East Side Lenders and Collections

And I wouldn't give them another red cent, if I were you. Instead, I would tell them they are trying to collect on an illegal debt and if they want to pursue this, then go for it, because you will make a BIG fool out of them in a court of law!

The FDCPA (a federal law) requires all collection agencies to send a dunning letter (letter of collection) through the mail within 5 days of their first initial contact with you, I would remind them of this, and I highly doubt that you will ever receive such a letter. Meanwhile, you should file complaints against them with the FTC, BBB and your AG, print out those complaints for your records, keep them for future reference, and let this collection agency know that you have done so. If they continue calling you and do not comply with the FDCPA by sending out a letter of collection, then I would AGAIN file a complaint against them with the FTC for not complying with the FDCPA, there are laws against this and they could be subject to a fine, but only if you file these complaints.

One more thing, it's also against the FDCPA for a collection agency to add interest and fees unless there was a contract between the CA and the debtor, under Section 808 Unfair Practices of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, federal law prohibits a debt collector from collecting any amount (including any interest, fees, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation) unless such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law.

If a debt collection agency owns your account, and you did not expressly enter an agreement to pay interest and fees to that collection agency, than they cannot charge you anymore than what the already existing balance is.

Well, I just got a response from the BBB in reference to my complaint against Alliance Asset Management. Alliance responded to the BBB and this is what they wrote:

We received a dispute letter from the consumer on May 27, 2010. The account was closed at that time. We have ceased our eforts to contact the consumber.
[FONT=Arial][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][/FONT]

[QUOTE=Donna1264030061;705922]Well, I just got a response from the BBB in reference to my complaint against Alliance Asset Management. Alliance responded to the BBB and this is what they wrote:

We received a dispute letter from the consumer on May 27, 2010. The account was closed at that time. We have ceased our eforts to contact the consumber.

[/QUOTE]
Way to go!!
I do hope you will still file a complaint with the FTC and your AG, it's important that everyone who encounters these problems do so, the more complaints received, the better the chances of a full investigation.

I already filed complaints with the FTC and AG office against both Alliance and East Side Lenders. Throughout all of my calculations, East Side Lenders owes me a refund of $217.50, but I know that's like squeezing blood from a turnip. I just hope this is the last I hear of East Side Lenders and Alliance.

Quote: