[JeanLynn81]

Ok. I completely understand that debt collectors are just doing their jobs. I know it puts food on the table. I also understand that they deal with rejection on a daily basis, and I'll even credit them to having to deal with some of the scummiest people on a day-to-day basis. I am completely understanding (have I made it clear? ) and before I spew out the hatred in the next paragraph, I just wanted to make clear that most debt collectors can be lovely people. With that being said...

The one I am dealing with now is a TOTAL PIECE OF !%&%&^@. ACK! She must be either the meanest person I have ever talked to, or she is really dumb. Either one of those would probably be a compliment to her true character.

And all I am trying to do is pay off a debt. I'm not even asking to make payments. I am offering to pay the full settlement amount (even though if I take it to court I'd win...but the settlement is less than what I'd pay a lawyer anyways.). She will not take my money. Why do you ask? Well to her its fairly simple. I "borrow" a family members credit card so I can pay over the phone. But I can't do that.

Then she asks me why can't I just go out and open up my own bank account so I can pay over the phone. Gee...why didn't I think of that before. Me must be stoopid or sumfin'. Maybe because umm...I can't right now. Well why, she asks. Its none of her business really, but I swear to you that I have been nothing but nice and I did answer her questions out of courtesy.

The whole time she is nothing but attitude, but its get worse after my next question. I asked for her to send a bill to my house. *GAPS SHOCK OH NO!* My next question really set her off..."Well how do I know that after I pay this settlement, your not going to turn around and say I owe you the full amount? You can simply say 'what settlement?' and I have nothing in writing to back my claim up."

So I have basically spent the past two days on the phone BEGGING to pay the debt off, and she won't let me. Does this make any freaking sense?!?!?!

What would you do if you were me? Just pay a lawyer and take them to court? Should I get an address and send a certified letter/request for a bill? Is this collector just trying to get me to forfeit the settlement? Help before I buy a bat and fly down to Virginia in search of this big meanie head!

[JeanLynn81]

Oh I also called her one time, and let her know that I was recording the phone call, and that if I could record the transaction over the phone, that I'd pay it. She said "We don't do recordings." And hung up. So that idea is out the door.

Does this sound shady to you? I know that I owe this school debt, but is this a valid debt collector? It just doesn't seem right.

[angelic_ky]

[mcmama]

Call the school. Report the collection procedings. Ask for the bill in writing. Ask to verify the amount owed and the procedure for paying the debt. Tell them you want to be sure this is not a scam.

Ask for the address where to mail the payment. If you are borrowing a family member's credit card, then borrow the family member's checking account and have them write the check, have them sign it, and make sure that it shows the account number and so on. You should have an option to pay by check, if not over the phone. And I understand why they won't take a payment from another person's credit card, even if you are an authorized user.

If your state has a consumer advocate, contact them as well with questions. Or your attorney general.

[jkl123]

This sounds like a scam to me!!!! Please, check her out, and double-check!! Anyone who will not accept a mail-in payment OR will not send you a bill is NOT LEGIT!!! Be careful - there are sooo many scams out there!

[mcmama]

Verizon hired a debt collector who could not tell me what the charge was for. These agencies only know to total reported to them by the company they are collecting for. But Verizon was able to tell me what the charge was - and what it was for. And the charge was their error. So I was able to resolve the matter with them directly.

[JeanLynn81]

My grandfather called them to get some information. I don't know what he said to them, but he just called saying he has a faxed copy of the settlement in his hand.

[KR258]

I was also going to suggest that you say you don't want to talk over the phone and would like all communication through writing. They cannot call you if you tell them not to. I hope you find a way to resolve this.

[mcmama]

Actually, they can call you. But they are supposed to obey the rules - not be abusive, not call you before or after certain hours, etc.

Sounds like this woman was not well trained, and did not buy Jean's story of a relative helping her out. Your grandpa has better experience with this.

I honestly thought that the verizon collection notice was a sham, since I thought I had settled the final bill. Turns out I owed them $16 - but they wanted me to pay them for the router and cable box that I had already returned. I had to prove that one.

[browneyes01]

I don't understand why you can't pay it through the mail sounds like a scam to me.