Lender under "Disist & Refrain"
Date: Sun, 05/02/2010 - 14:25
Wow, let me just say, this site has been very helpful for the last year! But now I need help again and I can't seem to find an answer!!!!!!
Here is a recap. I live in California. I received a $700 loan from Eastside Lenders.
I paid all but $140 of it. I found out they were unlicensed and that they had violated California's laws on payday loans. One being that they gave me a loan for $700 when California's max is $300. Either way, I feel I owe the last $140 and I would like to pay them.
SO here is what I did:
06/09/09: Sent them a certified letter stating I would no longer do business with them, I have closed my bank account, and I would finish paying them when they sent me their mailing address. (I used a letter that was posted in this forum)
06/23/09: Sent them the same letter via email due to the only response being one the generic "pay by this date or it's late" emails.
07/07/09: Sent them another copy of the letter via email due to no response other than another generic "pay by this date or it's late" emails.
Somehow between the two "pay by this date" emails my total balance they thought I owed went from $235.00 to $935.00. I thought that was interesting.
At some point in July 2009 they began calling me at work. I am a Deputy-- so oddly enough they were calling the Sheriff's station. The woman was intensly rude using the "F" word alot. She did not like me quoting law calmly back to her and she would finally hang up on me because I would inform her I put her on speakerphone. This happened 3 times that I can remember. (As a side note-- Whenever she called I would ask for a mailing address to send her the money that I owed. She stated the company did not do that---They only take money directly from the account and that I needed to give her the account info to her over the phone. Don't worry---I didn't)
Then everything stopped.
Now it is May 2nd, 2010. Almost a year later. I have recieved a letter from a COLLECTION AGENCY saying I owe them $935!!! I know I need to send a verification letter. I am just so tedious about things though. I know Eastside Lenders has a "Disist and Refrain" order from the state of California. Does this make any difference on what this collection agency can collect? Can't I just pay them the $140 that I should have originally owed? Does the fact the company was unlicensed and broke multiple California state laws bear any weight on the validity of my contract?
Most of these forums explain what to do up to sending your letters out and complaining to your Attorney General, etc. But I have not found any specific input on what to do after that. If these companies are practicing illegally-- why am I having to pay a collection agency more than my principle amount?
Please give me some advice----clarification----enlightenment!!! lol.
Here is a recap. I live in California. I received a $700 loan from Eastside Lenders.
I paid all but $140 of it. I found out they were unlicensed and that they had violated California's laws on payday loans. One being that they gave me a loan for $700 when California's max is $300. Either way, I feel I owe the last $140 and I would like to pay them.
SO here is what I did:
06/09/09: Sent them a certified letter stating I would no longer do business with them, I have closed my bank account, and I would finish paying them when they sent me their mailing address. (I used a letter that was posted in this forum)
06/23/09: Sent them the same letter via email due to the only response being one the generic "pay by this date or it's late" emails.
07/07/09: Sent them another copy of the letter via email due to no response other than another generic "pay by this date or it's late" emails.
Somehow between the two "pay by this date" emails my total balance they thought I owed went from $235.00 to $935.00. I thought that was interesting.
At some point in July 2009 they began calling me at work. I am a Deputy-- so oddly enough they were calling the Sheriff's station. The woman was intensly rude using the "F" word alot. She did not like me quoting law calmly back to her and she would finally hang up on me because I would inform her I put her on speakerphone. This happened 3 times that I can remember. (As a side note-- Whenever she called I would ask for a mailing address to send her the money that I owed. She stated the company did not do that---They only take money directly from the account and that I needed to give her the account info to her over the phone. Don't worry---I didn't)
Then everything stopped.
Now it is May 2nd, 2010. Almost a year later. I have recieved a letter from a COLLECTION AGENCY saying I owe them $935!!! I know I need to send a verification letter. I am just so tedious about things though. I know Eastside Lenders has a "Disist and Refrain" order from the state of California. Does this make any difference on what this collection agency can collect? Can't I just pay them the $140 that I should have originally owed? Does the fact the company was unlicensed and broke multiple California state laws bear any weight on the validity of my contract?
Most of these forums explain what to do up to sending your letters out and complaining to your Attorney General, etc. But I have not found any specific input on what to do after that. If these companies are practicing illegally-- why am I having to pay a collection agency more than my principle amount?
Please give me some advice----clarification----enlightenment!!! lol.
This is me again. Forgot to add my suggestion...... FYI-- I ha
This is me again. Forgot to add my suggestion......
FYI-- I have all of my history saved. My letters, emails, my Attorney General's complaint number, and ofcourse......the copy of California's "Disist and Refrain" order.
Should I explain the issue to the Collection Agency and send them this info in mail? It really ticks me off that I tried to pay the original lender who wouldn't give me a payment address and who wouldn't accept in form of payment other than straight from my checking account.
Oh and I appologize for my HUGE spelling error! It is "DESIST an
Oh and I appologize for my HUGE spelling error! It is "DESIST and Refrain."
Geeze---I need to proof read!