Complaint Review: Academy Collection Service - Frank Bruno - PHILADELPHIA Pennsylvania

I forgot to address the "debt settlement agency" issue in my previous rebuttal. Don is exactly right on this point, and so was the collection agency who told you that the entire industry is under investigation. Here are a few facts about these debt settlement/consolidation outfits: 1. They don't do anything that you can't easily do yourself, but they charge a rather hefty fee for doing it. Anybody can negotiate with their own creditors to reduce debts and work out payment plans. Further, your creditors will probably be more amenable to working with you directly than with a debt settlement agency. 2. Roughly 85% of people who enter into "debt settlement" programs will never complete the program and actually get their debts paid off. 3. Roughly 95% of people who engage the services of these agencies would be better off, financially and credit-wise, by filing bankruptcy. So my advice, as always, is to consult with an attorney about alternative options before engaging the services of one of these agencies. Most attorneys offer free initial consultations for bankruptcies and, the Bankruptcy Code isn't entirely clear on it, but bankruptcy attorneys may actually be required to do the initial consultation for free. I do all of my initial consults for free, and this includes a preliminary review of your income, expenses, and debts, and advice as to whether bankruptcy would be an appropriate option for you, as well as what Chapter you would likely benefit the most from.

Actually, according to the FDCPA, a collection agency is not allowed to call you ANYWHERE other than at your home unless they are having trouble finding out how to get in touch with you AT HOME. If they contact you at home, you do not need to tell them to stop calling you at work - they already have your contact info and federal law forbids them from calling your place of employment. I would advise consulting with an attorney who is familiar with the FDCPA. It sounds like you may have a solid legal claim against this outfit, and you could be entitled to some hefty damages, plus your attorney's fees. Best of luck!

Here is my collector response to what you said. First, some areas of debt management are under investigation right now, mostly the debt settlement area. There was an article on MSN money on August 8th, 2007 in regards to that. 2nd point, yes collection agencies do not like working with debt management companies. The reason being, as a collector, your goal is to get a payment in full on the account, today. Most people in debt management programs have more than one account in there they are paying on. If the money going towards is going to pay off multiple accounts, the collector is getting only a share of the money, not the whole part. Yes, collectors should be more understanding, but they are not. 3rd point, Has the debt management company notifed this collection agency about the account? Some debt management companies will send information to the agency which includes a limited Power of Attorney. If that is done, the calls should stop as they agency should deal with the management company. Lastly, there is only one state that verbally ceasing calls at a place of employment is enforceable, and that is Massachusetts. If you truly want to cease work calls, you have done the correct thing by sending a written letter.

Here is my collector response to what you said. First, some areas of debt management are under investigation right now, mostly the debt settlement area. There was an article on MSN money on August 8th, 2007 in regards to that. 2nd point, yes collection agencies do not like working with debt management companies. The reason being, as a collector, your goal is to get a payment in full on the account, today. Most people in debt management programs have more than one account in there they are paying on. If the money going towards is going to pay off multiple accounts, the collector is getting only a share of the money, not the whole part. Yes, collectors should be more understanding, but they are not. 3rd point, Has the debt management company notifed this collection agency about the account? Some debt management companies will send information to the agency which includes a limited Power of Attorney. If that is done, the calls should stop as they agency should deal with the management company. Lastly, there is only one state that verbally ceasing calls at a place of employment is enforceable, and that is Massachusetts. If you truly want to cease work calls, you have done the correct thing by sending a written letter.

Here is my collector response to what you said. First, some areas of debt management are under investigation right now, mostly the debt settlement area. There was an article on MSN money on August 8th, 2007 in regards to that. 2nd point, yes collection agencies do not like working with debt management companies. The reason being, as a collector, your goal is to get a payment in full on the account, today. Most people in debt management programs have more than one account in there they are paying on. If the money going towards is going to pay off multiple accounts, the collector is getting only a share of the money, not the whole part. Yes, collectors should be more understanding, but they are not. 3rd point, Has the debt management company notifed this collection agency about the account? Some debt management companies will send information to the agency which includes a limited Power of Attorney. If that is done, the calls should stop as they agency should deal with the management company. Lastly, there is only one state that verbally ceasing calls at a place of employment is enforceable, and that is Massachusetts. If you truly want to cease work calls, you have done the correct thing by sending a written letter.

Here is my collector response to what you said. First, some areas of debt management are under investigation right now, mostly the debt settlement area. There was an article on MSN money on August 8th, 2007 in regards to that. 2nd point, yes collection agencies do not like working with debt management companies. The reason being, as a collector, your goal is to get a payment in full on the account, today. Most people in debt management programs have more than one account in there they are paying on. If the money going towards is going to pay off multiple accounts, the collector is getting only a share of the money, not the whole part. Yes, collectors should be more understanding, but they are not. 3rd point, Has the debt management company notifed this collection agency about the account? Some debt management companies will send information to the agency which includes a limited Power of Attorney. If that is done, the calls should stop as they agency should deal with the management company. Lastly, there is only one state that verbally ceasing calls at a place of employment is enforceable, and that is Massachusetts. If you truly want to cease work calls, you have done the correct thing by sending a written letter.