The ARS credit collection agency has been harassing me since June.
I live in Fullerton, California and this is my story.
I was in the middle of a divorce and had let my Citi-Card credit card default while trying to get my estranged husband to pay the debt he helped to create.
In June of I received a letter from Citi-Card advising me that as I had not made a payment in three months, they were going to forward my account to collections. I called the number on the letter immediately and relayed my story to the Citi-Card representitive. I then made a $200 payment and was advised I had a $300 balance. I arranged to finish paying off this balance before the month was complete.
One week later I get a call from ARS Collection Services from another state. They advised I had defaulted on my credit card and they we're now looking for just over $600 payment.
I was so confused. I advised the ARS representitive that I had made a $200 payment just a week prior to this phone call and that I was under the impression that my payment was on time. "Mr. Jones" advised me that my payment to Citi-Card was $6.00 less than what the acceptable minimum payment was and that is why he is now handling my debt. I said I would get back to him after I contacted Citi-Card.
For one full week, including each weekend day, I was barrated with phone calls from ARS. They always left a name like "Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jenkins" something vague. I would never get a first name and would be left with only a breif message informing me that if I did not take care of this matter, I would be promptly sued.
I decided to just pay the $600 ARS was demanding and forget all this had happened. I called on the Monday to arrange to make my full payment on the up-coming Wednesday. "Mrs. Johnson" informed me that a wednesday payment was not acceptible. She advised that I got to a "Check into Cash" type of place to get a cash advance and forward my payment that very day.
I can not even discribe the argument I had with this woman. She kept making comments about how she knew I had a job and why couldn't I pay this debt? I tried to explain to her that my account should never have gone into collection to begin with, but to no avail. I tried to explain to her why "Check into Cash" systems do not work and cause more harm than good.
When I could no longer argue with this person, I asked her note in her computer that she had advised me that my payment was un-acceptable and for this reason, I could not take care of this matter and terminitated the call.
Flash forward to August 6th. My birthday. I was working that day in my insurance office. I returned from lunch to a message on my direct line at the office. It was another vague one: "This is Mr Johnson, Call me immediately concerning this matter." I called "Mr. Johnson" back and tried to verify who he was and why he was calling my direct business line, he refused to identify himself further. He recited my social security number and asked if it was indeed mine. I advised him not to call my direct business line and hung up. He called my direct business line back immediately and left a message for me. He ended his message with "Thank you very little."
I called back and every time I called he hung up on me. I was simpy trying to state not to contact me by phone at all and to please limit all correspondence to written. Every time I spoke, this gentleman hung up on me.
Irate, I started calling him back and hanging up. He got so mad at me he called my supervisor who sits behind me. She asked him if he was supposed to be contacting me here and he stammered "she's calling us!" and hung up on my supervisor.
I didnt hear from ARS again until January. Apprently another division had taken my file over. This office is located in Escondido, California. I explained my predicament from beginning to end to "Bryan". He offered me $500 to settle my debt completely. I asked for it in writing and he emailed me the offer. My father and brother didn't like it and thought that I had a legal case against this company. I did not return calls to this company after that.
February 24th I received a call from "Kristen" of ARS. She called my direct business line at my office. She advised that she wanted me to take care of my debt or she was going to send an Employment Verification to my employer. I advised her to call my cell phone if she wanted to discuss this with me. She advised ARS "always" calls my cell phone and I do not respond, so now she is forced to contact me at work. I asked her to not call my office again and terminated the phone call as she continued to speak.
February 25th I get a fax in my office. It is directed to payroll/human resources and it is in fact an Employment Verification. I collected the fax and immediatly began searching for a lawyer.
By 4 PM on this same day, "Kristen" called my direct business line again. This time she used my company operator and was transferred to me this way. I again advised her that she was in direct violation by calling my business line. She stated that she had sent verification to my employer. I terminated the call.
This has been so stressful for me. I want to fight this fight because I know that I have been wronged. I am currently looking for a lawyer and some sort of class action lawsuit. These people can not get away with this.
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