I only recently found out this was a collections agency. I had assumed it was a telelmarketer because when we've answered the calls either no one was there, or the person who was on the other end did not speak English. So we quit answering.
Just for example, they called on 6/16 at: 8:54 AM, 8:59 AM, 1:17,1:27,1:29,1:31,1:33,7:30 and 8:07PM. This is not atypical.
And looking back through my caller ID, I'm fairly certain these are the creeps who threatened and cursed at our 16 year old babysitter. But as there was a call from an Unavailable number at around the same time, I can't be sure. Otherwise I'd file a complaint with the BBB. A very strongly worded complaint.
I don't know who they're collecting for, but I intend to find out. Whoever hired Alliance will NOT be paid. I don't care if it's 10 bucks. I'll file bankruptcy and reaffirm on every other debt I have before they get one red cent. Or I'll just wait the requisite number of years for it to fall off my credit rating.
I'm thinking it's an old debt that's about to fall off anyhow, which is probably why they're in such a state of hysteria, trying to bully us with tactics like 5 phone calls in 15 minutes, abusive language, threats, and repeated hang-ups.
And just for the record, I worked in collections, albeit many years ago, and I found that the best way to get people to pay up was to treat them as human beings, and to speak to them with some civility and understanding, and not to try to browbeat them into accepting payment arrangements that they probably won't be able to live up to, as I've been reading here is a common ploy of this Alliance outfit.
I also cooperated with a host of collection agencies to pay off debts after my divorce, and the ones who got the best response from me were the ones who treated me decently, NOT the ones who swore at me and made outrageous threats. "We know where you live!" and such like. So what? You're going to what? Drive down from North Dakota and kneecap me? Have me thrown in debtor's prison? What?
I would hope that a creditor would read this and get a clue, and not hire collectors who behave in this manner. It's not only offensive, it's ineffective. Mafia tactics generally only work for the mafia.
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