTIC AND RUDE QUESTION.
I DO NOT THINK A GOOD DEBT COLLECTOR WILL ASK ANYBODY ABOUT IT.
:mrgreen: :twisted: :shock:

if you need info on any debt related issues this site appears to be independant and has loads of helpful content - debts.org

Wow, Unclewolf! You are so absolutely correct. If a crooked CA kept houding, harrassing, and verbally abusing someone that was already slightly mentally unstable and felt they had nothing left to lose? Well, It really scares me to think what could potentially happen.

I think I cited, in another thread, the GMAC incident that occured here in Jacksonville, Florida back in 1990; 8 people dead because they repo'ed a guy's car. Turn on the news and you will probably see a story about someone that thought taking a gun and shooting up a group of people was the only solution to his/her problems. And to the people that think it just cannot happen to them, they should probably ask the survivors of these types of incidents if they thought that. They might be surprised at the answers.

So to the crooked CA's that think it's routine business procedure to "anonymously" verbally abuse a debtor over the phone, you might want to think what the potential consequenses might be for your poorly thought out choices. I'm talking legal consequenses (like being named in a lawsuit for violating the fdcpa) as well as frighteningly illegal ones.