A student visa account that I had with Associates Bank was transferred from TriAdvantage Credit Services to Arrow Financial last year. I did not know of the transfer until I received a phone call from Allen/Alan Stein at Arrow Financial. He started off basically with we have your account and you X amount of money, we need a check by phone, will you be setting that up today.
I never had a word in edgewise he, simply stated all that back to back and then expected me to submit my bank information. I informed him that I had no idea who he was, why they had my account, and that I wouldn't be making a check by phone. I have had a previous issue with a collection agency representative at another company that was completely threatening and using strong arm tactics to get me to make a payment.
Mr. Stein started off saying that I owed an amount, which was not correct, and the original amount of debt he stated was also incorrect. I informed him that those are incorrect and he instantly started screaming at me about I was going round and round with him over this and that I knew I owed that money. I was completely stunned, after he "calmed down." I asked him what the options were to pay off my account, he says I have to pay the debt in its entirety and also says that the only way to make a payment is by check by phone.
I stated that no, I wasn't making a check by phone payment. He again went off on me, and says well how will you be making your payment? I stated that if this information is correct, I will be mailing my payment. He then proceeds to use my first name, when I had not given him any approval to address me that informally. He says, I know you are lying; you aren't going to make the payment by mailing a check, which is why we aren't accepting any checks by mail, only over the phone.
He also says that they don't accept any other forms of payments. At that point, I stated, I won't be making any payments by phone so if that is the only way you accept payments, then we have nothing further to discuss and hung up.
Not long after that, he again calls back and this time starts off being completely nice to me but reverts back to angry threats and screaming into the phone. Stated yet again that the only form of payment Arrow Financial accepted was check by phone. My stepfather took over discussing the situation with him and received the same threatening screaming over the phone.
At that point I resumed the conversation with Mr. Stein, I asked him for the mailing address and so that I can contact Arrow Financial. He instantly was screaming into the phone, trying not to let me talk, and then he proceeded to continue to threaten me, saying that he will call my place of employment and speak to my HR department about this, as well as garnisheeing my wages, and threatened legal actions against me. I was upset by this point and my parents said simply to hang up because he is only harassing me and I didn't have to take it, so I hung up.
I called Arrow Financial a few days later and asked what forms of payments did they accept and the customer service representative stated that they accept check by phone or mail and Western Union quick collect. I thanked them and hung up. This only verified my suspicion that Mr. Stein was being completely dishonest and during the conversation that we had, more accurately described as a grown man having a temper tantrum over the phone and screaming his head off.
After this incident, I spoke with a financial consultant who was currently working with my parents. He explained what my rights were as well as identified some of the tactics that debt collectors take, and what the can/cannot do. He also stated that the first thing I should do is make sure I get everything in writing.
Before claiming responsibility for a debt, I need to have a statement from the collectors stating what I owed, whom the original debtor was, original amount of debt. He also stated that once an account was charged off from the original debtor, collection agencies can not access financial charges or add additional service fees.
A few weeks later, I received a phone call from another representative at Arrow Financial. I stated that I wasn't sending any payments anywhere until I received a written statement with my debt, original debtor, original debt amount, and contact information for your company. The representative stated that they have sent out the statement already.
I informed them that no, I did not receive any statement from anyone at any point. The representative kept insisting that yes I had received the statement; their records indicated that I had received it. I reiterated that no, I did not receive a statement and unless you sent it certified mail, there is no definite way your records could possibly say that I had received the statement. I informed the representative that I won't be paying anything until I have that statement and hung up.
Was maybe a month after that that I got a message from someone I didn't know and I called back and asked who it was that was calling and the man who answered wouldn't say but kept asking for what phone number they called me on and I wouldn't give him any information. He finally said it was Arrow Financial and went into the speech about my account and how much I owed.
I told him that I had asked the last associate that I had spoken with to send me a statement or letter of some sort but I never received any written correspondence. He said that my account showed they had sent the notice out in April and I told him that I never received it and asked could he send me another one. He said that he can't send me another one and he steps off the phone for a second and comes back with this story of how he explained to his supervisor about the situation and the supervisor said that only the legal department deals with that.
I asked for the phone number for the legal department or to be transferred and he said they don't deal with customer calls. Then he said that if I had fax available he can send me a fax, but I wasn't near a fax machine so I couldn't receive anything. He then said that if I made a payment they would send me a letter/statement as I had requested so I should make a payment and if I wanted the letter.
I told him that no I wouldn't be sending money anywhere if I didn't have a written statement of what I owe and to whom I owe it too. I gave him my cell number and told him that if he needed to see about getting authorization to send me a statement/letter and when/if he could to give me a call and I hung up. He said his name was Dave Robbins and he left his phone number.
He called back later and said that he had been reviewing my account and saw that I had some complaints and less than pleasant dealings with other associates from the company. He said that he could tell me their names but then after a few seconds of scrolling he said they are no longer even with the company but never did say the names.
Then he asked why I needed the statement/letter and I told him that I needed some written proof of my debt to them and to whom I am paying the money for my records. That's when he got an attitude and said that they were a legitimate company and he wouldn't risk his job over $400.00. He then said that if I didn't pay the money they would put it down as refusal to pay and the account would be sent back to Citibank and interest/fees will accrue and the balance will be back up to the original amount before I started making payments on this.
I knew from the conversation that I had with the financial advisor that this indeed wasn't the truth. I also checked with several debt collection web sites and federal information sites about this.
At this point someone else was talking to him and another associate took the phone, introduced himself as Allen/Alan Stein, and he asked why did I need the letter and I told him and he proceeded to be irate and said that I know I owe this money why am I trying to put off paying this.
I told him that until I received a statement I wasn't paying any money. Mr. Stein then tells me that it shows that they sent me a letter. I told him I didn't receive it and then he proceeds to be condescending and addresses me by my first name and says be honest with me about this.
That's when I recognized his voice and I said, I have talked to you before. He instantly says no you have not, I said yes I did, I have your message on my machine. He gets loud and says no you did not I am not going to debate with you on whether we have talked before. I told him at that point that unless I receive a statement nothing will be paid and if you have to put down refusal to pay then that is what you have to do and I hung up.
Finally, Mr. Robbins, called my job and I told him then do not contact me at my job I gave you a phone number to contact me on do not call back to my job, he says fine he will just have to contact my job to verify my employment to go about collecting on this debt. I hung up on him.
He again called my job and I told him yet again that I have already told you and your associates do not call my job. There was no doubt to me stating that he can not contact me at my job, yet he still called. He then says fine he will go about starting the procedures on collecting the debt and he would contact my employer about verifying employment.
To sum up a very long, frustrating situation, after the last representative called my job, two more called. I informed them the same thing, I do not accept calls at my place of employment and if I receive another call from any associates at Arrow Financial at my place of employment, I will be filing a harassment claim. That was the last call I ever received from them, I also never received that written statement of my debt.
0 comments