Several years ago Bronson and Migliaccio (Collect America franchised rent-a-lawyer) attempted to collect on an alleged charged off debt. Threatened with lawsuits and "getting their money any way possible" and "we can ruin your life" I paid them thousands. The entire time Bronson and Migliaccio:
1/NEVER sent the legally required WRITTEN notification of a debt.
2/Never sent statements of account showing adjustments made for all the payments I made, or the interest they claimed kept racking up.
3/promised to sent a written settlement agreement before I mailed a settlement check, then never sent it.
4/ Attempted to settle for far more than the amount they claimed was due when reporting to my credit report.
5/ Called my home and cell phone at 6am!
6/ Called daily at times they were informed were inconvenient (I worked nights and slept days)
7/ Refused to give an address where statements and validation could be requested. They even hung up on me when I asked for it!
When I researched collection practices and the FDCPA I tracked down an address for Bronson & Migliaccio and sent them a validation request and cease phone communication letter. It was ignored. I sent a written request for the settlement letter they agreed over the phone to send. That was ignored. I sent a letter to Collect America requesting validation from THEM directly. THAT was ignored. My last attempt to contact COllect America, and the last time I heard from Bronson & Migliaccio was in January. Law requires that collection efforts cease immediately when validation has been requested. At least until that validation is provided. Collect America complied with that law until September of this year. They have now handed the "account" to Cambece Law.
Patricia Landry of Cambece called me and left a message about an "important legal matter" that came into her office and I should call her immediately. I did. When I talked to her I told her I could not confirm nor deny anything regarding the account and would NOT discuss it over the phone until I had received some written notification of the debt. She told me they had mailed that the day before our phone call. I told her that until I received that letter no discussion would be had over the phone, no payment arrangements would be agreed to etc etc. She transferred me to a supervisor. This rude, very unfriendly person proceeded to say this WAS my account and I had made payments on it in the past (only under threat of having my life runined and lawsuits!) and now because of "interest" it had increased by over $2000 (interest that had gathered over a time the account was in dispute and NOONE had bothered to answered the validation request). He also said that no verification would be sent as the "company" (Collect America) had had the account since 2002. I restated to him that I would not discuss the matter any further over the phone until I received written notification and I promised to call back when I DID receive it - fully intending on doing so to inform them that their parent company was in violation of the FDCPA for reinstating collection efforts before my prior dispute and validation request was dealt with. He attempted to argue with me until I essentially was forced to hang up seeing the conversation goign nowhere and esculating until he threatened me into making a payment just to make him go away.
It is now a month later. I have received NO letter from Cambece. I get almost daily calls from Ms. Patricia Landry, many of which have eluded to threats of law suit "If you do not return my call immediately I will be forced to make a final decision on your account and you will have no further say in the matter." Cambece is not licensed as a debt collector in my state, nor are they admitted to proactice law here - they cannot threaten lawsuit, another FDCPA violation. I have emailed them through their website. Faxed them through the number available on their website. All to send them a notification of the former dispute with Collect America who claims to be the owner of the account, and to send a cease phone communication letter. Phone calls continue. IF I HAD a written notification I would have had a real address for them. I did finally get one through the website and sent a certified letter asking for validation and that the daily phone calls stop. I also complained to my state attorney generals office and to the better business bureau.
COLLECT AMERICA plays shell games. If you ask for validation they will move it to another company after waiting quietly for a year and adding interest. Their collectors threaten, harrass, create intense stress (to the point of severe blood pressure and glaucoma problems that required emmergent surgery!) and treat you like a criminal yet they have nothing to back up their claims. Don't get robbed by them and their "interest" (which I think I had figured adds up to about 22% - illegal in my state!)
0 comments