I was originally contacted by Ms. Stearn of United Collection Bureau on April 16th. She left a very nasty, threatening and overall misleading message on both my home phone and business phone. She represented the company only as "United Bureau" and would not say what her call was regarding other than vague threats of lawsuits and that I needed to contact her immediately. I did not return home until after midnight that evening, so promptly called her the following morning.
I explained to her that I did not return until late that night and that I was returning her call as soon as I could. She told me that her call was in regards to a debt with Citi and that she was authorized to make a payment plan with me for 2 payments. I explained to her that while I am not trying to be difficult (and that it was not a refusal to pay), that I would need to see information in regards to the debt in writting (i.E. Original creditor, balance owed, interest etc. And that I would need the terms of the payment plan in writing). At first she tried to tell me that NO she could not do that. That she needed an answer today and that I had two choices, I could pay in full or make 2 payments. I told her NO I was not going to do either without seeing it in writing. I explained I wanted to have the terms reviewed by an attorney. She then tried to coax me into receiving a faxed repayment contract which I had to sign agreeing to terms before she would send anything by mail. Again I said NO. I would not sign or agree to anything until I had the change to review the debt with an attorney. She finally said she would mail something in a day or two and to look for it in my mailbox. NOTHING ever came via mail.
Today she called again. This time making false claims about the number of times she has called me claiming it was several when it fact it was twice to each line. The original contact on the 16th and today. She also claims to have sent me something via mail, she did not. I repeated that I needed to have something via mail and she began to berate me stating that "if I couldn't afford to pay the debt than I obviously could not afford an attorney so I just needed to give up on that charade and pay up."
I asked her for the physical address for UCB and she refused repeatedly before finally rattling it off so fast that it was humanly impossible to copy it down before hanging up on me. I called back and spoke with someone else who finally gave it to me.
I asked to speak with a Supervisor, at first UCB refused and then put on someone who as said to be a "supervisor, " though I highly doubt this as true.
The "supervisor" asked how I could be helped. I explained that I was awaiting some written documentation in regards to my debt as well as the written terms of a repayment agreement from Ms. Stern but I have not received it. The supervisor said flatly "we mailed that." I replied "Well, I have not received it. Again the response. "We mailed it."
I asked if he had any verification of it being sent such as a return receipt, signature verification, any legal means of proof that it was ever actually sent as I stand firmly by my comment that "I never received it." His reply. We don't have to do that. I asked "You don't have to have any proof or record that you sent the documents you claim to have sent? Just your word alone that you sent it?" Response "yes."
I stated back that is not correct. I requested information in regards to a debt you are attempting to correct as well as the legal terms of the repayment plan you are offering me and I am still waiting for those documents. You can't just not send something and claim that you did. "Supervisor" hangs up.
This phone call is what prompted me to research United Collection Bureau and find this site. I was very upset and outraged. I attempted to deal with them in good faith. I wanted the opportunity to review the alleged debt and the terms of the repayment agreement. I don't feel I was asking too much. It is obvious to me that UCB does NOT want the terms of the debt OR the terms of repayment to be viewed by an attorney and they are NOT willing to be cooperative in any efforts involving legal council.
They are obviously a fraud and a scam and I was obviously right in being skeptical of their tactics and terms.
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