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Collection agency guy told me as long as make any

Posted By: monthly payment, co. cannot do anything to U. on 2008-01-22
In Reply to: Medical Bills - donna

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Collection Agency Tactics??

Does anyone know who I should contact, or if I have anything to complain about regarding a collection agency out of Texas. I used to actually work for a collection agency 20+ years ago out of Florida, and we would NEVER have been able to say what these people have said to me via phone, let alone in a letter I just opened. Long story short, yes, I owe HSN $200+ for a computer I bought on a payment plan of $135 a month. Before I was done with payment #2, it broke, and thus began months and months of me sending this junk back and forth with Gateway. It was a lemon model, thus why it was offered for 5 payments on HSN. After I made payment #2 and Gateway had the computer for repairs more than we had it to use, I called HSN. In no uncertain words, the sales rep told me "you bought it, you deal with it". There were lots of reviews at this point on HSN and all buyers were furious, as it was junk. HSN quickly removed the computer and reviews. So, yes, I have been lax in paying it, but it didn't even last 2 months. At any rate, they throw me to a collection agency, who calls at least 15 times a day. I am sending them payments. I get a letter today that actually says they are going to "ASSEMBLE AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT WHICY WILL OR MAY INCLUDE...INFORMATION AS TO MY CHARACTER AND GENERAL REPUTATION"... the caps and bold are their writing. It then goes on to say that I should send $$ immediately as they have "NO DESIRE TO CAUSE ME EMBARASSMENT"... Can they word things this way? I have never in all my life seen anything worded to this effect, as obviously, even though they use the word "may", it is a direct insinuation to scare me that they are going to ruin my reputation and are questioning my character, and threatening embarassment.  Seriously, has anyone ever seen this before? I don't have a lot of experience with agencies, other than working for one decades ago, and hearing horror stories on TV shows about stuff like this, which I could not believe! Does anyone have any thoughts on who I could contact?  I wonder if HSN knows this agency is saying personal stuff like this? I know companies just farm out their old debts to agencies.  Again, its a tough one for me to swallow, as the computer never lasted even halfway thru their 5 easy payment plan, but I have recognized the debt and am paying, albeit at $50 every 2 weeks. But this insulting letter was just the icing on the cake for me.  Do you think its legal?


Anyone ever been sued by a debt collection agency

My husband and I have an account which we feel we don't owe.  We cancelled it within the amount of time we thought we had to cancel, but were later told the contract for services was not cancellable (a vacation timeshare).  The original amount was only $1,000.


Since that time, the timeshare company has sold our "debt" to a third party collection agency, Apelles.  They call at all hours and even on weekends.  Since I have caller ID, most of the time I don't even answer.  This morning, however, they called at 8:45 and woke up my kids.  I was a little annoyed, to say the least, and I'm just wondering:  Does anyone have any personal experience with this company.  I'm thinking about sending a Cease and Desist letter, but I'm worried that that will trigger them to take me to court.  Has anyone ever been sued by Apelles?  I would think our amount is too small to be worth their time and that they would just try to sell it to another agency.  Any thoughts?


She told me that it won't go to a collection
agency it is just there and it won't affect my credit.   They are trying to squeaze it out of me.  I just told H that if he ever goes there to pay anything make sure he looks at the date of service and tell them he is not responsible for anything in 1987.   I still hate it that it is on my record. 
My dad told me that after 18 I was an adult, but as long as I was under his and my mom's roof th
right to impose a few rules since they were paying the bills. (I could keep all the money I made.) If I didn't want to abide by them I could move out or pay them rent, either one, and then I could come and go as I pleased.
I was told you cannot make up hours last due to down time
and I had to use PTo for power outage. What was the reason for being down?
If you're asking and the love is long gone, it's time. Make copies of all important papers,
s
I make around $50,000 but I work 7 days a week and long days, although I'm not a fast typer eithe
I think even if your fast, you'd still have to work more than 40 hours a week to make that but I could be wrong.
Facility was so ticked with agency, no way you
x
Seems to me, agency so glad to hire out MT, just
x
Collection agencies rub me the wrong way.

I have never worked for one, but all I know is that my husband and I have had the same phone number for over 7 years.  Neither him nor I have anything that has ever gone to collection.  However, we have gotten many calls from collection agencies.  Most of the time it is just a recording telling us that they are looking for so-and-so and to call this number immediately and blah blah blah. The person they are looking for is never anyone we know and so I don't know how our number is getting involved here.  Generally, you call the number, tell them you aren't the person they are looking for, and they take you off of the list.


