OMG...I HATE collection agencies.

[cassie]

Just turn on the answering machine and turn off the bell for the phone. Then don't answer the darn thing unless and until it's someone you wnat to talk to.

Once I had the check for an overdue account actually in the mailbox. Before the mail was picked up that day I got a call from a collection agency and the man on the other end was so rude and made me so mad I told him I was taking the check out of the mailbox and that I was NEVER paying the balance. I never did, either. I did write the creditor a letter telling them I was not paying and why. Since it was a small amount owed they gave up on trying to collect it.

 

[b.hromada]

Collection departments can be brutal! They just never give it a rest. I've been there before, I'm right along with you. I mean, its Christmas!

Ask them where they are getting their info from, you were told your new payment is $0.00!!! Best of luck.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

The thing is, they call from a different number every day, so it's always changing. And I am ALWAYS getting phone calls from clear across the country, so I usually answer. They never leave a message, but it's that they call back, to back to back. So if I push ignore, they'll just call back immediately. I have to answer, then hang up.


They keep saying they are getting their info FROM Capital One. So I did some googling. Come to find out, some believe it is a scam. They ALWAYS ask me for my credit card information and I ALWAYS say "No, you're not getting it." Then we get the 10 seconds of silence, then they continue to tell me how much I owe, even though I've already paid it off. Just ridiculous.

 

[breezy]

They HAVE your credit card number if its legit. The real credit card company wont ask. Sign up online with the do not call registry so that the scammers wont be calling as much. Capitol One is a serious pain in the arse to work with. They once issued my husband a credit card with a 2000 limit. He has no income and no visible means of support yet when I applied I was given a credit limit of 300 and I could prove income at a rate that should have earned me a very large limit. When I cancelled the card the guy told me I would regret losing it I laughed at him and said I had better offers. He hung up on me apparently I offended him lol

 

[PineappleMama]

Oh don't get me started on Capital One...
-Not exact dates, but you get the point-

Balance was $300... sent in $50
Next Statement showed
Payment 1/1/09 $50
Late Payment Fee 1/2/09 $50
Current Balance $300.00

WTH... ohhhhkay maybe it was late... crap... so next time sent in $100, next statement showed...

Payment 2/1/09 $100
Late Payment Fee 2/2/09 $100
Current Balance $300.00

That's when I got peeved... scrounged up every dime I could, to a total of $250... the majority of the bill, clearly NOT just min. payment yes?

Next Statement Showed

Payment 3/1/09 $250
Late Payment Fee 3/2/09 $200
Processing Fee 3/3/09 $50
Current Balance $300.00

So that's when I said to hades with Capital One... they've collected a good $400 on a $300 debt AND collections now says that we owe them $500 and change. Sorry, but there is a point when I will say NO MORE!

Legally (federal law) no telemarketer or collections person can call you before 8am YOUR TIME or after 9pm YOUR TIME. If they give you a line about it being okay since it's 8am there they are LYING. Document the call and report the company. They get fined for every single instance. Won't help straighten your account any, but at least they will be punished for breaking the law... Unless of course it isn't really Capital One calling... if it's someone who's gotten your info and is trying to get you to give them bank account or other card info so that you can 'make a payment' then you really need to worry... in that case I'd call CO and alert them to the fact... if Disney's system can be hacked, and the card numbers stolen then anyone's can.

 

[Cetawin]

Capital One is the worst rip off company in this world....DH and I cancelled our CCs with them because of their ridiculous frivilous fees. I hate them almost as much as I hate Countrywide Mortgage, Bank of America and Wells Fargo!

 

[PineappleMama]

Oh, so it's not just me? Doesn't that just fry your bacon? And especially that they have the nerve to show ads that make the OTHER companies look like pirates? THAT really gets me.

Honestly, the best company I've dealt with for banking and insurance (don't personally know about CCs as of yet) is USAA.

You, Spouse, or Parents, Grandparents, etc. have to have served in the military at some point, but if you can get in it's awesome.

IE with our car insurance... geico was the best price available... got a quote from USAA... it was $300 less!
AND when the actually policy was made, not just a quote, it was actually another $50 cheaper!
My mom has their home and auto and life insurance... she's had to file claims on home and auto and they pay quickly with no fuss.
Their banking is 100% free... no direct deposit, no 'use card 5x per month, no minimum balance, NOTHING... just FREE!

They really are the best company I have ever (and I mean ever) worked with, or even heard of.

If you can possibly get in, it's worth the time to do it. Check out USAA.com... tons of info, NO CATCH.
Really, just cannot say enough about them... and I hate banks and ins. companies... so that should say something.

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:
I didn't even think of the scam thing.

Good thing you did. Just keep the look out for them. Scary.

 

[debilorrah]

b.hromada :

Quote:
I didn't even think of the scam thing.

Good thing you did. Just keep the look out for them. Scary.

In my eyes everything is a scam until I am PROVEN otherwise. We are rarely late, and if anyone calls looking for account information? OH Hell No.​

 

[PineappleMama]

Wanna know something funny? The first call we ever got in this house... phone had been on for all of three hours was for my BIL.

BIL hadn't even ever set foot in the house, yet they were calling here for them!

Explain that one if you can!

Also, there's the joy of skip tracing... particularly fun if you have a common name.

One time Wells Fargo called. Is this Crystal ___. Yes. Went on to lecture, try to bully, etc. I told him I had no idea what he was talking about. That we didn't have a Wells Fargo account. He got all huffy and said "This IS Crystal ____?" I say "Yes" he says "Crystal R ___?" I say "Noooo, my middle name is D___" "Oh, I'm sorry" Then he explained to me about skip tracing... maybe he felt bad for yelling at me... I donno... but basically if ANY Crystal ____ owes they call EVERY Crystal ____ they can find. That's why I was called.

Had that happen again later... I told the guy "Your skip tracer must be broken" and he freaked out... evidently consumers aren't supposed to know about that. So just a head's up... if you've got even a remotely common name that may be the problem...