The Worst Thing Today

nona · Post by **nona** » Thu August 6th, 2009, 11:01 pm

Abebooks and B&N keep sending me 10% and 15% off coupons. It's e worst thing because I'm tempted to use them and I promised no more book buying till Ronnie goes back to work in 12-15 weeks after surgery. I keep chant I will not buy books, I will not buy books.

Chatterbox · Post by **Chatterbox** » Thu August 6th, 2009, 11:03 pm

LH, most debt collection agencies violate the fair debt collection practices rules all the time, alas. I was sued by one entity for a debt that I had already paid. They 'served' the action at an address I hadn't lived at for five years (and they knew this, because I had paid off the credit card balance ($600!) from my new address two years earlier. So I didn't know about the suit until they took the money out of my bank account -- $1,800, for a $600 credit card balance that had been paid off. I'm still trying to recoup the money. I hope those folks listen to you about your mother's case; they didn't to me.

Sorry if I sound grumpy, but I am in agonizing dental pain today. So bad that I have spent the day whimpering. Estimated cost of needed work? $4,500. No insurance. (Can't buy it as a freelancer). Will dentist let me pay 1/2 now and 1/2 in a month? Nope. Can I even get into see another dentist with no insurance? Nope. Need second chunk of my book advance, but can't even think to write, it hurts so much. My only hope is that the antibiotics kick in. Two days now and it's getting worse. Sorry, just needed to vent. Oh, and some of of the problems were caused by substandard work by another dentist.... (I got a letter of apology and $500, ordered by the dentists' professional association...)

nona · Post by **nona** » Thu August 6th, 2009, 11:08 pm

Contact Trans Union, Equifax and Experian and dispute the charge and in the mean time demand a copy of the debt and sales recipt or her signing for the debt, even if she didn't originally do it. Once they cannot prove it's ligit/valid they have 30 days to get it removed and an explanation letter to the TU,Eqfx and Expn and your mother. Also in the mean time get her credit report for free at annualcreditreport.com and double check to make sure there is no other fraud committed against her.

times like these I'm grateful to work in the finanical/credit card industry.

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Thu August 6th, 2009, 11:16 pm

CB: I totally sympathize with you! A few years ago one of my molars cracked and the pain was excruating! Hopefully you'll be able to get yours taken care of soon!

SM

Lauryn · Post by **Lauryn** » Fri August 7th, 2009, 7:02 am

[quote=""LoveHistory""]If I thought it was a misunderstanding, I'd be much less annoyed. But I looked this company up. They violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices all the time, all over the country, and I am not the first person they have pursued for a debt that is non-existent. They threaten people, they break the law, they should be investigated, fined, sued, something. [/quote]

Good for you! Too many people pay to make this racket go away, and it really is just a variation on a protection racket. Gather your documentation, ask your mother to make a note every time they contact her henceforth (because they will - she's probably a senior and much less likely to know & defend her rights or yours), and be prepared to make a nuisance of yourself to all the governing bodies and elected representatives you can think of. I had a collection agency looking for me in error, and they contacted my mother to intimidate her into paying on my behalf. She repeatedly told them "you have my daughter's correct information on file, you have no need whatever to call me." They eventually went away, but Mom was mightily annoyed long before then.

Chatterbox · Post by **Chatterbox** » Fri August 7th, 2009, 5:06 pm

Well, the tooth is probably either an emergency root canal or an abscess... Waiting to hear back from dentist as to whether they can squeeze me in despite lack of moolah and time, or whether I'll have to tough it out on antibiotics and major league painkillers for the weekend.

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Fri August 7th, 2009, 11:05 pm

Ick. That sucks chatter. I hope all gets better soon.

For me its my pool. Right now the vacuum broke. The damn thing is still a blue/green and I havent swam in it all summer. I want to fill the damn thing in. Its a money pit and I am tired of it.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri August 7th, 2009, 11:40 pm

[quote=""Chatterbox""]Well, the tooth is probably either an emergency root canal or an abscess... Waiting to hear back from dentist as to whether they can squeeze me in despite lack of moolah and time, or whether I'll have to tough it out on antibiotics and major league painkillers for the weekend.[/quote]

Man, you have my sympathy. Many moons ago I had an abscess that "hid" for months. I just kept complaining of pain (it takes a lot of pain to make me complain) and they kept taking x-rays and saying nope there's nothing there, you must be grinding your teeth and braces will fix it all. Lo and behold when I'm at the periodondist for another matter in preparation for braces (gum graft) the abscess decided to show itself (you do not want to know the details trust me). After that, of course root canal.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri August 7th, 2009, 11:43 pm

[quote=""LoveHistory""]Not my worst thing, but I felt like sharing.

There is a debt collection agency that is in for a rough time, having contacted my mother to try to reach me regarding a debt that does not exist. I am 100% certain on this point. There is no debt. Plus the young man was not nice to my mother and hung up on her.

If it was any other week (meaning one where I was up to a theraputic dosage of my new anti-depressant) anger would not have energized me quite so much. I've contacted my attorney, two US Senators, one US Congressman, my state's Department of Financial Institutions, and the Federal Trade Commission.

If I thought it was a misunderstanding, I'd be much less annoyed. But I looked this company up. They violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices all the time, all over the country, and I am not the first person they have pursued for a debt that is non-existent. They threaten people, they break the law, they should be investigated, fined, sued, something.

This kind of company gives honest debt collectors a bad name.[/quote]

If I'm not mistaken there are severe financial penalties for violating the act. I would recommend checking into it.

LoveHistory · Post by **LoveHistory** » Fri August 7th, 2009, 11:53 pm

Clarifying...it's my alleged debt, not Mom's. I know it doesn't exist. I've seen my credit reports (all three) within the last 90 days because we refinanced in June. I have a mortgage and one credit card, which are always paid on time. I have deliberately avoided accruing debt since the bankruptcy two years ago. There is nothing to document because there is no debt.

This actually puts me in an excellent position to go after them. It's not just unfair practices, it's fraud. This is a company that's changed their name recently and has about three dozen mailing addresses under the old name. They're not affiliated with the BBB under either name.

It just so happens one of my Senators is on a committee that deals with banking and finance. I'll call Dateline if I have to. I'm not even standing up for myself here, but for all the people they've been fleecing for years. Get me a red cape and a superhero name!

Chatterbox, that's terrible what they did to you! And I'm sorry about your tooth troubles.