GENEVA ROTH TRYING TO COLLECT 3X THE LOAN VALUE

I got into financial trouble, borrowed $400 from Geneva Roth, and after two $120 'interest' payments I stopped payment on them. I had more than one loan at a time (dumb, I know), and I could not continue to pay the payday loan companies and still pay my rent and other bills.

As others have said, I have been able to work out agreements with the 2 other companies, but Geneva Roth is apparently out to get every penny they can from people who can't afford it.

The first time I called them I was told that I wasn't in Collections yet, even though they had tried several times to take money out. I had a Stop Payment on all attempts so the payments did not go through--they tried under both Geneva Roth and GR Funding. I told the rep that the checking account was going to be closed and that they should not send through any more ACH attempts. The rep said that once my account was closed, I would go into Collections, and then I could talk about a repayment plan. Sure ... great logic there.

So ... last week I called again to try to work out a payment plan, because the account was actually closed and I opened a new one. The extremely unpleasant representative, 'Shirley Shaw', said "Oh, my. This is already going to Legal and we are planning to take this to the courts.' I am pretty sure they say that to everybody. She said the only way to stop legal action was to pay $1,100+ (I don't remember the exact amount) for my $400 loan. Yeah, right. I kept picturing her with a pointy black hat and a broom. Anyway, I told her I would not pay that much and would get a lawyer. She said I should probably do that because the loan document is a legal document and according to the terms I do owe the amount she had said. She asked how much I would be willing to pay, and I said $600 at the most. She basically gave a short laugh, and then used the same line on me that I saw on another message earlier, that I could not call in and 'dictate' to them about what I will or will not pay, that I signed a legal agreement, etc, etc. She said I should read my loan agreement to see why the fees are so high. First of all, when I signed the online loan agreement my printer was out of ink--which I am still ticked at myself about--and secondly, I had no control over how many times they tried to sent it through. I am convinced they try so many times so they can claim NSF and tack on fee after fee. I told her I didn't have a copy of the agreement, and she said that she was going to mail one to me. I didn't get it today, and I will be shocked if it ever arrives.

I contacted a lawyer locally via email over the weekend, but I didn't hear anything today. I really will fight through a lawyer if I have to. I would rather pay a lawyer than to pay the leeches at Geneva Roth.

I'm sorry this is so long, but this is the whole story, and if anybody is considering taking a loan with them, 'Just Say No!' If you do, you will regret it. There are other companies out there who won't charge such horrendous fees, and will work with you if you get into trouble. I will file complaints with everybody I can before they get $1,100 from me.


If anybody has any advice for me, I would love to hear it. I appreciate the information I have seen on the site so far.