Arrow Financial Services Trying to collect on an SOL and have a question as to their answer Niles Illinois
I have received four debt collection letters from four separate agencies. I have found it interesting that two of them are offering a settlement for the same debt.
Thanks to Steve from Bradenton and info on this site posted by others, I sent a cease and desist letter disputing the debt to each of them and pointing out the sol had gone by years ago.
I added a sentence to my letter to each agency indicating that they are to "Be advised that I tape record all phone calls and violations of the FDCPA, including attempts to 'reage' the debt, can result...". I sent all letters certified and return receipt requested.
I faxed them copies of the letter I mailed the following day and, thanks again to some great people on this site, I included a copy of their "rating" from this site and the Hibbs site.
As a result of this, I received a letter today from Arrow Financial. I hope someone can explain to me what it all means.
"We have received your inquiry regarding the above referenced account. Your request has been referred to our customer care department for review. Upon review of your inquiry, we have contacted the appropriate credit bureaus and requested the following adjustment to your credit report: delete account from tradeline."
Does this mean I will hear from them again? It doesn't say that they won't be trying to collect this on another basis. I am just confused.
Jo-Ann
Anna, Texas
U.S.A.
13 Updates & Rebuttals
Kirk
Jennings,Louisiana,
U.S.A.
ARROW FINANCIAL SERVICES DOES NOT DO JUSTICE
#14Consumer Comment
Thu, August 10, 2006
Arrow Financial Services has sent letters and made phone calls to my residence. However, credit is easy to re-establish these days and I have my own business and re-established my credit using my federal tax identification number and my DNB number.
Furthermore, I added my own statement to my credit bureau report, in 100 words or less, stating that I offered to pay off any and all creditors if they would remove the derogatory information off my personal credit bureau report but they refused. Why pay for something that will remain negative?
Furthermore, it will renew the period that it stays on your credit bureau report. Its best to let it go away after 7 years but in the meantime you can re-establish your credit by purchasing a car through second chance financing, secured credit cards, or if you own your own business, put everything under your fed. tax id number and dun and bradstreet number (that does not require a personal guarantee). Just be sure that you are an LLC or INC to protect your company.
Kirk, Jennings, Louisiana
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
That was a great letter..However..2 suggestions.. To protect yourself
#14Consumer Suggestion
Wed, August 02, 2006
There are 2 very important things to remember when dealing with a debt collector.
1. Never sign a letter to any collection agency. Print only. Many collection agencies will fabricate documents and your signature can magically appear on them.
2. Never put "Account #" on any letter to a collector. This could be used to create a business relationship with them, or even affirm a debt. Always use: RE: Your reference#
Use your wordprocessing program to make the letter and then put the green sticker on it from the certified mail label, make a copy of that and keep for your records. Get a bunch of labels from the post office ahead of time and keep them at home. Hand write the certified# on the RR card.
Keep up the good work!
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
That was a great letter..However..2 suggestions.. To protect yourself
#14Consumer Suggestion
Wed, August 02, 2006
There are 2 very important things to remember when dealing with a debt collector.
1. Never sign a letter to any collection agency. Print only. Many collection agencies will fabricate documents and your signature can magically appear on them.
2. Never put "Account #" on any letter to a collector. This could be used to create a business relationship with them, or even affirm a debt. Always use: RE: Your reference#
Use your wordprocessing program to make the letter and then put the green sticker on it from the certified mail label, make a copy of that and keep for your records. Get a bunch of labels from the post office ahead of time and keep them at home. Hand write the certified# on the RR card.
Keep up the good work!
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
That was a great letter..However..2 suggestions.. To protect yourself
#14Consumer Suggestion
Wed, August 02, 2006
There are 2 very important things to remember when dealing with a debt collector.
1. Never sign a letter to any collection agency. Print only. Many collection agencies will fabricate documents and your signature can magically appear on them.
2. Never put "Account #" on any letter to a collector. This could be used to create a business relationship with them, or even affirm a debt. Always use: RE: Your reference#
Use your wordprocessing program to make the letter and then put the green sticker on it from the certified mail label, make a copy of that and keep for your records. Get a bunch of labels from the post office ahead of time and keep them at home. Hand write the certified# on the RR card.
Keep up the good work!
J
Anna,Texas,
U.S.A.
Mat
#14Author of original report
Wed, August 02, 2006
I'm not an expert on the subject and just couldn't give any advice to you. If you open your own report, I'm sure some of the "site experienced" readers will be very glad to help you.
Mat
Stuart,Florida,
U.S.A.
