I am completely outraged and furious with the collection methods of this company. This company uses deceptive and unfair collection practices which are in complete violation of the Fair Debt Collection Act as codified at 15 USC 1601 et seq. I contacted this company on July 27 to settle my account with them. I spoke to a representative named Jennifer Sullivan. I had attempted to pay my account with the company on their website but received an error message stating that I would have to register my account online. I called the company and was referred to a male representative. First violation, he could not verify my account by my social security number or that this was my debt. I thought this was strange because they have reported this the credit bureau. I was transferred to Ms. Sullivan. I informed her that I preferred to pay online so that I could get an instant confirmation that I had paid. Second violation, she told me that I would have to pay a $7.50 processing fee in conjunction wtih my payment of $108.in informed the representative that I did not think this was fair to pay this processing fee. I told her that I would mail a check in to cover the payment. She told me that if I paid with a check that this item would not be removed from my credit report. I informed her that I would dispute this with the bureau as long as I had proof that the company endorsed the check. THird violation, she stated that she would report to the credit bureau that this account was not paid off. I told her that this was a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Act. Fourth violation, she failed to inform me that this was an attempt to collect a debt and the long catchphrase that most debt collectors use. I asked Ms. Sullivan if I could speak to a supervisor or manager because I disputed paying an additional processing fee. She hung up the phone. PUrsuant to 15 USC 1692 Section 807 states that it is a violation of the act to collect any additional fee for unless authorized by an agreement with the debtor.
After Ms. Sullivan hung up, I called and asked to speak to a supervisor. I was transferred to a "Mr. Earl." He was equally rude and told me that I would have to pay the $7.50 processing fee because it helps KCA pay employees. I informed the supervisor that I did not feel this was fair because I was trying to pay my bill in full and that I did not agree to pay the processing fee. He became very rude. I asked him for my account number and he hung up the phone. I called back and was transferred to "Mr. Earl" This time he stated that his name was "Mr. Sims." I asked him to please provide my account number so that I could pay online. He gave me an account number and I asked him did this coincide with my social security number. He told me that I would have to report my social to him. I gave him my social and asked him to confirm if it coincided with the account number. HE stated that he just got off the phone with me and still had my account on the screen. I told him that he stated his name was Earl. He became very irate and told me that I was lying (I wrote his name on my scratch sheet). HE also told me that I appeared to be very skeptical of paying my bill over the phone. I told him that it is more convenient for me to pay online. He reluctantly gave me my account number again. Then he told me that I would be locked out of the computer for paying my bill online. If I cannot pay my bill online or through mail, then this is clearly not fair to me to have to pay the processing fee. $7.50 is truly not a lot but principal and professionalism says alot. I refuse to pay for rudeness, arrogancy and ignorance.
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