Beyond MAD at HFC

Stupidheads!! I can't believe they can get away with that. I can understand if they just didn't cash the check or something, but I thought you couldn't cash a post-dated check? Isn't that the whole point? That pisses me off that they did that to you. I can totally see why you are mad. :(

~Mary

oh and for anyone out there that ever gets offered a loan from HFC--RUN!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't put in for a loan from them. About four years ago, I opened the mail and there was a $5000 check made out to me. It was at christmas time and well---they got the best of me. One of the worst mistakes I ever made!!!! why you say? The loan was for $5000 four years ago, the amount owed now is a little under $6000!!!! what a train wreck! THen they pull stunts like the one they just pulled. shirley

What a shame :( That is one thing that you definitely need to get paid off and out of your hair. Who knows what trouble they might try to cause down the road...

~Mary

thanks mary, but its my fault for trusting them. If they respected me, they would have held it, but obviously they don't. It all boils down to my own fault. So you know, once bitten-twice shy baby! shirley

Love that song!!! *grin*

Don't be so hard on yourself. You were trying to do the right thing and still keep your head above water. Honestly, I have read that they are not allowed to cash a post-dated check before the date without notifying you first. I wish I knew where I read that. But then again, it was probably on the internet, and therefore completely unreliable. At least you know now, I guess... :(

~Mary

so true! and thats why I wanted to post about it here so others would know to be careful! funny, I would expect something like that from a collection agency not an original creditor who had just sent me a letter stating they have programs to help people get back on track that fall behind! I paid it all up to date and all I asked was for them to hold the stupid thing for a couple of days. I've also read that its illegal to write a post dated check. so you know, you live and learn!

p.s. I love that song too!!!!

Shirley,

HFC cashes checks quickly. I have a credit card with them and my payments are sent through my bank electronically. I never post date checks to creditors unless it's someone local like my car loan finance company. I have dealt with these folks for a long time. I won't do checks over the phone anymore either. I pay a lot of my bills with money orders anymore since I get them free from my bank. I hope things imporve for you.

Shirley,

Are you referring to Household Financial? They are as crooked as they come. I always thought that the bank wasn't suppose to cash a postdated check. Guess I learn something new everyday.

I think this situation can be best summed up as the world of money being like the Evil Galactic Empire.

OK, what I was thinking of had something to do with fair debt collection. I read that debt collectors cannot deposit a post-dated check prematurely. I guess that doesn't apply to original creditors..........weird.

~Mary

Ok thats what I'm looking for just like shirley said run on HFC. As far as I know shirley my bank Wachovia said they can't cash a post dated check from anyone, and if they catch it from another company doing it they reverse the charges to that bank who cashed it in the first place, even if there was money in your bank account. I had it happen to me already with Nextel doing it and my bank found out it was a post dated check after they already paid it. Well crap hit the fan. Now my bank will not accept eletronic checks from them anymore they have to send the copy of the check now. They told me that they can do that with anyone, but they have to break the rule first then they can red flag so to speak . See when they do electronic check all they have to do is punch in the info off your check and they can change what date is on the check because by time the orginal comes back it's already past the time on the date on the check so it doesn't look like anything was done wrong. See. Besides I live in PA and our banking laws say You cna NOT write a post dated check, against the law. And when I asked them about Nextel saying giving them a post dated check on my acount that they can't ask for it, but Nextel says: they can because they aren't located in PA. So it's back and forth. All I know is my bank will not cash or pay on a check unless Nextel sends them a copy of the said check they want to use. I don't send them checks anymore anyway, I use my check Visa card now that way they can't cash ahead of time because if I say to pay on a date thats when they get paid and not a day before, or if money there then I put todays date then they get it. Nextel now understands that I caught them and they paid for it. Hope this helps.
Paula

thanks Paula. Thats where I'm at now. Lesson Learned. I have heard that writing post dated checks is illegal and probably if I ask my bank about it, that's what they will tell me. so whats done is done. But I will never do it again with HouseHold finance. I can trust my collection agencies over them! They're ruthless. And again, its my fault and comes back on me for doing it, I shouldn't have. But luckily, my daughters tuition was sitting in there and that covered it. live and learn. Hopefully this will help someone else here, to stop and think before writing that post dated check because not every one will honor your wishes. shirley

Unfortunately Shirley, most of these places use automated payment processing (hence why they say not to include correspondence with your payment) . TO do what you were trying to do, you would have been better off (if possible) to go into a branch office and work something out that way . I also have several (3) accounts with HFC, and have found that to be the most effective way to deal with them. Also if you are tired of the rude treatment from their off shored collectors in Bombay, if you call back the number that cames across you will reach an office in the US, you can request not to be contacted by their International Division, and they will adjust your account accordingly . They have have ALOT of complaints, and will fix that situation without much problem.

Oh, and Original Creditor doesn't make a difference. original Creditors are not legally bound by the fdcpa. Additionally HFC is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC, Hong Kong Shanghai Banc Corp, based in London. So they probably will do as little as possible to comply with US laws. . They have another department, called Retail Services, who provide consume accounts for many retailers and companies like Oreck, Best Buy, Circuit City , just to name a few, so this is something to be aware of as well.

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