Problem with collection agency

[bujinkantiger]

First let me say that at the time this credit bill was acquired i was living in Wv but not live in Va.

I was recently contacted by my father in law stating that he had been contacted by a collection agency saying that my wife had a past due credit card bill for 5,001.00 and hadnt placed a payment since dec of 2005.

I called the collection agency and of course they were the rudest people possible. I told them that this was a bill that was suppose to have been taken care of as part of a deal where my wife and i sold a business and until that day I thought was taken care of. I told them that i didnt have the money right away and of course i got the usual rudeness again.

Anyways i contacted the guy that i sold the business to and asked him why ti hadnt been paid, he said he had never received the bill but would use his credit card to pay off 3500 of a 4000 settlement they had offered me and would pay the rest.

So i call the agency and let them know whats going on and they fax me some papers and i get my friends credit card and send the information in, its late in the day and the people at teh credit agency are gone that they need to talk to in order to verify the credit card could be used, so they say they will call the next day.

Well the next day rolls around and my aunt is sick and in ICU, so i head that way to see her and call and let them know that my friend will be calling in later to verify the credit card. Later that day while im still on my way to see my aunt(its a 2 hour drive) I call to verify they got everything and they start to tell me how they cant take that credit card, and I need to find a new credit card immediately to take care of the debt. I asked if i could just have until monday so i could go see my aunt, and then i would take care of the matter by at least getting a courtesy check (which is off the same credit card but they claim they can take). I pretty much get that they have waited long enough and its pretty much just tough about my aunt it has to be taken care of today or they are going to turn it over to the attorney to be turned into court.

Anyway it was a pain, I asked to talk to their supervisor and told him my situation and at first hes giving me the same thing about how it needs to be taken care of today, only in a bit nicer way.

At that point i started asking if it was legal for his represenative to give my wifes account information down to the payment adn the last payment dates to her father, and the mood seemed to change a bit.

I was wondering if it is indeed illegal for them to give the information to her farther just because he's listed as a contact. I have the courtesy check today, and was just wondering if its something i should consult a lawyer about before sending in the check.

[bujinkantiger]

Well I went ahead and mailed the check out today, after all i had no problem paying the bill.

I"m still really upset about the way the rude people at the collection agency dealt with the matter especially in light of my aunt being in ICU that day, which by the way luckily shes out now but still in the hospital. I still play on consulting a lawyer abou the ordeal, but im still looking for opinions from you guys.