American Agencies has been haunting me for a bill that I have had in dispute with Pacific Bell since 1999. According to Pacific Bell, they have charged off and sold the debt, for pennies on the dollar. The price that they are attempting to collect is double the amount of the original bill, the difference being "interest and late charges". I have NEVER rec'd an itemized bill for the said charges. Not only are they outside the satute of limitations for a judgement, they have placed this on my credit report and I have not affirmed that I owe the debt.
I have made two attempts to settle with them for what I feel I do owe, and have been told that the amounts were not acceptable and would not tell me how much they would take. I have not paid them a penny. They have called my mother and not identified themselves. They have called my place of employment and not identified themselves. They have threatened to sue me, not rec'd any legal demand or notification of judgement. They have called me and not identified themselves just as "answering service" or "is your name...?"
At the time that all of this occured, I had no idea what my rights were, nor how to defend myself against these people. I am discovering through difference sources that there is a limit to the amount of interest a collection agency can charge.
These people are hiding behind the utilities code, but I just wonder if the debt is sold to a collection agent if those codes still apply, and if they do, isn't the interest amount that you can be charged far less that the average rate of interest on a delinquent account? I have spoken to them twice and both times informed them of the disputed amount and offered them a settlement amount, which was refused.
Each time they have 'updated' my credit report. As far as I understand the law in California to be, a payment or written letter must be rec'd in order to update the SOL. They also have this bill listed as a 'payment plan'. I have never agreed to anything with these people. They have my mother's address on my credit report, and I never lived there.
In reading through some of the other articles about these people it is interesting to note that someone mentioned that the company has had their license pulled in California. My questions are this: what is the maximum amount of interest that a collection company can charge on an insolvent, delinquent account? Where is the documentation that this company is no longer legally allowed to operate in California and if they are also in Utah does that change anything? Can they change the statute of limitations from a mere phone call? Also, have any one of the individuals on this website who have complained about American Agencies attempted to form a class action suit? Seems like it may be a consideration.
The BBB gives this company an F rating, and AA has over 350 complaints on file for them for unfair debt collection practices.
Any info would be very helpful to me. Thank you.
S
Sacramento, California
U.S.A.
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