Frederick J Hanna & Associates, as Palisades Collection, garnished my checking account for over $9,000.00, which they say I owed to First USA Bank.
When I called Hanna & Associates and told them that I had never heard of First USA Bank, the collection agent said that there was nothing that they could do about it because there had already been a judgment. He would not give me any more information about the alleged "debt."
I am a senior citizen who is no longer able to work. I have $21.00 in my checking account, and have never owed any merchant over $9,000.00. I know several other seniors who have been contacted by Frederick J Hanna and intimidated into paying money they did not owe, even when the debts were not legitimate.
When I was much younger, I worked as a temp at a sleazoid collection agency (I am embarrassed to say). Banks and other legitimate creditors write off delinquent accounts and sell them to collection agencies for pennies on the dollar. The collection agency then attempts to collect the full delinquent debt amount, often falsely telling the consumer that they represent the original creditor. Since the original creditors have already taken a tax write-off, they could not legally accept the full debt amount even if it were offered to them. If the collection agency can not collect on the debt, they might sell it (along with many others) to yet another collection agency, whose tactics will probably be even more questionable.
It is a sad commentary on our society that people use harrassment and intimidation—not to mention our legal system—to get rich.
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