COuld use some advice on this one..

Same thing happened to me around 1993. Back then, I would hide from anything. Anyways, I owed approx $400.00 to a doctor's office for something my insurance company wouldn't cover. They called it overcharges. So, it was sent to a collection agency. They called my landlord, because they said, I wouldn't return the phone calls, or respond to the mail. They only sent 2 bills, and called twice. I was mortified. I'm sorry this happened to you. Hope this neighbor isn't someone you know well. =) Good luck, you're not alone.

 

They must follow Sec. 804 of the FDCPA.

If you post the phone number, I'm sure some of us can help you figure out who it is. Don't call from home, they have programs that "grab" your phone number.

 

MO, I would be a little more forceful and call them again asking them who they r and who they represent, you have them on a FDCPA violation Section 805 (B) and a $1,000 dollar fine for calling any third party about your debt like friends, neighbors . once you get the companies name shoot them off a Validation letter ask your neighbor for a statement that they called him with the phone number he gave you and tell them in your letter your gonna file suit in small claims court for violation of the FDCPA I would also state in my letter that any more calls by them to neighbors and friends will result in you suing them again. Hope this helps

 

From the information Mo gave, it does not sound like they violated 805--yet. They are allowed to contact others for location information.

 

Still shaky at this point. Here's a snip of 804

§ 804. Acquisition of location information [15 USC 1692b]

Any debt collector communicating with any person other than the consumer for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall --

(1) identify himself, state that he is confirming or correcting location information concerning the consumer, and, only if expressly requested, identify his employer;


You could ask your neighbor exactly what they said, but since you don't know the guy from Adam, you may not want too

If they are willing to do this, these Bozos will probably violate something else as well. We just need to find out who they are to fire off validation.

 

Hmmm - not an expert but I had a similar situation and I know others have posted the same. Have your cousin send a cease and desist letter, then send them a cert letter demanding that they contact you only in writing concerning the debt. They have to honor that request, I believe.

Good luck!

Poochie

 

I'd say just the opposite. That they went this far without crossing the line says that they are well aware of exactly where the line is and won't cross it.

Leaving a message with a neighbor, that's a collector with way too much time on his hands.

 

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Of course.

Have your neighbor send them an invoice for $175.00, for services rendered on xx/xx/2003.

Give them 45 days to pay it or take them to small claims.


If you have word on your puter there are several Invoice Templates in the library.

 

Re: Re: COuld use some advice on this one..

Butch's fave

 

Mo, take a look at these opinion letters:

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/letters/charest.htm

and:

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/letters/kwait.htm

Pay attention to footnote #4.

 

I like Butch's idea. Have the cousin bill them, too. Make sure they state who they had to contact.