|
|
| *Ostroff, Fair and Company>>>Credit |
Does anyone know how to screw over a collections agency? |
I am having a problem with a collections agency. I have made numerous payments to them and and still continue to do so but they call 5 million times a day after I already told them not to call me until after a certain time and they said they would comply and I was suppose to speak to one person for every call now this woman called me and treated me like crap basically telling me I wasn't using my brain and I am an idiot...but I do understand and I have made a complaint to the company's manager but I have a feeling nothing will happen...so I think I might call them everyday and complain..unless anyone can give me a better idea because if you want to help someone and basically get their money than why would you talk to them that way...thats not right! Let me know if you have any ideas on what to do??? Per the Fair Debt Collection Act, if you send them a letter in writing asking them not to call, they must cease their calls. Prohibited conduct The Act prohibits certain types of "abusive and deceptive" conduct when attempting to collect debts, including the following: *contacting consumers by telephone outside of the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. local time *contacting consumers in any way (other than litigation) after receiving WRITTEN notice that said consumer wishes no further contact or refuses to pay the alleged debt (unless it is to say that collection efforts are being terminated or that the collector intends to file a lawsuit) Source(s): 7+ yrs Credit & Collections. Make a "formal complaint". You can make a complaint on-line or via certified mail. I would also send a copy of the letter to the collection agency and tell them that if they don't stop according to the FDIC regulations that they would leave you no choice than to bring a Legal Action against them. Here is the link.... Good Luck.... http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/rul... The best answer is to send a certified letter to them asking them to cease and disist their harrasing phone calls. Give them times and phone numbers that they are allowed to call and that they aren't allowed to call. Under the Fair Debt Practices Act "under the law, threatening violence, using obscene language and calling persistently with the intent to irritate/annoy amounts to harassment. Also, calling home at odd hours or at work place if there has been a notification to not do so or even calling up relatives or friends without your permission can all amount to harassment." So what they are doing violates the act and you need to tell them so. You should inform them in your letter that you are submitting a complaint to the FTC and then do so at the following web site: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.start... Since you are sending them money on a regular basis every time the call ask them for a repayment agreement in writing. Make sure it is one you can afford (be persistant) and explain in no uncertain terms that if they are unwilling to set up a repayment plan you can afford and continue to harrass you...you will continue to report them every time they call. Make sure you are getting employees names and "id" numbers (any thing that could unequivically identify the person calling) so you can report the person and not just the problem. It is usually best to get this information from the start of the call as once you tell them you will be reporting them they have a tendency to hang up! It's possible to sue them for harassment if they continue calling you after you explicitly ask them to stop. Most people don't realize they have rights; collection agancies play on the guilt most of us feel for not paying our obligations on time. But there are laws to protect us, and laws they must adhere to as well. There is really a fine line most agencies don't mind crossing because most consumers are unaware of their rights. Check the laws in your state. I had one lady from a collection agency harassing me terribly about 17 years ago until she got wind that my title was "Collections Specialist" for the State of Florida. After that she was extremely nice in her dealings with me. It puzzled me until I spoke with my supervisor about it and was informed that "the lady probably realizes that you know your rights and that she overstepped her boundaries because you are a collector too. She was afraid of losing her job if you complained." I have been a Collections Specialist and a Collections Supervisor in the Florida Department of Revenue. I am also former supervisor of the Collection Agency Referral Unit, and as such was the Department liaison for privately contracted collection agencies who collected taxes on the Department of Revenue's behalf . |
| Tags |
| Investing Insurance Credit Corporations Other - Careers & Employment Technology |
Finance Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster |