Pinnacle collections - is this a collection agency?

If you get this number don't answer it. This number called my home and left an "automated" message telling us to call "Jack". We called and it was Pinnacle. From the word hello things went to hell in seconds. They could not produce the invoice from a doctor visit over 2 years ago. My issue is an insurance issue as well, they wanted my private information, I refused to tell them anything. I also demanded to speak to a supervisor and of course one was NOT available. They are unprofessional and ridiculous to deal with. So again this is not one of the area codes I have seen in the recent thread it is 1-877-796-2497.

the oinnacle shedevil i got this morning was so rude we had a tmobile phone a long time ago and paid the termination fee with a credit card. now they are saying we owe them over a thousand dollars that they have sent us notices for almost a year and that its not their problem if we never got them. honey my family has lived in this house for almost 6 years and this is the first i heard of you and i havent gotten anything from tmobile since january when i had my final bill. then politely informs me that they are going to garnish my bank accounts until its paid..go for it baby ive been out of work for months cause im blind and have a grand total of 1.50 in my account.

pinnacle financial ripped us off too!! They tricked my husband into giving them our checking account number with an agreement over-the-phone to have $100 removed once a month for three months. Now we are fighting with our bank because they are still taking it out under false check numbers that we have never had and making our lives hell. They even started taking out twice a month and now we can't pay our other bills because we are so overdrawn at the bank with these and then about $200 worth of fees to cover those withdrawals. We have 2 kids under 5 years old and we now are getting letters to diconnect our electricity and we have no phone due to all of these money problems stemming from this.

Danaa, I've had a problem similar to this before. Turns out it is remarkably easy to get ripped off with a checking account. I had a company take out a total of $350 at one time when all I agreed to was $50 seven times. I filed a complaint with the AG, talked to the banks fraud department and was assigned a new account number and the bank even covered about half of my overdraft fees that resulted from the companies fraudulant use of my bank account. Thankfully this was handled ok a few years ago and is over now. I learned from that to NEVER EVER EVER

I'm the poster from the previous message. sorry I hit the enter button when I didn't' mean to. I was going to say that one should never ever pay with a check by phone.

I recieved a call from Pinnacle tonight. I didn't answer the phone because I did not recognize the phone number.

1. I've worked as a bill collector before (for AT&T) I know that the job is frustrating and that people lie, and you hear the sob stories over and over again. But if you can't do the job within the bounds of the law, find a different job.

2. Everyone knows that the best deal is to just pay your bills, but get real, when the choice is between paying for groceries and paying for an old cell phone, guess which one most people will choose?

3. the economy sucks at the moment. Tons of people that entered into a credit agreement thinking they had a good job and could afford it are working behind the counter at 7-11 just trying to keep from losing the electricity. that's life, it happens. Not having the ability to pay does not immediately translate into intentionally defrauding a company.

4. even if the company will not enter into a repayment agreement with you, you have the right to send them whatever type of payment you can afford. they don't have to agree to it. Keep very good receipts if you do this and if they do take you to court it significantly reduces how favorably the judges will look at the collection company- send it return receipt. If they cash the check they have pretty much agreed to the repayment terms, if they don't accept it then pretty much any judge will look at any attempt to take you to court with consistent (that's the trick) payments being attempted, regardless of how small they are, as harassing.

5. there is a percent of income limit which is different from state to state on how much can be garnished by DC. It's usually around 25%.

6. keep a log of every phone call that reaches your house after 9pm or before 8am. These calls are all illegal.

7. Keep a record of the name of every person you talk to along with any insults, fowl language, or put downs that they may choose to use. These are illegal.

You may have had a problem paying the full balance but that does not make you a dead beat. If all you can send is 10 a month, then send that, eventually it will pay it off, and in the mean time it really does help keep you from looking bad to a judge if this company really is stupid enough to ever want ANY real contact with the court system and you.

finally, there is NO WAY that a company can garnish your wages, bank account, or any other money, without taking you to court. no company that works this hard to make sure that it's employees are ignorant of the law WANTS the courts to hear from the harassment victims.

If I can't pay my bill, that may make me poor a bad credit risk, or whatever, but a DC that makes the choice to use harassing techniques is choosing to be illegal at that moment.

It is my opinion that every company that sets itself up to collect on debts should be required by law to train their employees in the nuances of the fdcpa so that some of the idiocy that we've read in this thread can be avoided. debt collectors have the right to know what laws regulate their profession. I've seen some companies that really tried to keep their employees in the dark so that they would be more forceful.

