being harrassed by c/a
Date: Wed, 06/21/2006 - 15:33
Assuming this was a collection agency, the only thing I can think this would be in relation to is that I left my previous job before a relocation agreement had expired, and I believe the company thinks I owe them money, however they were closing down due to a joint venture, so I left before they started laying people off.
The question I have is;
Can the collection company effect my credit rating for something like this, when consumer credit / debt is not involved? Should I speak with these people?
I did seek legal advice before leaving the company and was told I would have to be taken to court before I was forced to pay any of the relocation costs back to the company, if that was what was ordered by the court, which the attourney thought would be unlikely due to the circmstances.
Thanks
Dan
As to the question about whether that matter can be reported to
As to the question about whether that matter can be reported to a credit bureau, the simple answer is "yes". It's like asking whether someone could file suit. "Yes." Do they have to have a valid reason before taking that action? "No." Hitting your credit report is the most effective tool of extortion illegitmate creditors have to get money out of people. I've paid off a debt I didn't owe, myself (and finally had to sue the collection agency a year later to make them quit hounding me for money I'd already paid. Making a payment is like putting blood in the water for sharks.)
collection agencies are required to identify themselves fully, both the full name of the person you're speaking with as well as the name of the business. Keep a record of all calls so you can sue or countersue later. Also, they're required to give you a written description of your rights within five days of the first contact, even if that's by telephone, and they did that already, even if they failed to identify themselves. Keep track of the caller id info, if you can, as well, and consider using the phone co's "call trace" function.
I think because of the privacy issue, some of them won't identif
I think because of the privacy issue, some of them won't identify themselves until they're sure that they're talking to the right person. Even if they leave a voice mail, they wouldn't even say the reason they call. And if they're rude on the phone or keep bugging me, I'll do the same back to them to make them pay back for what they did (why don't we all do like that!)
