Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Texas

Can they treat me like this?

I have a problem with a collec. agency.I owe them $800 and I have owed them for a while.I dont work and have no source of income.I made contact with the agency to try and settle this debt, because my new fiance is helping me pay off my bills.The lady I spoke with offered me a settlement of $58 a month for 8 months, I agreed but did not want to give them my fiances account numbers.I wanted to send them 8 checks.The lady told me I didn't need a man to dictate my life,he should give me everything he made not $58 a month and hung up on me.She called right back and told me if I did not send the whole amount in 3 days she was going to sue me, and hung up on me again.I spoke with a sup. who told me the settle was still ok and transfered me back to the lady. She refused to take the account numbers from my fiances account and said she would not accept anything with his name on it.I spoke to another supervisor who told me I was a liar and that no one would offer me that settlement.I talked to a higher sup. who told me I could settle for $400 if I could pay by the 29th of this month.She transferred me to the first sup. who told me I still didnt have the settlement and hung up on me again.I found out she recorded my call without telling me.


Asked on 6/14/04, 8:08 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Sharon Campbell Sharon K. Campbell

Re: Can they treat me like this?

You should never deal with a collection agency under any circumstances. Do not agree to pay any debt and FOR SURE do not give them any account information. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you do not have to deal with a collection agency. Send them a letter telling them to cease and desist from any and all communications with you, that you prefer to deal with the original creditor. Then, if you want to, send a copy of the letter to the original creditor and work out something directly with them. Technically, the collection agency could file suit, but as a practical matter that does not happen very often. Some states, like Texas, allow the recording of telephone conversations without telling the other person.

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Answered on 6/14/04, 9:03 pm


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