AFNI Debt Collections ripoff Bloomington Illinois
I have read some of the entries on this website about AFNI and thought I would add a little of my own. I was contacted originally by AFNI in 2003 for a Cellular One account that had been charged off from 2000. Apparently I owed somewhere around $3,000. I ignored the letters I would get and then found it reported on my credit report right after I bought my first home. However it doesn't show up as a collection account. Eventually I caved in and agreed to pay $50/month. AFNI was not happy about this, saying it would take years to pay off, but I wasn't going to pay more than that. Here it is 3 years later and I still send them $50 a month. And now, if I miss a payment, I start getting calls. The calls from AFNI sound so urgent and I "must call immediately", yet they call me at 10:30 PM or later, which I think is bad practice.
After reading these stories, I deleted AFNI as a payee on my bank account and canceled future payments. Whatever I may still owe, I will not send it to them.
Kari
Tyrone, New Mexico
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Kari, AFNI only paid $30-$60 for that 3 year old charge off of $3000
#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, November 10, 2006
Kari,
That type of debt of that age typically sells for about 1-2 cents on the dollar depending on how many agencies have had it already.
The only problem now is that by paying on it, you have legally re-affirmed it, making it easy for them to sue you and get a judgement, which will now include lawyers fees and court costs.
NEVER pay a third party debt collector. Always make them come after you first in court. What I'm saying is to never pay these crackheads unless you absolutely have to! $50/month doesn't buy much crack!
NEVER speak to any collector on the phone and always send the CEASE COMMUNICATIONS letter as per your rights under the FDCPA by certified mail, return reciept requested.
I would change banks and close that account. They have ways of tapping your account. They can clean you out if you dont. Open a new account at a different bank, as they have all of your personal and banking info now.
Good luck.