Turning the tables
Date: Sat, 01/08/2011 - 16:58
Ok, the back story. Similar to everyone else's. I had a small $200 loan. The loan company whose name I won't mention in public (email or message me or whatever) took more $1000 too much. I call them to ask what happened and get my money back. They gave me the run around. I got angry. Here's what I did. You can do it too. Don't take any crap from these people. Remember that the customer is always right. Some of the people on this site were talking about closing bank accounts. FORGET THAT. They stole from me. I'm not gonna be the one that does the work. I'm gonna make them want to change their bank account.
STEP 1: Make sure you have your paperwork. Call your bank and get the date of EVERY transaction between you and the company. It's really important because the company tried to LIE to me about how much money they took from my bank account. You want EVERY RED PENNY they took, so know how much that is.
STEP 2: DO THE RESEARCH. Find out where these people are located (again, thank you to the people on this site. Your stories both helped and inspired me). Find the name of the owner. You're gonna need it. Find out what grade they have from the BBB (Better Business Beaurau). Find out your state's laws on PDL's. Find out who the officals at your states Dept. of Banking/Financial Information etc. Write the names down. You'll need these names when you talk to these people on the phone.
STEP 3: GET YOUR PAPERWORK READY. Small claims courts are busy, so get the paperwork ready. You may not want to go to court(I was lucky enough to have a lawyer), but don't be afraid to take these people to the mattresses. Also, obtain complaint forms for your state's Dept. of Banking and one for their state, and a complaint form for the BBB in your state and their state. I actually faxed some of this paperwork to the PDL to show them I wasn't afraid of them. You may not want to do that. But they're counting on the fact that you don't want the hassle of legally wrangling with them. DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAIM THESE PEOPLE. You may not want to wrestle with them and the legal system, but they certainly don't want to pay a lawyer to go to your state (in my case I live in NJ) and argue out a legal case. They'd rather pay you to go away.
STEP 4: GET READY FOR WAR!!! Call these people up, tell them you want every cent you're owed, and if you don't get it, you'll ring every bell you can ring. In my case I faxed them my small claims application with the name of the company on the defendant's line along with the owner of the company personally. BOY, did that change their tune!!! They went from scolding me for not seeing that they were stealing from me (!), to INSISTING that I not only get the result I wanted, but they INSISTED that they overnight the check to me!!! His exact words were "I've reviewed the laws in your state and I want to give you your desired result overnight. We are VERY sorry." My response (hahaha I still can't believe I said this): "You do know Dante said there was a whole floor in HELL for Usurers (people who loan money at a high interest rate)?"
Again, this result may be different in your state. I'm from New Jersey. A) I came out of the womb tough as nails and B) this state HATES large interest loans. I told them I had consulted with a lawyer (which I did, he was the one who suggested the BBB paperwork and told me that "PDLs NEVER want anybody investigating their business practices. So make sure they know that if you don't get what you want you'll do your best to make sure SOMEONE looks into their business practices.), and that if I don't get what I want, I was gonna unleash HELL on them. Twenty four hours later, I got what I wanted.
Ok that's about it. You may not want to go the road I went. I was aggressive and insistent, and I got what I wanted. Feel free to leave me questions or comments. Again, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR POSTS. THEY WERE SOOOOOOOOOOO HELPFUL. Don't stop fighting these people. They don't want us sharing information with each other. Whew!!! That's a lot of writing. I'm so glad I told this story. I bought myself something nice with the money.
Later,
JNJ
I'm glad it all worked out in your favor. The biggest problem wh
I'm glad it all worked out in your favor. The biggest problem when dealing with unlicensed/illegal Internet payday lenders is most of them aren't even located in the U.S., so they are immune to our legal system. Also, if you have read a lot of posts on this site in regards to pdl's you have probably read that illegal Internet payday lenders sell your personal account information to other Internet criminals, so closing one's account is the safest option for most people. Also, not everyone has the luxury of hiring or having an Attorney on hand, that's why they come to this forum to seek help'
Glad it worked in your favor!
Exactly, but what the attorney told me was that these people usu
Exactly, but what the attorney told me was that these people usually have a bank account that can be attacked. He works for the Princeton law review, and apparently this is Princeton law's big project for this semester (which shows what law student have to do to get a JD in this country). He said if they aren't located in this country, attack the bank account.
That's a good idea, if one could afford an attorney. I appreciat
That's a good idea, if one could afford an attorney. I appreciate the fact that you have shared your experience.
Yeah, I'm lucky to have them in the family. Like the post said,
Yeah, I'm lucky to have them in the family. Like the post said, it worked for me. I hope it helps others. Again, thanks to EVERYBODY who posted their story. It was amazingly helpful.
Congrats on your success.. JNJ do share your experience and kn
Congrats on your success..
JNJ do share your experience and knowledge to help others get out of debt.
Jason
