Great advice you gave to Michelle regarding the credit cards. You
are so right that consumers have rights when it comes to collection
agencies and harassing calls. They have no right to phone a person's
place of work and harass them there.
When calls like that come into work, I tell them they cannot call
here and that they must deal with the person outside of work. I tell
them that I will not pass on the message, that they have no right to
be calling work.
I've dealt with collection agencies also. Unfortunately, I didn't
know about the consumer protection acts that can make the collection
agencies get off you back. That you can state that you don't
recognize them as a party to collect on this debt and that you will
only settle the debt with the original creditor. They have to leave
you alone when you write them a letter and it's law.
Too bad more people don't know about it. The collection agencies
would be out of business very fast. It wouldn't be so bad, but they
use tactics that are more than harssment at times, they even go as
far as issuing threats. I think that's why the laws have come into
place.
I hope Michelle gets things under control. It's hard being in debt
up to the ears, especially when she's trying to keep it under wraps.
Joe