I fucking hate collection agencies!!!

[ceile]

Called me at work on "behalf of Verizon" saying I owe them money and they will only take payment over the phone not by mail. I do not have a credit card nor do I have a bank account (cash and carry only). Threatened to take me to court and add $3500 onto my bill if I don't pay them right then. Wouldn't give me a mailing address and gave me a 1-800#, but said that wouldn't make any difference if I clled back because I had to pay RIGHT THEN over the phone. With no cc or bank account-how was I supposed to do that? So I hung up on the bitch. United Collections something....ARRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH I'm so pissed!!!!!!!
:rant:

[KFC]

1. Right up there with towing companies

I think there is a special asshole training course that is a requirement for these professions.

[ceile]

4. I agree!

When I said I could mail a payment after I verified with Verizon (my ex has the bills mailed to his place), she again said they won't take it. "Well, you're gonna take it by mail" then cut me off to say-"maam, we don't have to do anything". bitch!

[Broken_Hero]

15. isnt' that the truth...nt

[petronius]

2. Wow - that sounds more like a scam call than a collection agency

But yeah - many of these companies are seriously sleazy, so the line between scam artist and bill collector is a bit vague...

[SteppingRazor]

3. In most states, that's illegal...

check your own state's statutes, but in most states, collection agencies cannot threaten you like that with demands of immediate payment.

[ceile]

6. That's what I thought.

I'll look into it.

[MrCoffee]

7. Your State AG's office should have a consumer fraud division.

[ceile]

8. Republican AG office

Greg Abbott-not necessarily a friend to the consumer.
But I think I'll start with Verizon.

[MrCoffee]

9. TX AG? That's funny, they were REALLY helpful when i had a

bill collector calling from TX looking for my sister, and when i questioned a hospital bill in Houston.

I'd encourage you to tall the TX AG on these dickheads. They helped me quite a bit.

[ceile]

10. Actually, I just went to the AG's website

Very helpful info:
"Some collectors will threaten to foreclose on homesteads or to garnish wages. In Texas, a homestead cannot be taken to pay a debt except for debts taken for the purchase of the home, for home improvements, for home equity loans or to pay certain taxes. Wages may be garnished to pay court-ordered child support, back taxes, and defaulted student loans."
among other things-calling at work and
"If you dispute an item in the file a debt collector has on you, you should give the debt collector written notice. The debt collector must provide you with the necessary forms for the written notice, and must help you fill out the forms if you request it." -she wouldn't give me their mailing address.

She told me they'd add $3500 to my bill and garnish my wages. I thnk I'll file a complaint, if only because she was a such a ho.

[WolverineDG]

14. Still magic words in Texas

& I'm presuming that's where you are:

"Slander of Credit."

Say it & watch 'em jump out of windows to make you happy.

:evilgrin:

dg

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. That sounds like a scam.

How would you know if them from any yahoo calling for money?

I'd call Verizon and ask them what happened. Or call the Attorney General's office or something to find out if this is a real collections company.

[smitty]

11. I'm not certain of the law in your state but if the debt is reduced to

judgment then they can dun you for the court costs incurred, add it to the debt, and garnish your wages.

If you cannot pay the full amount due, you might want to consider an offer in compromise. Most collection agencies are usually willing to accept a reasonable offer rather than go through the expense of collecting the full amount of the debt.

Check your state's collection laws before doing anything.

[ceile]

12. In TX they can't touch your house or your wages,

unless for back child support or student loans. This is a $400 phone bill which I even doubt is that much. I looked up the company online and they have many complaints against them. But I'm definitely going straight to the source rather then deal with these a**holes!

[ThomCat]

13. I have to deal with collection agents on behalf of client companies.

Collection agents are just as rude and vicious when dealing with companies. They make huge demands and threats. But they have nothing to back then up with.

No judge is going to add $3500 to a charge because some collection agency says so.

I hang up on them too. I clean up the billing for my clients, and I always send the payments to the original vendor, not the collection agency. I make sure the collection agencies don't earn a single penny in bonuses for bringing in the money. Not one penny.
x(

[GOPisEvil]

16. They called at work? They get to do that once.

After you tell them that you cannot accept personal calls at work, they are required by federal law to not contact you at work.