I still vividly remember receiving automated calls every Saturday morning in college insisting that I settle a debt under someone else's name. It was a case of mistaken identity, and eventually I sorted it out by tracking down the collection agency and calling them during business hours. This was a tremendous inconvenience, however. I strongly support limitations on robocalls, on total call volumes, and ask that you consider creating a complaint process for harassing or mistargeted calls. Collection agencies should face financial sanctions for misbehavior, payable to the target of their abuse.
I had a particularly lousy experience with an abusive debt collector called Miracle Financial, working on behalf of Verizon Wireless to collect a debt I wasn't aware I had incurred and didn't believe I owed. The full account -- and dozens more from people leaving comments on my blog over the years -- is available at the supplied link.
Miracle said I had to speak to Verizon. Verizon said I had to speak to miracle. Short of going to court over a $50 debt, I had no options for resolving the situation. Meanwhile, Miracle's demeanor on the phone was abusive, and they promised to call every day for years unless I paid up. So I did.
It was an upsetting episode that left me feeling powerless--as if the whims (or mistakes) of corporate America dictated my financial liabilities, with no chance for appeal and potentially dire consequences for my credit rating. I'm very pleased to see the CFPB addressing these practices.
Verizon Wireless and Miracle Financial
tjl
1
I still vividly remember receiving automated calls every Saturday morning in college insisting that I settle a debt under someone else's name. It was a case of mistaken identity, and eventually I sorted it out by tracking down the collection agency and calling them during business hours. This was a tremendous inconvenience, however. I strongly support limitations on robocalls, on total call volumes, and ask that you consider creating a complaint process for harassing or mistargeted calls. Collection agencies should face financial sanctions for misbehavior, payable to the target of their abuse.
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tjl
2
I had a particularly lousy experience with an abusive debt collector called Miracle Financial, working on behalf of Verizon Wireless to collect a debt I wasn't aware I had incurred and didn't believe I owed. The full account -- and dozens more from people leaving comments on my blog over the years -- is available at the supplied link. Miracle said I had to speak to Verizon. Verizon said I had to speak to miracle. Short of going to court over a $50 debt, I had no options for resolving the situation. Meanwhile, Miracle's demeanor on the phone was abusive, and they promised to call every day for years unless I paid up. So I did. It was an upsetting episode that left me feeling powerless--as if the whims (or mistakes) of corporate America dictated my financial liabilities, with no chance for appeal and potentially dire consequences for my credit rating. I'm very pleased to see the CFPB addressing these practices. Verizon Wireless and Miracle Financial
View this comment in the discussion thread