I received a letter from MCG last week. It had my father's name on it but my address. I get mail like that from time to time as our names are very similar and sound similar as well. The debt was supposedly for a newspaper account with the Chicago Tribune.
Having been a customer of theirs about 6 months ago, I thought maybe there was an unpaid bill. I looked up my credit card history on-line and found that I had paid my bill.
When I called to inform them to cease and desist, you would not believe the utter incomptence and lying that I uncovered (well, maybe you would, this is on usacomplaints.com after all).
First I asked to speak to the agent whose name was on my letter. They asked me what his extension was, to which I replied that the letter did not list an extension. I again asked to speak with the agent and I was told quickly (and rudely I might add) that he was not available. I asked to be put into his voicemail. I was told that they don't have voicemail. At this point I was a bit frustrated, so I asked for his extension so I could call him directly myself (this is where it gets funny). I was told, he doesn't have an extension.
OK... I asked to speak to his supervisor and was told to hold. I held on speaker for 28 minutes.
So, I called back (do they think people will give up?) and spoke with another individual. They were slightly more helpful and asked for my file #. Upon hearing the first 5 digits, I was informed that I needed to call 1-800-TRIBUNE. I informed them that the Tribune is well aware that my debt is paid... I'm calling you to get my record erased. I was then put on hold... Held this time for 5 minutes and hung up.
I called back a third time. Spoke with a woman who really dug a big hole for herself (and MCGs credibility). She opened up my file# and asked for information. I would only provide very little (as I thought it might be a scam). They stated they needed MORE information to continue and I refused to give it and asked for them to produce copies to verify this debt. They were not willing to do so.
I asked her to verify who the debt was from and to validate the birthdate on the account. She gave the name as my father's and the birthdate as mine. When I explained to her this incongruency, she fessed up that is was for a debt that is 10 years old for the Tribune. She stated that they don't have any SSN so she couldn't verify if it was for my father or myself.
I asked her if they could legally collect on that and she would not answer. I asked again. Wouldn't answer. Asked again at which point she became abusive and stated that "you're just going to stay in collections I guess", and I asked her what that meant since the debt (which is likely invalid anyway) is over 7 years old and she has no SSN to report, how on earth she could report anything on the account.
I decided that I would ask her to speak with the account representative listed on my bill and was told "he's not available". I thought that was interesting since I didn't giver her a name. So I asked her who the account manager is on my bill so I can speak directly with him. She replied that "when you call us, you work with who you get on the phone." I replied that while that sounds great, that I'd like to speak with my account representative as his name is on the legal piece of paper I'd like to give my lawyer. She stated again that he's not available, which again baffled me as I had still not given her a name.
I pressed her for an answer to my account rep's name and she stated "Is it Ken Hughes?" (the name other's have mentioned as the name on their letters). I thought it was a question she was asking me instead of information she was telling me. The best part about it is that it was wrong. It's a different name (and in all liklihood just a fake one for tracking purposes).
I asked her if she could transfer me to the agent on my letter so I could square this away with him to which she could only repeat that "I guess you'll just stay in collections" and hung up. Hung up on me... Hilarious.
Upon further review, this is a SCAM letter for a debt that is no longer legally binding (if it ever was in the first place). It certainly isn't for me as I would have been in my early teens when I ordered the Tribune (which never happened). I'm sure this company buys old bad debt for pennies on the dollar (or pennies on pennies on the dollar) and tries to frighten people into paying something before it ruins their credit report. Know your rights... After 7 years, the debt is invalid and can not be collected.
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