I recieved a letter from

Do not pay them anything til you have proper validation and know the real reason for the debt. Alot of collection agencies count on people just paying the debt and not question what it is for or why such as large amount.

If you have a cell phone and they have a phone number call them. Ask them: What is it for?- cell phone because harder for companys to trace with caller id. If they are a legal entity, they have to prove the debt to you. Could it be possible a company you owe and forgot about changed their name. Call them. Never pay or give information about yourself unless you owe the debt. And then be careful what information you provide. Dont give bank account information. Get a mailing address and pay them- if owe.

Received a Summon from my local
court stating that they had were
going to sue me after purchasing
a charged off credit card acct.
I tried to settle on the phone,
giving them my bank acct number.
They sent a letter a day before
taking a payment from my acct,
without the amt we discussed or
dates I was told on the phone.
They stated taking out money a
month early, so I called and it
was stated they have me recorded
so I asked them to play it,
because I restated the date & the
amount to Ms.Anderson. Then she
put a manager on the phone & he
began to threaten me again when
I asked for a letter of verifica
tion and for them to go ahead &
play the tape, so he then hug up
the phone. Should I go to court
on April the 17th, or should I
ignore them or should I get an
Attorney, which I cannot afford
because I'm Retired and paying
a Condominium Note & Car Note?
I had to change my Checking Acct
number after I cancelled the so
called deal we previously made
on the phone. I owe $3400.00.
Thanks for you help!
Lucy

YES! Go to court otherwise they can win by default....

Island is a part of RJM with which they try to play a shell game a bit like LVNV Funding does. I found this out in a summary from a California court. Someone sued RJM, but they got out of it, claiming that Island "didn't notify" them that the debt had been discharged in bankruptcy. Nevermind that this is the same company.

Lucy: Keep an eye on your bank account, and show up in court. Get everything in writing. I only wish that you had found this board earlier.

Thanks for the advice, the Clerk for the Judge listed on the summons also advised that I come to court & bring my letter that they sent without the settlement in writing and I will take my info from the Bank where they went into my bank acct. I only wish that I had checked the web first, but I pray things will work out. I still wonder if I should take a lawyer with me? I have never been to court for any such matters before.

If possible, yes, do take an attorney with you.

Thanks "Law Student" for your insight, just called my Attorney and hopes he is available at this late date to go with me next Wed. Hope that I can find some $ to pay him too! Which you were here in my city, good luck on your career because so far, so good! Will let you know how things go.
Thanks again for your time,
Lucy

Just spoke with my Attorney who told me that it would cost me too much money for so little if I hired him to go court for a matter that has been on my Credit since 2002 and has not kept me from getting a Condominum or 2 cars, in which 1 has been paid off. He also stated that they can't do anything else to my credit than they have already. I got a copy of my Experian Credit Report in 2005 with a score of 669. I was able to get a Vehicle Loan last month at 13% Interest Rate for 3yrs. So maybe I should just let it go into default because the Chase Credit Card has been put on my Credit as a charge-off since back in 2002. He thinks that I should just let it go. If I go down to court all I can tell them is that I receive $1300.00 a month retirement check and my bills including my Condo note of $484 & car note $184 add up to $1200 a month already, so I have nothing to send them anyway. So I'm torned!!

Unfortunately, you are right about the costs. I read a recent California case law summary from an appeals court. The plaintiff was suing a collector in which the original amount was about $150. This was someone who had the money and determination evidently, because I could only think of the costs to go that far. The plantiff did win by the way.

Thanks Law Student,
I'm still trying to let it go, but it just makes my "blood boil" for the way these folks are suceeding at making thier living off people & thier credit delimas, instead of trying to find a way to help them.
I just could not sleep at nite if I had such a job.
So I just pray there is nothing else they can do to me. I heard that a judgement could be a "lien" against my Condo if I ever try to sell it, I don't know about all these legal terms.
Thanks again & will let you know what happens,
Take care,
Lucy

Hi,
After the good suggestions last week, I called clerk of court's office to see if the Judge had made a judgement after I missed the 2nd summon, and he ruled against me (maybe I should have done a written answer within 20 days, but didn't have the funds to file it. But the judgement can be appealed after copy of the ruling is mailed out, and again to file it after I receive the paperwork will still cost $175.00 to file it.
I hope there's enough time so maybe I can get the funds to at least send the judge a copy of my financial records, bills, & my situation (retired+no funds in the Bank Acct., then I will just accept it knowing he was aware of my dire situation. I was told by the clerk that it would go against my Credit at the final judgement & you could be at risk if you own property that can be sold to pay off the debt, like you all were saying.
Well thanks for any advice, maybe I'll try some Sub a few days at School & be able to get some funds to do this. I don't know if it will help, but I would feel better if the judge knows my situation, too.
Thanks for the advice,
Lucy