Debt Collection from a Private Investigator

[samdell43]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia

I recently was unable to pay a bill for boarding a horse but reached out to the owner to develop a payment plan. He agreed but wouldn't send me an itemized invoice.
Last week, he threatened to reach out to legal and have me arrested. I asked him again to send me an itemized invoice to no avail.
Today, I got a call from someone claiming to be a private investigator who wanted to serve me a warrant. She gave me her "name" and phone number but wouldn't tell me what the warrant was for. She asked for $4000, which is nowhere near the past due bill. She told me I could Western Union the money to her by 3pm and she wouldn't "charge me" her $650 "fee." She said she could not serve me at my home, only at my place of work and wouldn't say why. She said that this could damage my career if I didn't pay up. She mentioned something about being at court and so she'd "try to serve" me tomorrow.
I tried reaching out to boarding owner and he wouldn't respond.

The whole thing seems bizarre and I don't know what to do. I'd like to pay him but I am not paying what I DON'T owe and I don't appreciate threats of arrest or my career being "ruined."

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia

I recently was unable to pay a bill for boarding a horse but reached out to the owner to develop a payment plan. He agreed but wouldn't send me an itemized invoice.
Last week, he threatened to reach out to legal and have me arrested. I asked him again to send me an itemized invoice to no avail.
Today, I got a call from someone claiming to be a private investigator who wanted to serve me a warrant. She gave me her "name" and phone number but wouldn't tell me what the warrant was for. She asked for $4000, which is nowhere near the past due bill. She told me I could Western Union the money to her by 3pm and she wouldn't "charge me" her $650 "fee." She said she could not serve me at my home, only at my place of work and wouldn't say why. She said that this could damage my career if I didn't pay up. She mentioned something about being at court and so she'd "try to serve" me tomorrow.
I tried reaching out to boarding owner and he wouldn't respond.

The whole thing seems bizarre and I don't know what to do. I'd like to pay him but I am not paying what I DON'T owe and I don't appreciate threats of arrest or my career being "ruined."

The call you got was bogus. Either it was a buddy of the owner, or some other sleaze ball.

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia

I recently was unable to pay a bill for boarding a horse but reached out to the owner to develop a payment plan. He agreed but wouldn't send me an itemized invoice.
Last week, he threatened to reach out to legal and have me arrested. I asked him again to send me an itemized invoice to no avail.
Today, I got a call from someone claiming to be a private investigator who wanted to serve me a warrant. She gave me her "name" and phone number but wouldn't tell me what the warrant was for. She asked for $4000, which is nowhere near the past due bill. She told me I could Western Union the money to her by 3pm and she wouldn't "charge me" her $650 "fee." She said she could not serve me at my home, only at my place of work and wouldn't say why. She said that this could damage my career if I didn't pay up. She mentioned something about being at court and so she'd "try to serve" me tomorrow.
I tried reaching out to boarding owner and he wouldn't respond.

The whole thing seems bizarre and I don't know what to do. I'd like to pay him but I am not paying what I DON'T owe and I don't appreciate threats of arrest or my career being "ruined."

That is almost guaranteed to be a scam. Someone with a valid warrant against you would not ask for money to be sent by Western Union. It probably doesn't even have anything to do with the boarding owner. Its probably a totally separate scam.

 

[samdell43]

Thanks all... The board owner seems to be aiming for a scare tactic. At least I got my horse out of there...

 

[adjusterjack]

Thanks all... The board owner seems to be aiming for a scare tactic. At least I got my horse out of there...

The bill can still be sent to a real collection agency and you can be sued for it (and lose).

The horse boarder has no obligation to give you the time of day unless you are handing him money.

 

[samdell43]

The bill can still be sent to a real collection agency and you can be sued for it (and lose).

The horse boarder has no obligation to give you the time of day unless you are handing him money.

That'd be fine with me...that way I actually have a piece of paper in hand with a BILL on it.
She reached out again and said she wouldn't talk to me until I have an attorney... (what the heck?).
Just weird...

 

[Zigner]

That'd be fine with me...that way I actually have a piece of paper in hand with a BILL on it.
She reached out again and said she wouldn't talk to me until I have an attorney... (what the heck?).
Just weird...

Block the number.

 

[adjusterjack]

That'd be fine with me...that way I actually have a piece of paper in hand with a BILL on it.
She reached out again and said she wouldn't talk to me until I have an attorney... (what the heck?).
Just weird...

Frankly, I would be treating you the same way (or worse) if you stiffed me out of money.

I suggest you pay a visit to the horse boarder, bring your check book, hold it in your hand and say "Give me a written bill and I will pay you right now."

If you aren't prepared to do that, things will only get weirder.

Of course, that only works if you have the money.

If you ran out on the bill because you don't have any money, well, that's another story.