Give Credit to a Dog

APRPEH ^ | 7 Tammuz 5768/10 July 2008 | APRPEH

[APRPEH]

KCRA - SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- More than 70,000 consumers complained about third-party debt collectors in 2007, but one Sacramento couple said they have good reason to bark about the bill they received.

Steve Fanelli received a bill from AFNI collections claiming an Andy Fanelli owes Verizon Online $142.34.

And although Steve Fanelli does indeed live with an Andy Fanelli, there is a small, furry problem with the bill.

Andy Fanelli is Steve Fanelli's dog. more

[APRPEH]

While this seems like a just fluff or maybe matted fur story for laughs there is a serious issue to consider. It is has been my observation working in an environment where credit and collection issues are a daily concern that this story underscores a problem many Americans face. No, pets are not routinely contacted by third party debt collectors (3PDCs). But every day plenty of Americans are contacted by mail or telephone by 3PDCs on a phishing expedition who treat these consumers as if they were dead beats. Unexpecting consumers have payment demands thrown at them for no better reason than they share the same or similar name to someone who indeed owes money on an account. more

[ken5050]

The American Express card is NOT in the dog’s name..it’s an add-on to his Amex account, and he gets the bill. No way you can get a card without providing DOB, SSN, etc...and if he made one up..it would be fraud...BTW..I’ll wager you that within a week or so, someone at Amex will hear/read this, and the dog’s card will be cancelled..

[Calpernia]

This pooch has a charge card. I be your cat is jealous :P

[Cheesel]

I had a gerbil with a human name—Mrs. Teasdale. I got her an email account and kept track of how many emails she got. Never signed her up for anything (except when an offer for a Purina Calendar came in) and she got hundreds of offers for stuff.

[Slings and Arrows]

This pooch has a charge card. I be your cat is jealous :P

My cats pay their bills on time.

[ThomasThomas]

And then some dogs just pay cash.

[verga]

But every day plenty of Americans are contacted by mail or telephone by 3PDCs on a phishing expedition who treat these consumers as if they were dead beats.

By law before 3pdc are allowed to give any information they are required to identify the debtor by the use of the last 4 digits of the SS#.

If the person is under 21 years of age they are allowed to inform the parents but only after verifying the identity.

There is more to this than the article is saying.

[Conspiracy Guy]

My dog uses the barter system. She swapped me this chipmunk that she killed for a Milkbone.

[radiohead]

What a look! It amazes me how often it looks like dogs know they’re being photographed and understand what to do. Cats, not so much...

Love your tag line.

[Abathar]

Your lawn looks like mine - crabgrass! LOL

[Darksheare]

My grandfather’s cat (Late 70’s early 80’s) received a credit card application for Mr J.P. Tigger...
J.P. merely yawned and went back to watching the fascinating birds outside, as he was Just Plain Tigger.
(I’m certain I am forgetting info. in there somewhere.)

[Calpernia]

There was a funny Married with Children when their dog got a credit card.

That was a great sitcom.

[Darksheare]

Wasn’t so funny to my grandfather!
He called them up and asked them what in Sam Heck were they doing giving credit to a cat.

Then Mr Tigger kept getting more applications.

[Calpernia]

Was Mr. Tigger a voter? :)

[APRPEH]

That’s what Tiggers do best..

[Daffynition]

My dog recently won the lottery ... so we are on easy street ... no need for plastic. ;)

[Darksheare]

Thankfully not.
He would catch mice, but somebody else had to kill them for him.
(The wimp.)

[Conspiracy Guy]

LulaBelle is one cooperative phot subject.

As for the Tagline, I’ve used it for almost 4 years now.

[Darksheare]

LOL, but he wouldn’t ever kill what he caught.
Weird, for a cat.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Bermuda and crab grass. Can’t risk killing the crab grass because of the dog.