A credit card company that I had been with NEXT CARD ripped me off, interest wise and in the mean time I moved to California and I received a letter from the FDIC telling me that they had closed NEXT CARD and were out of business. So I forgot about the debt. Then I heard from NAFS and wrote them several times asking who bought my debt and they would never answer me. I told them I would make payments but not until then. I never heard from them. I ended up moving to Virginia and married in 2003.
Last March I get a phone call message for a woman stating to call her today. She did not state her name or company so I did not return the call. Then I get another message from another woman, more firm stating that they have left severals messages and to call, not true, I don't call 1 message several. The I got on the internet and looked up the phone number and then I knew it was a collection agency. I did not call back. Then I get another call and the woman said that if I did not call within 24 hours that she would have to take legal action.
Well, I got scared and called and talked to another woman and she said that they were willing to settle for $6,000, half of what I owed. Then she transfered me to a Mr. Burke. He told me about Next Card and I told him they were out of business and he states that he knows that but I have to pay my debt anyway.
We talked for about 30 minuets and he was not rude but put the pressure on that if I paid $4,500 now and $319.00 drafted out of my checking account for the month of April and May that every would be cleared. He told me that the conversation was being recorded and he kept getting off the phone and was negotiating with their attornies and getting the settlement knocked down. We agreed on $5,138.00. He assured me that I would get a statement and promised that the end of May they would report to the credit companines and have the debt taken off my credit and I would have a excellant credit record. Trusting me, took him at his word. They took the $4,500 and then in April took the $319.00. On May 26,5 days before the last draft I decided to mail them the check, the number I gave them and put on the check paid in full. May 31, came and they took the draft anyway. I then went to my bank and closed that account so that they would not be able to cash that check or draw anymore money out of my account.
Well, that apparently has pissed NAFS off and I am now, starting yesterday receiving phone calls from them again. I am not answering my phone (I plan on buying a whistle and everytime I see their number pick up the phone and blow). I have read all these letters and have learned alot and now feel better empowederd and not so afraid. I held up my end of the settlement and they have not. I owe them nothing! So I am going to writea NO CALL letter to NFAS and a copy to my Attoney General as well as New York's (when I figure out who that person is) and complain. My husband was very nervous about me allowing them to draft money before getting a statement and he was right but by reading all your letters I would not have gotten one anyway.
God bless all of you that have gone through this, I feel your pain. Hang in there! And follow these suggestions and don't let NFAS or any collection agency bully you because that is what they are and they have broken the laws by what they have done to good honest people like us!
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