BBB, FTC, Attorney General Complaints

[chane]

When dealing with an OC or CA, has anyone ever successfully filed a complaint with the BBB, FTC, or their state attorney general against them and used it to persuade them to take the action you have requested?

If you haven't, would it be something you'd be interested in trying?

If you have, please post the details below.

Thanks!

[Trish]

Well...not sure if this was just pure dumb luck or what but...

I asked EQ to investigate my Ford CO stating I had no knowledge of acct.
EQ sent me 4 letters asking to verify identity. One of the letters had my FULL SS# (including my name, DOB and addy). I have always specifically asked for all but the last 4 to be masked......which they have to do BY LAW if you request them to.

So I filed a complaint with the BBB letting them know that EQ was not only in violation for NOT investigating my claim but instead making it an issue of identity and then on top of that......revealing my ss# after I requested it to be kept confidential.

They sent the BBB a standard (form letter) response. Still never investigated the TL. I told BBB that it was not a satisfactory response and I would not like the investigation considered resolved.

I kept pushing......and saying how they were violation. Finally the BBB closed the complaint (I think it was still unresolved)

About a month later, the TL just disappears.
So.......I have a feeling that it wasn't just the BBB complaint but a few other things (the ss#) and EQ was just not on the ball with the responses...

I say if you have a valid complaint....it never hurts to go that route.

[Trish]

Well,
Here goes nothin......lol

I have an old medical debt I have been disputing. It keeps getting verified. This one is not only past the 7 year reporting period but the CA is not licensed and bonded in WA which means that legally the can't collect on the debt.

Anyway.......I got fed up and just decided wth and called them (not usually a good idea).
I asked why the debt was still being reported on my CRs as it was outside of the statute of limitations for collecting. The CSR told me SOL starts from the date that the debt is charged off.........not the date of service (wrong!). I explained that according to the UCC that medical debts go by date of service. I then asked her if she was aware that their company was not licensed or bonded in WA which meant they cannot continue collection activity. She got very flustered and put me on hold........we somehow got disconnected (hmmm) so I called back. I asked if she was able to find out any info and she got very upset and said "I already told you, you owe the debt and we will continue to collect on it until you pay it!". I reminded her that the debt was over 7 years old and she said "It doesn't matter! We will collect on it until you pay it!" and hung up on me. I stayed very calm.......it was kinda funny listening to her get so worked up.

So I then turned around and filed complaints with the AG, FTC and the BBB.
And since this thread was about filing complaints, I thought I would let you know what happens.

Who knows........maybe filing the complaints will actually help......ya think?

[jjgross]

Originally Posted by Trish

Well,
Here goes nothin......lol

I have an old medical debt I have been disputing. It keeps getting verified. This one is not only past the 7 year reporting period but the CA is not licensed and bonded in WA which means that legally the can't collect on the debt.

Anyway.......I got fed up and just decided wth and called them (not usually a good idea).
I asked why the debt was still being reported on my CRs as it was outside of the statute of limitations for collecting. The CSR told me SOL starts from the date that the debt is charged off.........not the date of service (wrong!). I explained that according to the UCC that medical debts go by date of service. I then asked her if she was aware that their company was not licensed or bonded in WA which meant they cannot continue collection activity. She got very flustered and put me on hold........we somehow got disconnected (hmmm) so I called back. I asked if she was able to find out any info and she got very upset and said "I already told you, you owe the debt and we will continue to collect on it until you pay it!". I reminded her that the debt was over 7 years old and she said "It doesn't matter! We will collect on it until you pay it!" and hung up on me. I stayed very calm.......it was kinda funny listening to her get so worked up.

So I then turned around and filed complaints with the AG, FTC and the BBB.
And since this thread was about filing complaints, I thought I would let you know what happens.

Who knows........maybe filing the complaints will actually help......ya think?

Trish you ever notice they lose the basic concept of English and return to the one syllable idiots they are

[Trish]

And here are the results!!!

Company's Response

Company's Initial Response - Posted 11/10/2008
The company states : please be advised that while the account may be past the statute of limitations, we may still attempt to collect the debt. However, our legal remedies are limited accordingly. With regard to their concern about licensing, please note that Washington only requires licensing pertaining to individuals or entities collecting debts "owed to another". < CA name > has purchased & is the holder of the referenced account & as such is collecting the account on it's own behalf, not the behalf of another. In an effort to resolve this matter, < CA name > has agreed to close the file & cease all collection activity regarding the account in question. < CA name > will request the removal of it's trade line with the appropriate credit reporting agencies regarding this matter. Please note that it may take the credit reporting agencies time to update the consumer's credit report, pursuant to this request. It's not the intention of any < CA name > employee to be unprofessional to consumers. Please allow me to extend my apology if the consumer feels that they were in any way.


Now the above in red has me a little confused.........so I'm waiting on a call back from the WA state licensing dept to see what they say about it.

But otherwise..........Woohoo!

[Trish]

Um....wow.
Did anyone know that what I posted above in red is TRUE??? WA licensing dept. just confirmed this.

Sorry but that makes no sense to me. So a CA can collect in any state w/o a license as long as they own the debt.

That's jacked up, IMO.

[Trish]

Hey guys.....
Just had another one to add to this......we'll see where it goes.
I've had these 2 collection accts from the same CA on my reports since 2003. I have tried disputing them NUMEROUS times and they always come back verified. The OC refuses to talk to me. I sent the CA a DV......nothing.
I called up the CA several times and always got someone very rude. The first time I called they said they had already sent validation......I asked for it again and they supposedly sent it. Still nothing.
I have gone round and round with these people and finally gave up.......until lately. heh.

So, I was looking at my CRs and decided to file some complaints. They are not a member of the BBB.....so that's out. I file complaints with their state's Atty General and with ACA international. I found out they weren't even licensed or bonded. So they really have no right to collect on these debts.

Keep your fingers crossed! I'll be sure to update as soon as I find something out.

[Trish]

Duh......and thanks to this thread, I just remembered the FTC.
So I'll be filing a complaint with them as well.

[Trish]

Ha! Just got an email from ACA and they have forwarded my complaint to the President of the CA company.

[Trish]

Ok......so the CA responded to my complaint with ACA International. Their letter was full of untruths stating that I had failed to provide the healthcare provider with insurance........and also stating that they sent me numerous bills (which I never received). Then they state conversations that NEVER happened. They even stated that I contacted them in 11/2008 and promised to start making payments. They are full of it!

Then they go on to quote WA statutes and state that they don't have to have an out-of-state license and that they are exempt from this. Hmmm.......so I call up the Washington State Department of Licensing Collection Agency Board and speak with the manager. I read off the letter and she states that they are incorrect and that a lot of CAs misinterpret and twist that particular statute........and that they DO have to obtain a license. She was even so nice as to let me include her contact info in my letter to ACA International in my response to the CAs letter.

So I have sent them another email arguing all of these points and stating that I do not consider the matter closed (they state if I do not respond, the case automatically closes - basically nothing gets done) and that if this isn't resolved, I will be filing more complaints and possibly seeking legal action.

So there.

I'm curious to see what they say to that.