Attorneys fees?
Date: Tue, 02/24/2009 - 04:11
I had a over due gym bill that i am hearing about for the very first time this week...from July 08.
i called the gym to confirm and they dide, and apologized that they couldn't take my payment themselves, as it was sold to Independence Receivables/RIDDLER&ASSOCIATES (a "law firm").
now when i am wrong i am wrong, and i will man up...BUT, in the letter they sent me, its my due balance ($229.00) and an "attorneys fee" of $129.00...but a few lines later, they clearly put my account has not been reviewed by any attorney at this time, and has not been sent to a legal option in my county.
aftyer i called the number, and "waited for the next available operator" i spoke(i know, i know) to someone who just answered the phone, "law firm" and was rude and pretty stupid...i felt like i was buying something off a street with the way he had been talking..aside from broken english, his grammar was terrible!! as i told him i refuse to pay the "legal fees" he said he can't accept payment and, verbatim "i will pray for you tonight that my attorneys dont pursue you to their fullest extent"....he said it with the utmost sincerity too!!
im fairly good with words, and quick on my feet, and i definatly confused him and made him stumble over a bunch of his words...but ill leave it with this..
my family has a pretty reputable that i sent my paper work too...and still, i told him...im willing to pay the original balance, but im not going to be a victim of BS legal fees.
reply
if you were not served a summons then the legal fees are bogus.send this CA a DV letter asap.send it certified mail return receipt.also you stated the OC couldn't take the payment.sounds like they sold it.then you definitely get that DV letter out.
Call them back and ask them for their address. Check your state
Call them back and ask them for their address. Check your state laws and see about recording the phone call. That way, if they refuse to give you the address you will have them on tape doing so, which is a violation.
Definitely get that DV out asap. It is great that you want to take care of it, but make sure that they are the right ones and that they correct their records before you pay a dime. They can't charge an attorney's fee unless they sued you and asked for it in the suit, so that is bogus right there.
Also, they have shown their true colors, so do not give them an inch. When they validate the debt (if they do) and even if they remove the ridiculous fee, make sure that you get it all in writing. You should also check and see if it is listed on your credit reports. If it is, then make sure you do a pay for delete. Whatever you do, make sure you get it all in writing.
