Complaint Review: American Agencies

Two weeks ago, I began receiving phone calls from a private number (310) 212-0400. They never left a message. Because I don't get home until after 5, when I attempted to call, I would not get an answer.

This past Monday, I stayed home for a couple of hours in the morning and the phone rang. It was American Agencies. I explained that I noticed they had called and wondered what they wanted. The man on the other line advised he was with American Agencies and was attempting to collect a debt. I was in shock because I thought all my debts were cleared. When he told me that it was from a Pac Bill from 1998 I was even more confused because I didn't know that there was one. I was in even more shock to find out the total balance was $840.00; 402.70 being the principal and 437.70 in INTEREST!

I was appalled! I have been at the same address for 5 years now and not once have I received a notice regarding this matter. The man on the other end of the phone said that the notice was returned as unable to forward; however, the post office forwarded the rest of my mail. I advised that I would pay nothing until I get something in the mail. That phone call ended.

After thinking about the situation for a long time, I thought that because my daughter who lived with me at the time always called Wisconsin and it was (possible) she did not pay the bill and didnt tell me. Regardless, I have not received any notices.

When I got home the next night, I noticed they "called" again. UNBELIEVABLE. Anyway, I called the following day and spoke with "WILL" (who was very rude by the way). I tried to tell him that I never received anything in the mail. For 5+ years, no notices and all of the sudden this. Will was unmovable and literally told me that it was my fault the mail wasnt forwarded. Talk about aggrivating. I advised that I wanted the interest knocked off, then I would consider paying the other (as I really don't know if it was ever really paid or not; or for that matter even existed).

Today, I received an American Agencies Notice. It says, "We do not want to embarrass you. We want to help you if we can. But only the frankest immediate answers from you will make help possible. Are you going to let us help you, or will you let us decide? See that your answer gets to us at once. Remit the balance-in-full at once to avoid additional collection activity. This account has been reported to Experian Credit Data.
I was prepared to pay the whole thing; that is until I came across this website.

Jackie
Red Bluff, California
U.S.A.