Deleted message.

[terrya]

I apologize to all concerned. I'm having a difficult day.

[Misunderestimator]

1. Wow... that's just a bit harsh to wish a fatal illness on someone

who probably cannot get another job in this job market. :shrug:

After all, collection agencies do serve a purpose. I would use one if I had a small business and someone owed me money.

[terrya]

7. I shouldn't have said it. I apologize.

If I had the money to give these people, I would. I have approximately $61 in my wallet. That's it. Period.

The rep I talked to was using language that was harrassment.

Yes, I know it's my fault. Yes, I know I'm a deadbeat. Yes, I know that they talk to deadbeats all the time.

Hey, if these people (ok, it's quikpayday.com) want their money, they can put a lien on my 401k plan. I'll give them the authorization to do it. And I will pay them each month.

I can't give them money that isn't there.

Sorry for the rant and sorry for the nasty comment. No one here deserved it.

Terry

[Misunderestimator]

9. No problem, man... I would insist that they don't call you at work though

as others suggested. I'd have been pissed too.

[ET Awful]

13. Unfortunately, these companies are predatory in nature and huntt

for people in dire financil straits so they can screw them even more.

The "loans" they give are more akin to loan-sharking than anything else, and the "fees" are usurious. They charge what amounts to 20% of the loan in fees. If you were to average this out over a year period, that equates to (using their longest loan term), over an annual interest rate of over 400%. Using their shortest loan period, this is an annual rate of over 1,800% (no, that's not a typo).

They look for people that are desparate, con them into borrowing money, then knowing that the person most likely won't be able to pay on time, get theme for the fees and "extension" fees 2 or 3 times. By the time you're done, you've paid over double the amount that you originally borrowed.

They may not deserve a deadly illness, but they sure as hell deserve prison time.

[Misunderestimator]

16. No... collection agencies are not loan sharks.

They are hired by other companies to collect past due payments for them.

[ET Awful]

17. THis isn't a collection company, it's a "payday loan" company

That loans out money at usurious rates. Did you look at the name of the company she's dealing with? GO check out their website, then get back to me.

[Misunderestimator]

18. Never mind

I didn't see the company name.

[ET Awful]

20. If it was just a collection company I would have agreed with you. . .

But these guys are worse than Rent-To-Own. They are in the business of preying on desparate people and fucking them over. GRRRRRRRR.

[Misunderestimator]

21. I totally agree with you, now that I saw their site.

[Jo March]

14. Say you're sorry and mean it

Try to never do it again.

There. You are forgiven.

Don't beat yourself up about it, either. You were mad and had to blow off steam. We understand.

[Occulus]

2. Which is why I ALWAYS

Always, always, always refuse to give any business my work number. Under any circumstances. I tell them I'm not allowed to distribute it.

[GOPisEvil]

3. They are not permitted to call you at work if you tell them they cannot.

If the calls continue, complain.

[LynneSin]

4. That's why I've never given out my work phone number

Seriously - I've never filled out it and it's never stopped me from getting a credit card or loan as I've needed it. Plus I have a cell phone which they only have my lan line.

To be honest, they really are doing their job, but the problem is they are hiring people off the street and paying them like $8/hr to do this job. I don't think there is enough training for those making the calls so they can better handle these types of calls. I had an ex-boyfriend who did this job for 2 years for extra cash and he said it was a nightmare. He had no training except learning his script and believe me, the script was designed almost to get a rise out of people.

[Mistress Quickly]

5. Tell them to not call you at work

and that you'll be available at x:xx time at xxx-xxxx number and they can call you back then to discuss.

I've done that.

[demnan]

6. Well

Maybe you should examine why they need to call at all. If you need help with your finances, I would focus on getting that, negative thoughts toward collection agencies are not going to help you.

Just trying to be honest with you.

[murielm99]

8. Some people here are going to flame you, or tell you that

you sound snotty. Get ready.

However, I know what you mean. My son had screwed up credit. He had a couple of unexpected expenses, and things got tough for him. We were even getting his calls here, and he has not lived at home for several years.

He got credit counseling. It has really helped. He makes regular payments, and gets no more embarrassing calls.

[Jo March]

10. I agree but the person doesn't always owe the money

We had a call from a collection agency last night saying that we owed Company X money - $100. We don't owe Company X squat. Mr. Arnheim patiently tried to explain this but the collector began to get nasty, accusing us of not paying our bills, etc.

It ended up in a large shouting match and my husband finally hung up the phone.

The guy was nasty and called hubby names and said some pretty awful stuff. Hubby tried to talk to the guy's supervisor but the guy wouldn't get his supervisor.

We don't owe this bill and have disputed it since March to no avail.

So, don't be so quick to judge. Mistakes are made all of the time and people like me have to deal with collectors even though we don't owe money.

[miss_kitty]

19. don't owe the money? getting collection calls?

find out who they are and contact your state AG's office. or just contact them anyway. find out what to do. get copies of you Credit files and find out what is being reported on you. the CBR should tell what this debt is from, show an R9 by the issuing company that wrote it off to the collection agency.
the credit bureaus are experion, equifax and trans union

some states will allow you to sue for damages caused by activity like this.

dispute everything in writing within 60 days of receiving the bill that the error is on. that protects you under FEDERAL law.

[Jo March]

22. Done all of the above - the company keeps getting

sold and then a whole 'nother round of stupidity starts all over again. :(

We'll get it straightened out, though. Thanks for the advice.

[Beer Snob-50]

11. I do collection work for the company I work for

(it is only a small part of the job I do). AS we collect from businesses, people get peeved when we call them at home, but it gets us our money. Now, if we don't succeed, we call in a professional collection agency and then the nastiness begins. I try to be nice to the people that I talk to. It usually works.

[Beware the Beast Man]

12. As a former collector, fair credit laws benefit the debtor.

They are NOT to call you at work if you wish, even if they skiptrace you.

[miss_kitty]

15. i don't know what you said, but as someone who used to work near...

...collectors...believe me, they have heard much worse...plus they'll be telling that story forever too. collectors for the most part are bottom feeders. "pay or die' is their catch phrase.

and it looks like you it was for a 'quick loan' too. here's some unsolicited advice about those places: cut your hand off before you use them. starve. sleep in a cardboard box. they are usurers. it should be illegal to lend money at those interest rates.

and here's some more: DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY FINANCIAL INFO. WHEN YOU PAY, PAY BY MONEY ORDER. if you pay by check, they will go after your account and clean you out w/o your knowledge. you mentioned a 401k plan? find out from these jackals what the PAY OFF balance is...when they tell you, ask them HOW LONG IS THAT BALANCE GOOD FOR? confirm that would pay the debt in full. YOU MAKE THE WITHDRAWAL FROM YOUR 401k PLAN. perhaps, since you are in a verifiable bad financial situation, you can escape penalties.

good luck...i think the fair credit act of 1968 makes it illegal for them to call you anywhere, if you say "don't call me again. contact me by mail only" call your state AG's office if they call after that.