I find it hilarious that so many of the people who write in as either employees or ex-employees of ER Solutions appear to be the least educated people on the board.
First of all, I work in collections as a high level supervisor. I know what the law says and I know what can legally be done as far as collecting a debt. I have to say that first because I believe that some of these collectors are renegades who believe that you will be too scared to do anything against them.
I started receiving calls from ER Solutions about two months ago, just before the holiday season. (By the way, the only way I knew it was ER Solutions was by looking up the phone number that came across on my caller ID. ) Keeping in mind that this was the very first contact between me and this company, the caller only identified themselves as Ms. Smith, and very rudely asked me for my SSN. Now, I don't know about you, but I will never, under any circumstances whatsoever give my SSN out over the phone. I don't care if the person tells me that God Himself has asked that they verify it with me, I won't do it. It is irresponsible, and I am nothing if not responsible.
Keeping this in mind, I asked the caller what the call was regarding. She said that she couldn't give me any information unless I gave her my SSN. Then she asked for my address and maiden name. Now, I am not going to tell you how long I laughed at her, but these are all things that IDENTITY THIEVES have been known to ask for. I am not accusing anyone of being anything other than stupid, but apparently they think I am both. By this time I had clued in on the fact that this was obviously some sort of collection call. (Again, I work in the industry, children. I am not a baby, and I am not stupid...)
I found the whole idea of getting a collections call at work vaguely amusing, especially since I HAVE NO DEBT. I'll say it again, since these self righteous assholes don't seem to understand that sometimes they have the wrong person. I HAVE NO DEBT. I have lived in the same apartment for years. I have had the same bank account since I was a teenager and have never had an overdraft. (I'm in my mid thirties, by the way). I have been driving the same car for the past five years, and it is paid off. I don't have credit cards. I have had the same cable and phone account. I don't have a cell phone. Hell, I have never even incurred a medical bill. I literally don't owe a dime to a soul. I don't know who owes, but it isn't me. I even checked my credit report after getting the call, just to be sure that no one was using my name. I have never co-signed on someone else's debt. I don't believe in credit. It is evil. Trust me.
So, here I am at work, trying to explain to this "lovely" woman that I don't have any credit to go bad, and she quite obviously has the wrong number. She very rudely tells me again that she can't verify any information unless she has my SSN. Then this clever girl informs me that they can garnish my wages and make me "wish I had settled the debt sooner". So on one hand, she won't verify information and on the other she basically called me a dead beat. Well, she let me know that whoever she was looking for was a deadbeat at any rate. I pointed out the inconsistency and advised her that she was currently violating several fair debt collection practices. I asked for a supervisor and she hung up.
I let the matter drop, figuring that it was a wrong number.
My mistake.
I have received several calls per day from these jerks. Allow me to educate any of them who are reading this:
1. You can call several times a day, true. You may actually contact the debtor no more than 3 times. THIS INCLUDES LEAVING MESSAGES. I have several days of multiple messages recorded from their company. One day (last Saturday) I had twenty seven messages (yup, nine times the legal limit boys and girls) on my work voicemail. My caller ID showed that they had called at least twice that. This is textbook harassment.
2. You cannot threaten to use remedies to collect a debt other than those that are legally allowed by law. This includes threats of garnishment, and jailtime, and threatening to place a lein on my house. First of all, as I have explained, I don't have a house, I rent. So you threatening to place a lein on my house shows not only your ignorance, but your disregard for fair collections practices. You cannot say this unless legally you CAN and you are WILLING to do this. Period.
3. Once a CERTIFIED letter has been received stating that no contact is to be made, YOU HAVE TO STOP CALLING. Without prejudice. After the third day of receiving these phone calls, I finally got an address, and I sent a letter. The phone calls INCREASED. They are supposed to stop. Not to mention the fact that a VERBAL request to stop contacting the work number is all that is required. They only have my work number, only God knows where they got it. (By the way, your work number is listed in more places than you think. Just ask your credit card company next time they call you.)
This was the point at which I contacted an attorney. So now, I have to sue you ER Solutions. You messed with the wrong chicky. Rather than taking a minute to clear up a misunderstanding, your rude and - I'll say it - STUPID agents continued to harass an INNOCENT person until she went out and got an attorney.
What do you know - my phone is ringint from 877-606-6800.
And I had to just explain that I am not the person that they are looking for and that all communication is supposed to go through my attorney. The "gentleman" on the other end of the phone said that "they don't deal with lawyers" and that I had better get a lawyer. I said that I had a lawyer, and he hung up.
My attorney had asked me if I wanted to settle, I said no. I want to punish this renegade company to the fullest extent possible.
My advice.
Get a lawyer. |
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