Mercantile Adjustment Bureau left a voice-mail on my cell phone at 8:30am this morning June 3rd 2009. A man by the name of Brad said to call him back immediately in regards to an important matter. He left his phone number and extension as 1866-716-1544 ex: 3091. He also left a case number to reference.
I called back the number on my lunch break and was able to reach his assistant named Kate. Kate asked for my case number and explained I owed a $14,000 dollar debt to American General Finance. I explained to Kate that this debt was over 5-7 years old and under a chapter 13 bankruptcy years that I had filed in 2001 or 2002 and was for a personal loan.
She said that Mercantile Adjustment Bureau represented American General Finance and this debt was still owed. She said that American General Finance would be willing to settle for $7,000. I told her that I currently live pay check to pay check and did not have that kind of money. She then offered me a settlement of $5734.35 and said I could pay it in two monthly payments.
I was confused as to why I still owed this debt, but I was frightened too because she said that if I did not make payment plans then it would go to an attorney I would go to court and the judgment against me would require the whole 14,000 to be paid back as well as all court and attorney fees. I was so scared, but a little relieved to hear that she could settle all this for $5,734.35. I was almost grateful to her for reducing this amount significantly for me from $14000 to $5,734.35. I told her I would try to borrow the money from friends and family to settle this.
She said she would need my checking account number today to lock in the deal and to call back if I need it cancelled. I gave my checking account number and routing number. She did not need a check number.
I felt good about locking the deal and felt that it would at least buy me time to do my research on this matter. I did my research and I found out that others have been threatened and scammed by this company all over the US.
I called Kate back immediately to tell her to cancel my checking withdraw that was scheduled for June 23rd and to also cancel the 2nd checking withdraw scheduled for July 23rd 2009. She said she cancelled it and nothing would be withdrawn from my checking account on those dates. I asked for a receipt of confirmation however she stated that there was no way to do that.
I was still concerned that Mercantile Adjustment Bureau might do the electronic withdraw from my checking account on those dates or alter the pay plan however they wished to debit on different dates or different amounts since I gave them my routing and checking account number. I then called my bank and asked what I could do to block or stop these people from withdrawing funds in case they did not keep there word. My bank said that because Mercantile Adjustment Bureau only asked for my checking account number and routing number and not a check number with it, they could go in at anytime and withdraw. She advised me to open a new account and slowly switch everything over while I closely monitor the current account. Then she recommended closing out the current account. I'm in the process of doing this right now. What a nightmare. I thank the people who take the time to write these warnings and complaints all over the internet.
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