Stuart Allen & Associates was hired to collect a debt from me, a debt that I disputed. Even though I wasn't sure that the charge was legal and binding I paid an amount of 1/3 of the total being billed to me which was $115.00. I did this to appease them and avoid having my credit damaged.
On the payment check I made a note in the memo portion of the check that there was a balance of $245.00 and that the payment I had made was 1/3 of the full amount. (I have the canceled check and would be happy to send a copy of it to appropriate parties.) I also sent a note indicating this.
Although the note on the check indicated another payment was due (according to them) and even though I sent a note along indicating that the payment was 1/3 the balance they still placed a bad debt mark on my credit report. They did not send me another bill, no, not at all, they simply sent the major credit reporting companies a mark against my name.
The net result was that instead of receiving the entire amount of $360.00, they received only $115.00, since after my credit was damaged there was no reason for me to make more payments. So, Stuart Allen damaged my credit, hurt the company that hired them by not collecting the full amount and hurt themselves by shorting themselves of the commission that could have been theirs.
I think Stuart Allen was too hasty in sending a bad note to the crediting companies. They should realize that a policy of damaging someone's credit to resolve the debt is a poor one that may seem like a quick resolution to an annoying problem but ultimately takes more time.
I will be sending a copy of this letter to the BBB (Better Business Bureau) of Tucson and to the attorney general of Tucson as well.
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