getting hassled for $200 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JenTay · #1 11-01-2005, 11:00 AM

A couple of years ago I carried a pager. To make the long story short, the service was so bad I tried to cancel the balance of the contract.

Some sh&thead debt collector called last night trying to collect the $200.

Question, what's the worst thing that can happen if I never pay them (out of principle)? I suspect they will continue to call. Is there anything I can do to stop it? Will they really take me to court for $200? Wouldn't the court filing fees and lawyer fees exceed that?

I know the credit rating score thing will be less than perfect now but come on! for $200!

I want your opinions

dtf · #2 11-01-2005, 11:03 AM

They'll drag you to court for $2.00 never mind $200. Call a consumer protection agency and see what your rights are.

Jim Anderson · #3 11-01-2005, 11:10 AM

Anything in the service contract regarding quality of service or customer satisfaction or complaint reconciliation? There is usually a lot of fine print, there might be something in there.

I had a collection agency on the run for about a year, they had a small list of numbers then a total but they did the math wrong. Every time they called I pointed it out and they didn't call for a couple of months

TX76513 · #4 11-01-2005, 11:13 AM

Send them a certified letter stating that you will only deal with the principals of the debt (the pager company). Keep your reciept from the Post Office - if they contact you again you can use this like a sword.

Azimyth · #5 11-01-2005, 11:15 AM

I have no advice. I just like to post on Jentay's threads.

Brian Carlton · #6 11-01-2005, 12:15 PM

I sincerely doubt that they will spend the money to drag you into court. If they do, then show up and tell the story to the judge.

Normally, they continue to hassle you and try to get a settlement out of you. If they can get 1/2 the balance, then they consider this a success.

The worst thing is the damage to your credit rating, if you need credit. Yes, the credit rating is affected by any delinquency, without regard to the amount. Since most agencies simply go by the raw credit score, the robots that work for them probably won't even look at the report to determine the actual situation.

Austin85 · #7 11-02-2005, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azimyth

I have no advice. I just like to post on Jentay's threads.

Me and her have the same birthday....!

I bet she's hot.

boneheaddoctor · #8 11-01-2005, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JenTay

A couple of years ago I carried a pager. To make the long story short, the service was so bad I tried to cancel the balance of the contract.

Some sh&thead debt collector called last night trying to collect the $200.

Question, what's the worst thing that can happen if I never pay them (out of principle)? I suspect they will continue to call. Is there anything I can do to stop it? Will they really take me to court for $200? Wouldn't the court filing fees and lawyer fees exceed that?

I know the credit rating score thing will be less than perfect now but come on! for $200!

I want your opinions

I'd tell them to send it to you in writing.....if they got your phone number then they know where to send it....

Then check up on it...could be a scam...but I'm with you ...a few years later? I wouldn't pay on principle...But start a log in a notebook...keep record of when they called , duration of the call, what they said etc as there are laws to follow..and if they break them.....

el presidente · #9 11-01-2005, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JenTay

A couple of years ago I carried a pager. To make the long story short, the service was so bad I tried to cancel the balance of the contract.

Some sh&thead debt collector called last night trying to collect the $200.

Question, what's the worst thing that can happen if I never pay them (out of principle)? I suspect they will continue to call. Is there anything I can do to stop it? Will they really take me to court for $200? Wouldn't the court filing fees and lawyer fees exceed that?

I know the credit rating score thing will be less than perfect now but come on! for $200!

I want your opinions

What is your credit score worth to you? Chances are good that you are already being reported as delinquent in this case, which hurts your score. They don't have to sue you to be reported as a "collection account" on your credit history.

Re-read your pager contract.

If I were you, I'd check my credit history today. If there is no evidence of any detrimental report, pay the $200 and make this go away. If you owe the money, I recommend prompt settlement and chalk this up as a learning experience.

You are only hurting yourself in the long run by avoiding the issue.

Best of luck to you.

Azimyth · #10 11-01-2005, 12:37 PM

for the record, an isolated derrogatory mark on an otherwise stellar report amounts to dog squeeze on the sidewalk. Anyone who is seriously scrutinizing your reports will see that it is an anomaly and at most will ask about it.

el presidente · #11 11-01-2005, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azimyth

for the record, an isolated derrogatory mark on an otherwise stellar report amounts to dog squeeze on the sidewalk. Anyone who is seriously scrutinizing your reports will see that it is an anomaly and at most will ask about it.

I agree that (1) most loan officers/credit grantors would not "scrutinze" and (2) that most would not ask.

Many simply rely on the FICO number. The cost difference on a mortgage note between a 725 score and 710 score could be much more over the long run than the $200 they are seeking.

el presidente · #12 11-01-2005, 12:57 PM

In my example in my previous thread (post #16), I guessed that a collection account may be detrimental to the tune of about 15 FICO points.

According to this estimator, it could be upwards of 50 FICO points!

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/fico/calc.asp

#13 11-01-2005, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el presidente

In my example in my previous thread (post #16), I guessed that a collection account may be detrimental to the tune of about 15 FICO points.

According to this estimator, it could be upwards of 50 FICO points!

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/fico/calc.asp

What he said, and his other post as well it could affect you even worse if you have a short credit file.

if the $200 is a problem you may be able to cut a deal or borrow it from el prez.

or perhaps a pay-per-view in the pretty girls thread.

JenTay · #14 11-02-2005, 07:25 PM

North Carolina Statute of Limitation

Express or implied contract, not under seal: 3 years.

Contract and sale of personal property under seal: 10 years.

Open account: 3 years, NOTE: Each payment renews the SoL on all items purchased within the 3 years prior that payment. If no payment is made, the SoL runs from date of each individual charge. Contracts: From date of breach or default, unless waived or performance under the contract is continued.

Judgments: 10 years

boneheaddoctor · #15 11-02-2005, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JenTay

North Carolina Statute of Limitation

Express or implied contract, not under seal: 3 years.

Contract and sale of personal property under seal: 10 years.

Open account: 3 years, NOTE: Each payment renews the SoL on all items purchased within the 3 years prior that payment. If no payment is made, the SoL runs from date of each individual charge. Contracts: From date of breach or default, unless waived or performance under the contract is continued.

Judgments: 10 years

My wild guess would be "notorized = under seal" But thats a non-lawyer speaking. You do need to be sure about that however.