PRS - Calling on unpaid debt

[jmarie80]

What is the name of your state? Florida

I was recently contacted by PRS and returned their call on 04/01/2008 to determine the reason for the call. The woman I spoke with was very polite and informed me that it was for a credit card that I had opened (and obviously neglected) and had been turned over to collections. She advised me that they were offering a program called the CYC (Clear your credit) and offered me to payment options: 1) Pay a settlement debt of 796.00 by end of April and the creditor will remove all obligations that this debt existed or 2) pay the full balance of 1100.00 ove the course of 90 days again the creditor will clear the debt from my credit history - erasing it.

Another representative called my parents house twice as the first one is "convienantly" left for maternity leave. He initially called my parents house the other day - my mother informed them that I do not reside there. He called AGAIN this evening at my parents house and my mother being a little fragile as she has been lately panicked and called me. I called back and informed him that the phone number was not a valid number for me.
Then he proceeded to tell me that I owed the amount mentioned above and was willing to settle for a little over 840.00 between now and end of May, but that the CYC would not be offered for settled debts. Over the course of the conversation, he never became harrassing or threatening, but managed to politely tell me that I defrauded their company - right after I asked for written documentation of the debt since I am 65% certain this is mine although I don't have any bills or written information from the company. He told me they complied when they sent a letter to me in march and would not have to comply with a letter of validation. Is this correct? Please help. I'm not a deadbeat - I pay all my bills on time with other companies, this one somehow fell between the cracks and I don't know what my rights are or how to proceed to protect myself.
The credit card was a 300.00 credit card and apparently fees and charges by the creditor built it to almost 1200.00 in almost one year.

My questions are this...

-can they continue to call my parents house (I have given an alternative number they can reach me at) and also told them I can not accept calls at work since I work inside a call center.
-Since I am still trying to validate the item in my records, if I ask for a letter of validation, does this require them to comply or because his records show that letters were mailed out, does this mean that I'm stuck
-NEW question: I just spoke with Mr. ***** again today. I can't find any records proving this debt is or is not mine. Based on my past history (several years ago), I am assuming the debt is mine and want to ensure that I do not have any outstanding obligations so I am considering the settlement option. I asked for a letter of the debt to be settled in full BEFORE any payment is made. I don't have a fax machine so I asked that he send it by mail. He became extremely rude, telling me that he will send out the letter on Monday however the letter WILL state that I must have a payment made by the 16th otherwise the settlement is void. Can they do this? I'm not willing to go the grocery store or library as he recommended to have the letter faxed to me. It's a matter of my information being handled through a third party - I don't feel comfortable with this. So in all actuality, the letter will be sent on Monday, but by the time I get it and MAIL a payment out, the letter will be void and I won't have any settlement options. He's also wanting a payment amount that right now, I can't afford and won't accept anything else. I'm working on borrowing money from family members to help out - but they are in a bind. I need guidance where to go in order to protect myself and end this nightmare once and for all.

[NASCAR_Devil]

Originally Posted by jmarie80

What is the name of your state? Florida

I was recently contacted by PRS and returned their call on 04/01/2008 to determine the reason for the call. The woman I spoke with was very polite and informed me that it was for a credit card that I had opened (and obviously neglected) and had been turned over to collections. She advised me that they were offering a program called the CYC (Clear your credit) and offered me to payment options: 1) Pay a settlement debt of 796.00 by end of April and the creditor will remove all obligations that this debt existed or 2) pay the full balance of 1100.00 ove the course of 90 days again the creditor will clear the debt from my credit history - erasing it.

Another representative called my parents house twice as the first one is "convienantly" left for maternity leave. He initially called my parents house the other day - my mother informed them that I do not reside there. He called AGAIN this evening at my parents house and my mother being a little fragile as she has been lately panicked and called me. I called back and informed him that the phone number was not a valid number for me.
Then he proceeded to tell me that I owed the amount mentioned above and was willing to settle for a little over 840.00 between now and end of May, but that the CYC would not be offered for settled debts. Over the course of the conversation, he never became harrassing or threatening, but managed to politely tell me that I defrauded their company - right after I asked for written documentation of the debt since I am 65% certain this is mine although I don't have any bills or written information from the company. He told me they complied when they sent a letter to me in march and would not have to comply with a letter of validation. Is this correct? Please help. I'm not a deadbeat - I pay all my bills on time with other companies, this one somehow fell between the cracks and I don't know what my rights are or how to proceed to protect myself.
The credit card was a 300.00 credit card and apparently fees and charges by the creditor built it to almost 1200.00 in almost one year.

My questions are this...

-can they continue to call my parents house (I have given an alternative number they can reach me at) and also told them I can not accept calls at work since I work inside a call center. Once you have given them your correct information they have no other reason to contact your parents.
-Since I am still trying to validate the item in my records, if I ask for a letter of validation, does this require them to comply or because his records show that letters were mailed out, does this mean that I'm stuck You can request validation of debt at any time however they have no time frame to answer nor do they have to answer at all. If your validation request is untimely, ie past the 30 days from receipt of their initial dunning letter, they do not have to cease collection efforts
-NEW question: I just spoke with Mr. ***** again today. I can't find any records proving this debt is or is not mine. Based on my past history (several years ago), I am assuming the debt is mine and want to ensure that I do not have any outstanding obligations so I am considering the settlement option. I asked for a letter of the debt to be settled in full BEFORE any payment is made. I don't have a fax machine so I asked that he send it by mail. He became extremely rude, telling me that he will send out the letter on Monday however the letter WILL state that I must have a payment made by the 16th otherwise the settlement is void. Can they do this? I'm not willing to go the grocery store or library as he recommended to have the letter faxed to me. It's a matter of my information being handled through a third party - I don't feel comfortable with this. So in all actuality, the letter will be sent on Monday, but by the time I get it and MAIL a payment out, the letter will be void and I won't have any settlement options. He's also wanting a payment amount that right now, I can't afford and won't accept anything else. I'm working on borrowing money from family members to help out - but they are in a bind. I need guidance where to go in order to protect myself and end this nightmare once and for all.

How is this reported on your CR's? If you have not pulled your free annual reports then go to [url]www.annualcreditreport.com[/url] . When was the last time you paid on the account? SOL in FL is 5 years for written contracts. My advice is to stop talking to these people on the phone. Handle all business CMRRR. If you do decide to pay, do not give them a check by phone or any other access to your bank account. Send them a USPS money order. PM me if you have anymore questions.