When debt collectors go too far

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse ^ | August 24, 2004 | Brytani

[Brytani]

With all the recent news stories of debt collectors landing in prison or being taken out of business for illegal and strong arm tactics, I thought i'd share with my fellow Freepers a great resource to help if you ever have to deal with a scumbag debt collector.

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs27-debtcoll.htm

This link has resources to use if dealing with collection agencies/collectors, your rights, links to the FTC, sample letters and more.

I hope this is helpful to some Freepers who've been hounded rightly or wrongly by this pretty much unregulated billion dollar a year industry.

[Solamente]

It really bugs my ass when "too" is reduced to "to."

[Lunatic Fringe]

Just this weekend I noticed a new collection account on my credit report, the Military Book Club. A few years ago, someone used my name at my old address to sign up for CDs, DVDs, and books, then never paid the bill.

[Larry Lucido]

I skimmed through it. Looks like some good information.

[RexBeach]

Is this a sequel to "When College Girls Go Wild"?

[dinoparty]

It really bugs my ass when prissy posters point out the grammatical flaws of others.

[KoRn]

It really bugs my ass when posters get their asses bugged because another poster's ass is bugged.

[ElkGroveDan]

It really bugs my ass when "too" is reduced to "to."

Maybe "far" is a local bar where the debt collectors hang out.

[derllak]

Lol! You tell 'em, Korny! :)

[dinoparty]

Bug this, Korn. LOL

[Gabz]

Just this weekend I noticed a new collection account on my credit report, the Military Book Club. A few years ago, someone used my name at my old address to sign up for CDs, DVDs, and books, then never paid the bill.

It is true that kind of stuff can happen to careful people..........alas there is a large contingent of people who immediately believe if there is credit action against you that you are a dead beat.

[maine-iac7]

It really bugs my ass when prissy posters point out the grammatical flaws of others.

LOL - saved me typing time

[dinoparty]

True. Also, alot of credit actions are for unpaid medical bills for unexpected catastrophic injuries, etc...hardly the kinda stuff that calls for ruthless collection practices.

[Brytani]

Oh My GOD!!!! Call the Grammar Police!!!! I'm sure you'll be calling for my execution by morning!!

Will beheading be sufficient or should they resort to more drastic measures?

[CDHart]

Thank you. We have had some high medical bills lately and this information is very helpful.

Carolyn

[Brytani]

It happens all the time. During congressional hearings the credit bureaus themselves admitted 60% of all credit reports contain at least one error.

Dispute it.

[Gabz]

I agree. That is not to say that most collection agencies aren't basically honest.............but the ruthless ones give the rest a bad name.

And medical bills appears to be where the worst offenders reside.

[Brytani]

Nah, but I did consider buying when College Boys Go Wild, but I figured it wouldn't fit in with my conservative lifestyle.... :)

[Teflonic]

Here's a little secret a lawyer friend told me about outstanding debts. Just wait until you have all the money to pay back then call the original criditor and have them send you in writing an agreement to delete the account from your credit record once you pay up. Any dealing with a collection agency will only worsen your credit.

[buck61]

Give them he#@, I agree. I think there are some here at FR
so bored with themselves, that is all they have to do, finding flaws of others.