One collection agency, Premiere Credit, is harrassing us with phone calls.  We get an automated message telling us that they are looking for someone at that number who has a contractural relationship with Premiere Credit and owes money.  They never give who they are looking for and they tell us that if we are not that person (which we are not) to just ignore the message and not listen.  Hello?  How can I ignore the message when you are calling my phone and calling me repeatedly, mostly on the weekends.  I have called the number they have given two times and told them that neither my husband or I owe them money and to stop calling.  Yet the phone calls continue.  My question is this....how do I get these harrassing phone calls to stop?  We do not owe them money and yet this automated call keeps coming to our house. 


Do your homework on debt collection (sm)

laws also - you just may have yourself a $1000 piece of paper in your hand. 


Have you requested validation of this debt?  If not, I would do that right away.  Send it certified mail, return receipt requested.  Depending on the age of the debt, I would be very careful about sending the canned "do not contact me letter."  If the debt is not that old, that can sometimes trigger them to sue.  I bet if you send the "please provide me with full validation (not verification that you have my name, address and soc. sec#) of this alleged debt.  Short and sweet. 


My "boys" are 18 and 20, and I have a collection of things for them.
My oldest will be moving to off-campus housing next September. I've just collected practical things, mostly my old household items, and put them in boxes and Rubbermaid bins. These include my extra kitchen gadgets, pots and pans that I've replaced, sheets and towels, and even some furniture odds and ends that are stored in the attic. Of course, all of their "junk", old baseball cards, Little League trophies, etc. are also in the attic. I can't wait to do a thorough cleaning of all that stuff when they move. What they don't take, I'm donating or tossing! I can just feel the house rise up an inch or two from the foundation with all that weight gone from the attic!
Dear Collections Agency:
Have you heard of the recent economic crisis? I'm sorry I had to go to the ER without insurance, but honestly, your doc saw me for five minutes and couldn't even remember why. I think $750 for laying on a gurney for two hours is pretty unreasonable. I didn't go there to buy his next Corvette.

If you ever call me at 9:00 pm again while I'm finally having a good nights sleep, I will find you.

Also, just for that, you have now been rotated down to the bottom of the list of people I owe. Pity, you were next in line.

Thanks,

Broke MT


Dear Collections Agency:
Have you bothered to learn the laws governing your job? In case you had not noticed, people are getting laid off left and right these days.

I have explained to you for the last time that the bill you have called me about 12 times this week went on a bankruptcy filed and discharged 9 years ago. YOU CAN NEVER COLLECT ON IT.

When I am currently considering myself lucky to have a job at all and struggle to pay my bills, why would I pay you for something the Courts said I no longer needed to worry about?

Please leave me alone. Harrassing me will not help you keep your job and may in fact cause you to lose it.

Thanks
Dear Collections Agency,
Please stop calling my phone number looking for Dave. I do not know Dave. I am not related to Dave. I have never heard of Dave except from the last collections agency who kept calling me. I understand that Dave had this phone at some time in history, but I have had this number for FIVE YEARS now. Dave isn't coming back. If I knew who and where he was, believe me I would tell you so that you would stop calling me.
I have the all the Soprano DVDs and Sex and the City collection...
I jump on my elliptical every day and trade off episodes. Makes my workout fly!
I have a small collection of these, too. The plastic glitter ones
s
My take is agency knew of vaca. but didnt tell
x
Maybe, if agency lying, you can get any fees back
x
Hayseed how do you crop your pics? I'd like to add to the collection of animal angels here.
Or can I send you mine and you'll do it for me, pretty please? 
Depends if it is long with pregnant pause um no. If it is long and juicy like an op YEP! Short ones
x
I had it during my pregnancy a long, long time ago. Husband
aa
How long is too long to wait for Pap results?
This is a follow up Pap for an abnormal one a few months back.  I have waited for the results for over a month and have called the office once.  Any advised about being a patient patient - LOL.  Its hard when your in this business, I think anyway, not to be more aggressive about stuff like this.
At that rate, I could make in a week what I make
x
Dh just told me a something
before it got back home.  He took my oldest daughter to an out of town football game.  Me and the baby stayed home as it is really too cold for her to be out.  Well, he told me that this gal (recently divorced and hot to trot) came and sat by him and they were enjoying the game together.  He said people were staring.  All I said was "okay."  Okay, I need to keep my head.  I should just trust Dh but we are having marital problems and the subject of divorce has come up but I thought we were going to put it behind us and work it out.   Help me not blow up and blow it out of proportion.  I can sometimes loose my head. 
That's what they were told - sm
That the repair would be so obvious, it would be like night and day. I don't know, I guess if it were me, I would definitely want to know just exactly how much my premium would be going up before I made a decision. They do have the option of just havig their LR done for 200-300 dollars though, versus having the entire carpeting replaced and paying a higher premium. So, in reality, they will be paying for the carpeting anyway, like a poster above said.
He just told her (sm)
that he was about to compliment her, and that she could ditch the surprised act and just say thank you. He said something like that a couple of times, in other words to not act so surprised she's getting a compliment and like, really? really? me? and just say thank you, and that's what she did.

She really sang great last night, like she does just about every time.
Boy was I just told - NOT - sm

I just got a call from the mother of this girl who comes over now and then telling me that I am a horrible hostest and how dare I make her daughter feel uncomfortable.


OH PUH-LEEEEEEZ! 


I'm laughing, hoping this means we won't see this brat OR her nasty witch of a mother darken our doorstep again.


So this is what happened.   The girl comes over to "hang out".  I was up from my desk moving a load of laundry from washer to dryer and when I walked back into my office, there she is, typing away on MSN messenger talking to friends. 


It is a well known rule in this house by EVERYONE, including the kids that come over, that they do NOT even look in the direction of my computer because it is a company computer and my income depends on it.  There are TWO other computers that are for family use.  STAY OUT!  Clear enough?  Apparently not to this little brat.


I came back into my office and told her she needed to get away from my desk, telling her for the millionth time that it is my work desk only.   I was nice at this point but not happy.


She then tells me "Just a second, I'm talking."   That's when I blew a gasket!


I said, "Get out. Go home. Now."  Very firm but not yelling and screaming like I would have loved to do.   She turns around and makes this face at me, then pushes my chair back really hard as she is getting up and it bounces off my bookshelf, giving it a good rattle.  So as she was walking out the door I simply told her, do not come back. You are not welcome.  


Then her witchy mother called.   I couldn't care less what the hag was yelling about so I just interrupted her and said, "HEY!   She's 15.  She should know better than to act like that in someone's home and if YOU don't teach her that BEFORE she does that somewhere else, this will NOT be the last time she gets the boot!" And hung up on her.


My kids were hiding in the hall giggling as all this took place.  They never had the guts to tell her to get lost.


Before anyone tries putting a guilt trip on me... this kid is FAR from neglected, comes from a nice home, parents are well off, just SPOILED beyond belief and she believes that everyone should jump when she says jump.   I AM NOT PLAYING ALONG! 


I told her she should have said

They wouldn't like you either! 


What nerve, what stupidity on his part, what ignorance.  I am going to address how I feel about cats personally in a separate post and comment on some of the responses I have received. I am very appreciative of the responses and the dialogue back and forth. It is in some way healing, at least to me, and I hope to others.


tell her exactly what you told us
and she needs to be aware of the STDs out there..They think it will never happen to them, but it can...that is why talking with a GYN or nurse practitioner would be a good thing to give her pamphlets and brochures and also keep the lines of communication open between the two of you.
I was always told not to mix

your alcohols (wine coolers, beer, cocktails, etc), but more importantly don't break the seal or you'll be in the ladies' room all night.


Have Fun!!!


Perhaps I should have told the
whole story, but just wanted thoughts based on the information I did provide and the assumption that it did happen. What would you do if it were your child and you were certain that this is what was said?

Thanks to those who have responded. I look forward to seeing what others have to say as well.
Told her that already.
x
What I told
I have three - told them the truth.  It worked for my daughters, worked some for my son.  One of the big issues was "parties" and I just said no.  They asked why.  I told them that I knew them and did not think they would find it especially fun to watch their friends and themselves drink and ralph on other people's shoes.  I actually described a few parties I had been to and all the graphic details.  They believed me and decided not to go to parties until they were old enough to leave on their own power whenever they wanted.  I just told all of them the graphic truth (my mother did not tell me and let me learn everything on my own - that was not such a good idea either in my opinion and she could have saved me a lot of grief if she had only spoken up.  My son did drink when he was 18, but only at someone's home and says he did not drive.  I believe him because he is now 37 and has no reason not to tell me the truth anymore.  So, tell what you feel comfortable with.  I think parents can have a big impact on their children when they are honest. 
Have you told them what you told us?

I'd lay it right out to them like you just did here.  Maybe they truly have no clue as to how it makes you feel.


He just told you
that he's looking for other options. He was being honest with you - he looked and hasn't found anything YET. Get a lawyer, get out of the marriage, and get on with your life.
My ex-MIL told the ex that she would
x
When my MIL first told me.....
I told her that my SIL was lying.  MIL said she thought so too until the doctor said she was pregnant.  Still....no ultrasound or anything performed.  Still holding out for this to be a false positive. 
I have been told that once a dog sm
tastes blood the urge will never stop. I have no idea if this is true, but it seems to make sense in some cases.
I was told that
in the morning is the best time because the pregnancy hormone is most concentrated during that time.


