I got a collections letter from Randall and Richards, it looks very simular to a legal document.
When I called to see what my options were, Rick T.informed me that an "investigator" was pulling all of my financial records and that a detailed report from the "investigation" was going to be sent to the client.
Call me crazy, but does that not sound like they are trying to pull off looking and sounding like a entity of the law or judicial system in some way as a form of a scare tactic?
How do I know that the report they are sending is not biased? What if they left out how I paid most things on time, or made my other debts seem worse than they really are? They could say that I had the money to pay them back when I really don't! Obviously they would not be on my side, they get money if they can write a convincing report.
According to the fair debt and collection practices
(15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. Sec 807) it is strictly prohibited to...
The false representation of the character, amount, or legal status of any debt; The false representation or implication that any individual is an attorney or that any communication is from an attorney.
AS an example (excluding any of my personal info) this is the format that the letter was sent in. It looks a lot like a legal document and the vebage steps very close to the edge as far as sounding like a legal document.
Randall & Richards Letterhead
Date
My name
address
RE: "Creditor"
VS: "My Name or Business Title"
Current Balance: $*
Our office represents the aboved refrenced client. This balance reflects any interest and collection costs that may be owed. Prior to taking any further action to protect thier interests, our client has asked us to give you the opportunity to satisfy your obligation voluntarily.
We are in the process of conducting a current financial and credit profile on your company. This will determine precisely how our client will proceed. Should you refuse to honor this debt amicably, it may result in immediate action taken by our client. Our office must recieve within five (5) days the necessary funds to resolve this balance in full.
You may contact our office, should you have any questions.
Sincerely
Rick T.
Randall & Richards, INC.
IT GETS EVEN BETTER!
Enclosed with this legal sounding letter was a solicitation from Boulevard Bank titled "Need Help With Your Bills?" It claims to have alternative ways to pay off collections and give you cash in hand! Pay off all bills easy. Let's see I just got a pay it or else legal looking/sounding letter and a bank product to rescue me in the same envelope?
NO tact, NO ethics, NO problem right?
And if you Google our dear friends at Randall and Richards the first thing that pops up is an offer to refi or get a loan. Yet they claim that they are not related or affiliated to Boulevard Bank.
I am confused? Are they an attorney's office, collections agency, or a bank offering loan products?
What would you do?
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