I.C. Systems contacted me in June to collect a debt from Banfield Pet Hospital. I was unemployed at the time and explained to the woman on the phone that I currently didn't have a job and wasn't aware of any debt owed to Banfield. She was very rude and said "I figured you would say something like that. If you don't have a job, how are you paying your bills?" I told her that I had been working as an intern and my internship had just ended, so I had been unemployed for a short time and that how I pay my bills is none of her business. I asked for her information and told her that I would like to settle the debt, but I needed to receive a statement from Banfield or I.C. Systems that stated what the charges were for.
She said that if I didn't pay that day that she was going to report me to all 3 credit bureaus. I told her that I wasn't able to pay that day because I didn't have any income and she would need to give me time to confirm the debt and get money to pay the debt. She told me that I should be more responsible for paying my bills and that until I paid she would proceed with collections activity. I received a statement of the charges owed in late July. Meanwhile, I.C. Systems continued to call me 4-6 times a week any time from 7AM - 9PM. I explained to them each time that I had accepted a job in late July and that I wouldn't receive my first paycheck until Sept. 1 and would not be able to pay them until that date. I then received a letter demanding payment and stating that I had broken my promise to pay them. They continued to call me several times a week - sometimes several times a day. I called today to settle the debt (a day earlier than I had told them) and they charged me an additional $10.00 'processing fee' for paying by phone. I paid the debt and did not contest the processing fee simply because I wanted them out of my life. However, I do feel that this company needs to be investigated because they are unscrupulous! I can provide some documentation if necessary.
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