What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Colorado
Hi,
I was wondering if someone would advise me regarding something on my credit report. About five years ago, I took out a payday loan. I was seriously ill at the time and could not pay it back on time. However, I did intend to pay the loan back plus whatever the interest was. Not long after, a representative of the company began harassing me for payment. Without identifying the company he represented, he told me he knew where I lived and where I worked and that if he didn't get his money soon, he'd send his boys out after me! Then he hung up. I was TERRIFIED at first..until he called back after what he thought was enough time for me to "think on it." After I asked him a bunch of questions, I finally came to understand he was just a bill collector. Then, after much probing, he revealed who he represented. I told him I was on unpaid medical leave for 3 months and just started a new job that met my medical requirements. I told him I planned to pay, but that I simply didn't have any money to give him at the moment. I asked if I could make small payments towards the bill but he refused it. ...He continued to call my job. He requested supervisors and told them I owned him money (and I was only recently hired!) etc etc. I had to get a lawyer because I didn't know what to do. She was fantastic and was able to make the calls stop but there was no further advice. She said the harassment was legal up to that point because the collector was a representative of the main company, not an actual collection agency. She did not charge for her services and we never discussed what should be done in the long run. She just told me not to worry about it anymore, so I took her advice and just focused on getting my life back together.
The company stopped contacting me from that point on.
A few days ago (years have passed) I checked my credit report and noticed the loan has gone to collections. What should I do? Should I pay it even though the original creditor refused partial payments?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Hi,
I was wondering if someone would advise me regarding something on my credit report. About five years ago, I took out a payday loan. I was seriously ill at the time and could not pay it back on time. However, I did intend to pay the loan back plus whatever the interest was. Not long after, a representative of the company began harassing me for payment. Without identifying the company he represented, he told me he knew where I lived and where I worked and that if he didn't get his money soon, he'd send his boys out after me! Then he hung up. I was TERRIFIED at first..until he called back after what he thought was enough time for me to "think on it." After I asked him a bunch of questions, I finally came to understand he was just a bill collector. Then, after much probing, he revealed who he represented. I told him I was on unpaid medical leave for 3 months and just started a new job that met my medical requirements. I told him I planned to pay, but that I simply didn't have any money to give him at the moment. I asked if I could make small payments towards the bill but he refused it. ...He continued to call my job. He requested supervisors and told them I owned him money (and I was only recently hired!) etc etc. I had to get a lawyer because I didn't know what to do. She was fantastic and was able to make the calls stop but there was no further advice. She said the harassment was legal up to that point because the collector was a representative of the main company, not an actual collection agency. She did not charge for her services and we never discussed what should be done in the long run. She just told me not to worry about it anymore, so I took her advice and just focused on getting my life back together.
The company stopped contacting me from that point on.
A few days ago (years have passed) I checked my credit report and noticed the loan has gone to collections. What should I do? Should I pay it even though the original creditor refused partial payments?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?