Hi, my name is Patrick. I've always done a good job of taking care financially and so my 3 cards had always been in good standing. After loosing my job in February I paid off one and make the minimum payment on another. I am "in good standing" with both banks. However AmEx has become another story involving a collection agency and a law firm. I've been doing my homework - it's all a lot to take in. Truly the more you learn the less you realize you know. I'm wonder what folks here would make of my situation. I look forward to hearing what you think. --- 9/23/08 AmEx sends statement of account being past due. 9/23/08 Receive letter from Zwicker & Associates on behalf of AmEx. At some point AmEx closes my account. Attempts to contact them are redirects to collection agency. AmEx continues to charge monthly fees of for; overlimt, finance charge and late payment. 11/04/08 Receive letter from United Recovery Systems. 11/10/08 Receive copy of "Warrant in Debt (Civil Claim for Money)" from Zwicker on behalf of AmEx. 11/15/08 Send United Recovery Systems settlement offer and hardship letter. I called United Recovery Systems the next week, from a payphone, and ask if letter has been received. It has been, offer not accepted. Woman proposes ridiculous amount and then proceed to lecture me about responsibility. Says she will not respond to my offer letter in writing. 12/08/08 Call AmEx and explain frustration in dealing with collection agency in good faith effort to settle debt. AmEx agent is friendly but tells me she cannot do anything as the account is now with the collection agency. I request this in writing. She offers to put my request in her notes but cannot send me anything herself. --- So I have a collection agency and a law firm pursuing the same debt. The collection agency is being a collection agency. The law firm is laying the groundwork to sue. I have legitimate hardship circumstances and would like to settle my debt but am not sure how to go about it. I think i need to get copies of my credit reports, send the collection agency a verification letter and respond to the "Warrant in Debt". Beyond that I'm considering finding a paralegal with experience in this because I do not know what to plan for going forward. I cannot afford a lawyer. What do you think? Also, thanks for the Sample Letters. Very helpful.
Amex collections agencies are absolutely ruthless, make sure you stay current on collection law so they cant take advantage of you.
Its been over a month. I wouldn't walk, I would run to the courthouse and get a copy of everything in the file. They may already have a default judgment against you.
Court date is in Feb. Funny thing is it's not signed by anybody from the courthouse. I will swing by the courthouse to check it out. From my reading it's illegal to have two collection agencies going after the same debt. Is that true? I'd like to get on a payment plan with Amex but they won't even communicate with me. Still charging fees! Funny how they loved me before...