Told ya so! About getting a cat, I mean
I remember when you posted about your mouse problem a few weeks ago.  Good for you.  I have a cat who is a mousing champion!  He would rather catch mice than eat or sleep.  I know it's gross, but I don't have any mice.
My DH has never hit me, told him before- sm
we married that if he ever did I would divorce him in two seconds flat (that and cheat on me). I will never put up with any man physically abusing me.
Ok, did what the vet told me to do
this morning, well tried to do it lets say. I was supposed to feed my big kitty separate from the other 2 so all 3 each had their own bowl, water and I took my big boy in my work room, set him and the food down and you would think I was punishing him! He went and crouched under a chair. I just gave up on that idea but what I did do was put all their food down, allowed them x amount of minutes and then took everything up, dried and wet food. Instead of several times a day treats now will only get 2 each at night (very small bits of treats) so hopefully can make it thru the day- might be like trying to get an addict to come off their drugs. Wish me luck.
This is what I was told
by H&R block. I owe big last year because even though I payed estimated I did not pay enough (like I only paid half of what I should have paid, so I owe a lot from last year), plus now my taxes have doubled this year, so what she told me to do is pay the quarterly on time and each month send whatever I can in to the IRS, but make sure I do it every month on a consistent basis so they see you are making good with trying to pay it off. I'll have to explain to them that there is only one income, my taxes doubled this year and I will be paying every month until last years bill is paid off. She said if you call them and set up a payment plan they charge you a $25 fee for setting it up, plus interest for not paying it on time. She said this way you'll still be charged the interest, just not the set up fee. I have worked with the IRS in the past and they really aren't as bad as everyone makes them out to be. They have always worked with me in the past and I never got any hassles. But you know...this just sucks big time. I was barely making it last year. Now this year I work 2 weeks every month just to pay taxes. That only gives me 2 weeks a month to pay the rest of my bills. Which means I will be working 7 days a week as many hours as I can fit in a day for the remainder of my life. Will this madness ever end?
What my vet told me
I know some of this is no good since she's already got parvo, but my vet told me this about parvo prevention:

Spray the yard with bleach water wherever the puppy will be going out until they have completed there shots.

NEVER let your dog walk into the vet clinic before they are done with there shots. I had to carry my boxer pup in yesterday and he's 20 pounds now at 12 weeks!

Things could change very rapidly. My mom had a puppy that was fine when she went to bed and dead when she got up in the morning from parvo. It takes over quick.

My mom and I have brought a whole litter back minus one from parvo before, but it required around the clock attention and we both work with horses and have both worked in a vets office where we knew how to give IVs, etc. It was a very long week for us, but after about five days they were back to eating on their own and drinking well and playing.

I wish you luck. I've become very attached to my puppy and if something happened to him I'd be devastated. We are both praying for your puppies good health!
She might have told him (sm)
People often know when they're are going to die. She might have told him it was going to happen and when.

It sounds like he might have been there when she died though, too. It's hard to say. That poor husband...
someone told me....
that I should get checked for vitamin D deficiency. I just started working midnights from home at my new MT job first of March, and the weather here has been stormy a lot, my step-mom I believe thinks I'm starting to have vitamin D deficiency because I've been complaining of body aches here the last few weeks to a month and am constantly tired and I've been feeling depressed in a way. I thought the tiredness was just from lack of sleep trying to get adjusted to this new schedule...I hope its not deficiency, but I wondered how long it takes for symptoms to show up since its only been a few months, I don't think that's it...
I told everyone at 6 weeks...
then waited to tell son when we had first ultrasound...
She already told me she called and they said SM
she can't until March because they already had a claim.  They would be cancelled if they claimed it.  It does cover it, though.
My opinion, she should not have told them
Definitely should be up to the parents. All kids are going to hear the truth from peers at school . . . no way around that, but the teacher should have enough sense to realize that some parents would be upset with an adult spilling the beans. I know my older son (middle school now) was told a few times by friends at school. I finally told him in 5th grade (my parents never told me, and Santa still visits me). At the time, I was struggling with some religious issues dealing with extended family, and I really wanted him to understand that God is real (at least to those who believe), and did not want him thinking the same way about that when he learned the truth about Santa. My younger son is in 5th grade now, the autistic 10-year-old mentioned in the punishment thread. He has been told, and I just have not had the heart to confirm it with him.

By the way, the older son was told that as long as he kept quiet "Santa" would still bring presents.
I told the physician
I had them, have typed on this so long knew what they were and sure enough, have. What I am asking is there anyone out there who has had any sort of treatment for them or is this just a bothersome thing that continues. TIA