reporting to FTC

Well Shirley, first point I have is...have some cake!!

Next point...I think regardless if they reply or not, you should still make a report against them. I have never heard a story of somebody being jerked around so much! That is nonsense and they have no right to do that. I can just picture them all snickering at the situation, and I want to punch them all in the face because you are my friend, and they are doing wrong towards you. Jerks!!

Second (or third, considering the cake comment), I think that the reporting process is probably somewhat anonymous. I don't think the FTC goes and spouts off your name right away to the company you are complaining against. I'm not sure on this, but that is what makes sense to me. Also, I'm sure that by the time you filed a complaint, the FTC/BBB/whoever you are reporting to reads it and deals with it, the matter regarding the outstanding debt will probably already be done and over, so there will be nothing that they can really do to you. I don't think their response time to a complaint is like lightning or anything :) Just my thoughts girl, enjoy the cake, it won't be around long!!!!!! :wink:

~Mary

I've been wondering that same thing as well, since that collection agency that got me into a twist a few days ago has already done something that I understand (but am not certain) to be illegal. I don't want to reveal the details at this time.

When I think about reporting them and the fear of retaliation comes up, I think that well since they can sue me anyway, why not face the matter head on and call them on their illegal behavior?

I have done something wrong in failing to pay my obligations, but that doesn't mean I should live in fear due to their wrongdoings.

It is a "better to die on our feet than live on our knees" sort of thing.

Shirley,

Sometimes making the consumer complaint with the appropriate agency does help the consumer. It seems to get the creditor in line, or sit up front and pay attention finally. I have found that it does not really push the envelope. They lender actually seems more cooperative after a complaint is file. That is what happened with the complaints that I filed. You will want to file a complaint with the creditor's state as well as your own. I found this to be a useful tactic. You can probably do most of it online. The FTC will probably just send you a general response back if it is not a third party collection agency. They do keep the complaint on file though. It never hurts to try. :D Mary, the cake looks good LOL!

Snow Angel,

Can you give us a general description of what happend without stating the name of the CA?

I feel that filing a complaint with the FTC is a good thing. If they receive enough complaints on a company and they feel the need to open an investigation, they have all the documentation from consumers to prove their case.

All the points have been covered already :D

Shirley, let me tell you that if you inform your creditor that you are going to lodge complaint against them, obviously they will not like it. However, it is difficult to anticipate that how they will react. They can ignore it, they can be polite thereafter or they might come up with ill-behavior.

I also agree with Tammy at this. Probably FTC runs an investigation once huge numbers of complaints are filed. They might use your case as evidence, that's it. So you need not worry so much. Any bad practice should be reported to higher authorities.

oh okay---I just wasn't sure how it worked, what the procedure was. thanks, shirley

I have never had a response from the FTC. The BBB does look into complaints, but in reality they seem more business friendly, and are eager to accept whatever cockamaimy excuse the merchant (creditor, etc) offers and clears the complaint.

Because Government (on all levels) is slow to react, these types of things continue to happen virtually unchecked.

Though the fdcpa is a Federal Law, they enforcement of that law is usually carried out by State Attorney's General. You are more likely to get more response on that level, but even there, you may only be contributing data to a future case against a company, and may not necessarily get immediate resolution.

Hello Mishele, let's just say that they are tying up my phone line by ringing it repeatedly over a short period of time. Over and over they ring the line, I suppose in effort to wear me down and begin talking to them.

hey snow_angel, can you tell us who this collection angency is? You don't have to tell us your situation if you don't want to, but can you tell us who it is? If they're being that big of a jerk, I'm sure someone here has probably dealt with them. That is definitely a violation of your rights, calling that much---thats harrassment. Have you sent them a cease and desist letter or wrote and told them to at least STOP calling??? shirley

Alright, what the heck. This is D. Michael Dendy's firm. I noticed that they are number ten on the top ten worst collection agencies.

I have not yet sent out the Cease and Desist letters, since it was just days ago that this round of collection attempts began.

The C & D letters are definately on my list of priorities, since I am fearful they will send around those people that call names and attempt to make a scene in front of your neighbors.

I live in a bad neighborhood, so I am pretty twitchy when it comes to people coming up to me or my property anyway. I want to avoid any incidents.

snow_angel, thanks for sharing that with us.
Quote:

My apologies if external links are not allowed.

budhibbs.com/am_worst_collection.htm

Edited to add that Dendy is representing CACH.


Link modified as per forum rules-Mike

the link takes you to a page that says its suspended. :cry: thanks anyways.

Snow Angel,

Try to send out the cease and desist letters as soon as possible via certified mail with return receipt requested. I usually fax it before I mail it, if I can and have a fax number. collection agencies are not allowed to call repeatedly like that. I would included the debt validation letter and the cease and desist letter all in one. There is a good example here in the forum of this type of letter. You can do a search and find it that way.