Arrow Financial Services General hardball, pushy, abusive tactics Niles Illinois
Just getting started with these clowns. Collector calls my house and says to my wife "Why don't you just pay the bill". He then proceeds to tell my wife that we owe some credit card $2100. Which credit card is unclear because the callers' english was of such poor quality she couldn't be sure, but she thinks it was either "Capital One" or "Capital Visa", neither of which we have.
As my wife was trying to determine which credit card the guy was talking about his explanation to her was "You know, its the one that's on TV every ten minutes". Real pros these guys. He then tells her "We've had this conversation before", when she's never spoken to them.
After a couple of minutes I figure out what's going on, go into the kitchen, and get the phone from my wife. The first thing out of the guy's mouth (and I knew it was coming) was "Who am I talking to", as if he were with the government or was some sort of authority figure and I was obligated to talk to him. That set me off on about a one to two minute swearing session that ended when I hung up.
I couldn't help myself. I had my identity stolen about ten years ago and this whole episode reminded me of what I went through back then. The collectors new d**n good and well that I didn't owe them any money but they would call me anyway because it was easier than trying to figure out who ripped the retailers off. Why do real work when they could harrass me just so they could look busy?
I have no idea how to proceed from here. Everyone in the house now knows not to answer if that number pops up on caller-ID, so if they follow the collector's SOP they will start leaving insulting messages on our voice mail to try to provoke us into calling them. We recently signed up with a credit check program with one of the credit cards we do use and they will be helping us with contacting the "Big 3" credit bureaus (don't let me get started about them).
Right now I just need to vent and this has been a big help.
David
Austin, Texas
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Jose
Anywhere,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
This company is a master ripoff artist
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, May 16, 2006
We received a call from these thieves about a debt my wife allegedly owed from 1982. The collector stated that he had sent her dozens of letters, etc. When I spoke to them I asked the collector about the address and he had to completely wrong address. Then the best part - he was attempting to collect a debt that had been cleared in her bankruptcy in 1992. When I told the collector that the debt was cleared in bankruptcy he wanted to set up a payment plan which would of course reaffirm the debt. When I mentioned the debt had been cleared in bankruptcy the collector stated we had to pay the bill anyway.
The conclusion of this adventure was that I finally spoke with a supervisor and gave him the federal court and filing number. I also gently advised him that if they continued to harass us I would promptly file a lawsuit.
These people need to be shut down by the feds now.
Jose
Anywhere,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
This company is a master ripoff artist
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, May 16, 2006
We received a call from these thieves about a debt my wife allegedly owed from 1982. The collector stated that he had sent her dozens of letters, etc. When I spoke to them I asked the collector about the address and he had to completely wrong address. Then the best part - he was attempting to collect a debt that had been cleared in her bankruptcy in 1992. When I told the collector that the debt was cleared in bankruptcy he wanted to set up a payment plan which would of course reaffirm the debt. When I mentioned the debt had been cleared in bankruptcy the collector stated we had to pay the bill anyway.
The conclusion of this adventure was that I finally spoke with a supervisor and gave him the federal court and filing number. I also gently advised him that if they continued to harass us I would promptly file a lawsuit.
These people need to be shut down by the feds now.
Jose
Anywhere,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
This company is a master ripoff artist
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, May 16, 2006
We received a call from these thieves about a debt my wife allegedly owed from 1982. The collector stated that he had sent her dozens of letters, etc. When I spoke to them I asked the collector about the address and he had to completely wrong address. Then the best part - he was attempting to collect a debt that had been cleared in her bankruptcy in 1992. When I told the collector that the debt was cleared in bankruptcy he wanted to set up a payment plan which would of course reaffirm the debt. When I mentioned the debt had been cleared in bankruptcy the collector stated we had to pay the bill anyway.
The conclusion of this adventure was that I finally spoke with a supervisor and gave him the federal court and filing number. I also gently advised him that if they continued to harass us I would promptly file a lawsuit.
These people need to be shut down by the feds now.
Jose
Anywhere,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
This company is a master ripoff artist
#9Consumer Comment
Tue, May 16, 2006
We received a call from these thieves about a debt my wife allegedly owed from 1982. The collector stated that he had sent her dozens of letters, etc. When I spoke to them I asked the collector about the address and he had to completely wrong address. Then the best part - he was attempting to collect a debt that had been cleared in her bankruptcy in 1992. When I told the collector that the debt was cleared in bankruptcy he wanted to set up a payment plan which would of course reaffirm the debt. When I mentioned the debt had been cleared in bankruptcy the collector stated we had to pay the bill anyway.