Hi folks,

When they charged me $big bucks for a cc payment over the phone because, they pushed the button after I said I did not want it done that way,,, They did rectify the situation. But, because of hearing that they were dishonest and did not dealing online in the way of online payment center... I went back to the original creditor/ the one I owed the funds to and paid them off. And they are still calling me. I am calling the recovery department at the original center and letting them know my disgust with the actions of this so called credit bureau. I won't pay Pinnacle another dime. I will go back and pay the original if ever I get in a situation with them.

Just something that I have to do.

Take care and be debt free someday!

getfreeb

I too have had my fair share of conversations with Pinnacle. One of their representatives actually told me to get off my couch and get a job. I have a job, thank you. I simply asked for him to send documentation proving the debt owed and he kept calling me a "professional debtor" and continued to tell me to get a job. These are not nice people. I, myself, am beginning to wonder if this company is a valid company or not. They continue to call and harass me. It's almost like they don't leave notes on the files as to the information the last person obtained. Just ignorant you know what people seem to work there.

Reading through all these emails, obviously there is someone employed by Pinnacle lurking here as well as on my telephone!

The only solution I have time for right now is to block all the telephone numbers associated with Pinnacle through my phone company.

You can give me lectures all you want on paying my debt... but you're wasting your time. I don't have debt, only a new telephone number that is still on Pinnacle's calling list. Lucky me!

First lets start with the obvious. Everyone like to beat on the debt collector. Its also hard to admit that ..some.. of them are right. This is my thought and take it as you must. I may and I may not be any of the following; a lawyer, a employee of said agent, or just a common Joe wishing to balance the playing field. First of all do not take any of my advice as legal advice. Although, I will tell you this, I have 6 years of collections experience over the last 10 years.
Now on to my statement
First of all, no offense, you owe this bill and unfortunately it is in collections. Yes you are right, the human element is in play in the collection world. As you have to agree it is in any field. No I do not believe you were handled completely proper. Although, PFG is a 3rd party debt collection company, and they have clients to answer to also, not to mention many governing bodies of the government. In the world we live in.. maybe not you..but in the world we live in a majority of people in collections will stall with an unsecured plan. For some reason when a collection company requests it, and I underline request not demands. All of the sudden it unheard of and shady, But when you make a reservation at a hotel and they require a credit card its not. Stay with me now, hear me out, you want to scroll down it a temtation. This company of you would have done your homework, is licenced and bonded in that State of Minnesota ( mind you the AG in this state dislikes collectors therefore they are strict ). With that in mind they are bound to protect your information and to uphold the laws that protect you. Such as: National Privacy Law, fdcpa, and uncountable financial laws. Many audit are done on a bonded company in Minnesota. Now with that said, when you write a check and give it to the everyday unbonded unlicenced cashier at any store, gas station, or even your land lord; are you not giving the same information unprotect to them. Your routing number and account number are on that....
Ok now back on your side..This is what I would do...I would do this with any collection company. Step one: Is the company listed in their state commerce department feel free to go as far as to call the commerce department but you only need to go online. I know PFG is listed in Minnesota. If so you are safe, also if you have to only give you debt card, this is why. Most banks I know Bank Of America and Wells Fargo do, can create you temporary debt card number for that one day. So you never have to give accual information but that over board I think. Three: if the individual collection is to rough talk to a supervisor. Although odds are they will want a secure arrangemnt..Four: In writing is a good thing, I know I would respond to this request in minute per fax if you complied with it. Five: did everyone forget about the age old wester union and money gram. Yes you pay a fee but no info to you. Lastly, and most collector will respond well if you tell them why, Magic word lets do a good faith payment.
To answer the credit question...You creditor have a right to know about your previous delinq... But if you have to know despute the paid ones and they will go away most of the time..Just make sure you dispute them with all 3 credit reporting agencies at one time.

One collection agency aquire you number most times from their client. In my experience its understandable that number is wrong, but let me give you an example. If debt collector A talks to the debtor yesterday, at 830 am and verfys info and then 1 week or 1 day or 1 month later debt collector B calls and see this in notes, not that it give licence to be rude but I does make it frustrating when you are saying wrong number. Many time a D has given me a number and the next day the 3rd party has rf to admit they live there. This is why, you as the third party feel invade as you should and D only remembers company by the client name. I would advice instead of battling an agency verbaly just sent cert mail cease and decist, I know they will comply then. Yet I do agree the number should come out. You said he gave them a diff num not yours, then there is no crime in making sure they have it and politely asking them to remove it then. Lastly, I have a friend who works at PFG and the Jake you talking about never works never before 3pm central. Im tring to figure out how he called you at 830am.