Here is the story of E.T. And how she almost decame a victim of the big, bad CAMCO, aka Capital Acquisition and Management Company.
To the best of my knowledge, I have endeavored to be as acccurate as I can in relating to you the following events. If I made any mistakes, it wasn't on purpose.
DISCLAIMER: Do not proceed unless you have been endowed with a lot of intestinal fortitude!
I was first contacted by CAMCO by telephone on February 8 by a man who called himself Jeremy Johnson.
The very first thing he asked was, "are you [my name] and are (he stated the last four digits of my Social Security number) the last four numbers of your Social Security number?"
The only thing I told him at that point was yes this is (my name), but I didn't admit anything about my Social Security number.
Next, I asked him "who are you and what do you want?"
He claimed his company (CAMCO) bought an account that was originally "reported" (his words) on 7-1-89. Whatever that means!
He went on to say "the original account was with Chase Manhattan MC" and that his company had "..., purchased the account with the intention of collecting the outstanding balance of $3,929.11 which includes 8% interest."
Next he reeled off a 16 digit number which he claimed was the MasterCard account number.
He never mentioned whether or not CAMCO had a reference number or an account number of their own regarding the alledged debt.
(Stupidly), I started talking to him asking "on what information are you basing your claim that this is a valid debt?"
He basically said, because the state of Illinois says so.
"Oh, " I said. (???).
He went on to claim that "a bill addressed to, (my name) was mailed to" (an address that I supposedly resided in between 7 and 12).
I never lived at that address and I haven't lived in the state where the address is located since 2/1990!
He then went on to tell me that I had to furnish information to prove that the debt wasn't valid.
Well, I'm a little embarrassed to say that I started babbling, stammering, and stuttering and even got a little weepy at this point.
I told him I never had an account with Chase Manhattan MC in 1989. The only credit cards I had at that time were with Capital One Bank.
In fact, I was very sick and in the hospital in 1989 with a very serious illness. I was eventually diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Needless to say, by this time I was dazed, confused and incredulous about what was happening to me.
I think the words, "Twilight Zone" accurately describes where I suddenly found myself!
Anyway, he kept banging away at me with the same
stuff, until I thought I was going to throw up.
I didn't know what to say or how to respond so I got angry instead.
I told him this is not a valid debt and I am not going to pay it!
He very kindly told me that he understood how upsetting this must be for me and that he would help me all he could. My flesh started to creep right about now.
He said he was going to "excuse" the 8% interest and "if you send me a check today you will only have to pay $1,540.31. But I can only lock you into that amount until February 29."
He said that CAMCO would give my money back if I could prove the debt was invalid and that I had 5 years in which to do so.
How generous.
While he kept spouting off at the mouth, I got my hip waders out and put them on.
Finally, to get rid of him I told him I would try to get the information he said I needed to prove the debt invalid.
He said he would call back in a few days.
He did and I was ready for him! He called in the evening on February 10 and asked if I had the information we had discussed.
First of all, let me tell you I wasn't idle during the time before he called back. I went to several sites on the internet and got the information I needed to get rid of him.
I used a search engine and persistantly kept at it until I had what I needed. First, I did a search using the name CAMCO.
I was directly taken to this site, usacomplaints.com. Then I read all of the reports submitted by other people about CAMCO and got a lot of useful information, too.
After reading about what these other people had been through, I realized I was lucky that in my case Jeremy's approach was to play the sympathetic friend.
Anyway, he said, Hello, I said Hello and before he could utter a word I started MY spiel! I talked as fast as I could because he kept trying to interrupt me.
I firmly stated, "This debt is not valid and I am not paying it. You are responsible for providing, in writing to me, information regarding the alledged debt."
I am not or ever will do business with a collection agency.in any case, even if this debt was valid I would only deal with the original creditor.
You will be receiving a registered cease and desist letter from me shortly and I expect you to make no more attempts to contact me.
You should know that, after receiving the cease and desist letter you are allowed to contact me one more time, in writing, and only with pertinent information regarding the alledged debt.
If I've left anything out feel free to educate yourself about the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act."
This time it was Jeremy that was babbling, and stammering, and stuttering. He might have been getting a little weepy too!
After all this there was only one thing left to say and that was, "Goodbye!"
E.T.
Casselberry, Florida
U.S.A.
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