I got a call from Mike Peterson from Stoneleigh Recovery. He called on the 16th (Friday). The debt is for over $600. He said that the account would be settled for $500. I couldn't come up with that but he said that I could make payments. Near the end of the conversation, he said that he would set the account for $500. He also make a huge deal about receiving a money order.
He wanted me to get a prepaid visa/greendot card from Walmart. I explained that they cost $20 a month and that I wasn't going to do this. The thing that bugs me is, I recently found an older letter from them saying that they would accept money orders. I don't know why he was making a huge fuss over the money order when a previous letter stated that it was acceptable.
I received a letter today saying that the debt was still for over $600. I called and talked to him today asking why it was still over $600. He said that unless I was able to pay the $500 in full, that it would still be over $600. I stated that it would take me a month or 2 to get a full $500 saved up. I also found it convenient that the account was only going to held or in good standing (I don't remember the exact terms) for 120 days. The account was turned over in Dec. So it would put it roughly around this month. I got pissy, I'll admit.
My main gripe (or a tl;dr) is that they coax you into a lower payment to get you started, then hit you with the full price. A bait and switch. Not to mention the "I want it now" payment options that trying to be pushed on me with the prepaid visa/greendot card when a money order would suffice.
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