Central Portfolio Control
Payment Drafted a Day After Call, Then Settlement Plan Cancelled

Central Portfolio Control called me. The representative, Kristin, said I had an unpaid debt, wanted a payment, and put forward a "settlement amount". The debt was unknown to me, so I asked to contact the original company first to verify it. On the phone Kristin was very pleasant; she was simply doing her collection job and was not threatening or intimidating at all. Thanks to her manner, I phoned back when I had promised. I told her it was confirmed: this is a debt I owe.

During that conversation I told Kristin I had just got a letter from her company proposing 6 monthly payments to cover the "settlement amount". She consulted her supervisor and came back saying this could be arranged.

I explained clearly that my employer pays me once a month and asked whether the payments could be scheduled for that exact date each month. She agreed, confirmed the date (6 days after this call), got my account details, thanked me, and that was all... Until...

Two days afterward I looked at my bank account online, and the payment had been taken the day following our call! That created some problems for my account.

I phoned Kristin directly again. She confirmed that a 0 fills in automatically in the date field and she had neglected to replace it with a six. She said sorry, and I told her I understood, but the payments must fall on payday since that is what we agreed. My bank was also now charging me an NSF fee. She asked her supervisor for options and returned offering to skip the next month's payment.

All I wanted was for this payment to be reversed so my account was fine and the plan set up correctly, as agreed just 2 days before. Neither of us ever raised our voice, because Kristin was sympathetic and kept apologizing. I was seconds away from saying that things happen and I would handle it myself, when suddenly, I assume, her supervisor came onto the line. This very abrasive man said our agreement was now terminated and asked how I wanted to settle the whole amount in a single payment without any settlement. He wanted everything that day, or else my refusal to pay. Paying right then was beyond me.

Very politely I tried to tell him that nothing was wrong, that I had not asked for a supervisor, and that the arrangement was fine. He answered that it was finished, the arrangement was cancelled (even though one payment had already been taken), and insisted on the entire balance at once, or else my refusal to pay.

I am completely confused by his behavior. I had consented to pay. The payments were arranged, and their own mistake ruined the deal.

I filed a dispute with my bank over the payment, because they pushed it earlier than agreed. My bank also advised me to close this account and open a new one ASAP, since now that they hold my account information they could easily submit payments again without my authorization. I am taking care of that today. Frightening. I hope at least to get that money back, and then I plan to pay the original creditor directly.

Once more, Kristin did a fantastic job on the call, even though her admitted mistake forced me to phone and request a correction. Whoever the man was that came on the line seems a dreadful individual. I know they are fed excuses throughout the day and this is a hard line of work, yet when a resolution is in place and they are being paid... ending the arrangement in such a way? I cannot grasp why these people like their work. That job takes a particular type of person, and I am certain I could never manage it.

My advice is simply not to deal with this company, since this was totally inappropriate (in my opinion). With a valid debt, go to the original creditor if you can... Right now I am not sure how that works or whether I can even do it, but I know I do not wish to speak with that guy again!

Company: Central Portfolio Control
Country: USA
State: Minnesota
City: Eden Prairie
Address: 6640 Shady Oak Rd #309
Phone: 8888466094

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