The conclusion of this adventure was that I finally spoke with a supervisor and gave him the federal court and filing number. I also gently advised him that if they continued to harass us I would promptly file a lawsuit.
These people need to be shut down by the feds now.
Mr.jones
Forest City,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
sickem dog
#9Consumer Suggestion
Fri, May 05, 2006
David, I've had to deal with these folks also,
Tried to get me to send money(check by phone) for debt i have no knowledge of, I asked them to send me a copy of the written, signed contract that i had supposedly signed, the guy said they were not a mailing service, they were collections, I told them they could accept money but could not provide proof of bill. The guy got so pissed, said he gets paid wether I paid the bill or not, I said i feel better knowing that he wont go hungry waiting on my money. dont let them make you a prisoner in your own home. Answer your phone, hell. its your castle, your the king, talk to them like the fools they are. have fun with them.
My credit is not perfect, but knowing this bill is not real, I love it when they call. Take control, by the way, tell them you are recording the phone call when they call also as they so like to inform me that they are doing,its fun try it.. take care, ask them to bring a pizza over. they love that to..
Heather
Murphy,Texas,
U.S.A.
Claim Against Their Bond
#9Consumer Suggestion
Thu, May 04, 2006
David:
Even better, collection agencies must have a bond to operate within the state of Texas.
Arrow is bonded with Traveler's Casualty & Surety Company of America under bond #8S101155461BCM.
They have currently violated the FDCPA by not sending to you your dispute rights in writing within 5 days of first commmunication.
Feel free to call them on the telephone (secretly tape-recording since Texas is a 1-party state) and tell them you have not received a notice from them informing you on how to dispute their alleged debt claim. Demand an address to send a dispute letter. (If they don't give it to you, that's another violation.)
Send the dispute letter via certified mail, return receipt. Tell them you dispute the debt in its entirety and that telephone contact from them is inconvenient for you. Let them know that you will await their validation of the debt via postal mail and that you expect their collection efforts to stop at once until they provide it.
If they continue calling you pick up the phone (recording of course), have them identify who they're calling for, then butt in and demand they stop calling you and hang up. If they write you, keep the letters and envelopes. If they leave voicemail messages, keep a copy of them. All of these are considered continued collection activity and are violations of both the FDCPA and the Texas Debt Collection Practices Act.
Gather all of your evidence up and send a copy to Travelers telling them you are making a claim on Arrow's Bond (reference the Bond #) for violations of the FDCPA and TDCA. If Travelers fails to send you a settlement check for Arrow's violations, you have the right to include Travelers as a co-defendant along with Arrow in a lawsuit.
In the meantime, read up on the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act and the Texas Debt Collection Act. Know your rights and what kind of damages you are entitled to.
Angie
Brainerd,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
I noticed you live in Texas
#9Consumer Suggestion
Thu, May 04, 2006
David, Texas is a state that is a one party state that allows you to tape telephone conversations with only your knowledge. Let this place leave threats on your voice mail or answering machine, purchase a telephone recorder (they are about $35)and when they call, record the conversation. Make sure though( I know this is hard)you don't get upset and angry at them, or curse at them. You do not have to tell them you are recording their call.
I do have a question though, Have they sent you anything in writing yet? Once they make the first contact with you, they must by law send a letter to you within 5 days of that contact. If you haven't deleted their first contact with you off of your caller ID, take notes of the date and time. Keep a log of the calls and save all of the messages they leave. Until you get the recorder, don't answer the phone.
Once you get the recorder, you can retreive those voice messages or answering machine messages on to the tape, and you have them. It's quite painless. If you have any questions, please rebutt to me and I will try to answer them for you. This Arrow company is one of budhibbs.com 10 worst collection agencies. They are low. Good Luck!
Angie
Brainerd,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
I noticed you live in Texas
#9Consumer Suggestion
Thu, May 04, 2006
David, Texas is a state that is a one party state that allows you to tape telephone conversations with only your knowledge. Let this place leave threats on your voice mail or answering machine, purchase a telephone recorder (they are about $35)and when they call, record the conversation. Make sure though( I know this is hard)you don't get upset and angry at them, or curse at them. You do not have to tell them you are recording their call.
I do have a question though, Have they sent you anything in writing yet? Once they make the first contact with you, they must by law send a letter to you within 5 days of that contact. If you haven't deleted their first contact with you off of your caller ID, take notes of the date and time. Keep a log of the calls and save all of the messages they leave. Until you get the recorder, don't answer the phone.
Once you get the recorder, you can retreive those voice messages or answering machine messages on to the tape, and you have them. It's quite painless. If you have any questions, please rebutt to me and I will try to answer them for you. This Arrow company is one of budhibbs.com 10 worst collection agencies. They are low. Good Luck!