Thanx Anna
#14Consumer Comment
Tue, August 01, 2006
Great letter. I filed it away. I did write a similar letter in my first response. I am now concerned since I found that Merchants Credit Guide has made an inquiry on my Experian report. I have filed a complaint with Experian, stating thatI have not done buisness with them and do not have any past debt. Experian is nvestigating the inquiry from MCGC.
So any advice on how to handle that, I'd be thankful.
Tom
Marquez,Texas,
U.S.A.
Great letter.
#14Consumer Suggestion
Tue, August 01, 2006
Great letter.Thanks for sharing it with us.If everyone delt with these guys as decisively as this,they would be out of business in about 2 seconds.
J
Anna,Texas,
U.S.A.
Hee's the letter
#14Author of original report
Tue, August 01, 2006
First, credit belongs to others on this site for this letter. Be sure to send it certified mail with return receipt requested. Put the certification number on the top of the letter. I hand wrote mine at the po.
Date
My name and address
Merchant's Credit Guide Co
223 W Jackson Blvd
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Merchant's Acct No.
Dear Ken Hughes,
This letter is in response to your letter dated (MMDDYYYY), copy enclosed, concerning the collection of the above referenced account.
I do not believe I owe what you say I owe; therefore, I dispute this debt. I am well aware of my rights under the Fair Dept Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and my state laws so I hope to save us both a great deal of time by letting you know that not only do I dispute the validity of this debt, I have checked with my State Attorney General and verified that the Statute of Limitations for enforcing this type of debt through the courts in Texas has expired. Therefore, should you decide to pursue this matter in court, I intend to inform the court of my dispute of this debt and that the "Statute of Limitations" has expired.
This letter is your formal notification that I consider this matter closed and demand that you, and anyone affiliated with your company, stop contacting me regarding this or any other matter except to advise me that your debt collection efforts are being terminated or that you or the creditor are taking specific actions allowed by the FDCPA or my state laws.
Be advised that I consider any contact not in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act a serious violation of the law and will immediately report any violations to my State Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission and, if necessary, take whatever legal action is necessary to protect myself. Be advised that I tape record all phone calls and violations of the FDCPA, including attempts to "reage" the debt. These violations can result in you, personally, and/or your company being fined up to $1000 PER incident.
Signature on Original
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Attach a copy of their letter next. Then, go to the Bud Hibbs site and locate his comments on Merchants Credit. It starts out with, "Rarely has one organization generated the number of complaints that this one has." I downloaded it and then printed it out. I also enclosed a copy of this to the letter.
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Good Luck to You
Mat
Stuart,Florida,
U.S.A.
Good for you
#14REBUTTAL Individual responds
Mon, July 31, 2006
Hi: Can you post the exact letter that you sent to the collection agency ? I just received my Experian Report and there has been an inquiry on it from a Merchants Credit Guide. I would like to know what you said exactly so that I can put this behind me too.
Thanks.
Mat, Stuart, FL
Mat
Stuart,Florida,
U.S.A.
Good for you
#14REBUTTAL Individual responds
Mon, July 31, 2006
Hi: Can you post the exact letter that you sent to the collection agency ? I just received my Experian Report and there has been an inquiry on it from a Merchants Credit Guide. I would like to know what you said exactly so that I can put this behind me too.
Thanks.
Mat, Stuart, FL
Mat
Stuart,Florida,
U.S.A.
Good for you
#14REBUTTAL Individual responds
Mon, July 31, 2006
Hi: Can you post the exact letter that you sent to the collection agency ? I just received my Experian Report and there has been an inquiry on it from a Merchants Credit Guide. I would like to know what you said exactly so that I can put this behind me too.
Thanks.
Mat, Stuart, FL
Mat
Stuart,Florida,
U.S.A.
Good for you
#14REBUTTAL Individual responds
Mon, July 31, 2006
Hi: Can you post the exact letter that you sent to the collection agency ? I just received my Experian Report and there has been an inquiry on it from a Merchants Credit Guide. I would like to know what you said exactly so that I can put this behind me too.
Thanks.
Mat, Stuart, FL
Tom
Marquez,Texas,
U.S.A.
Once they realize that someone will not put up with their B.S,they go away.
#14Consumer Suggestion
Sat, July 29, 2006
First,it sounds like you handled this pretty well.
Once they realize that someone will not put up with their B.S,they go away.
Since they have requested that this be deleted and they have not told you that they still think that you owe the money,they are probably gone for good.
Keep an eye on your credit report,just to be sure.
These guys are full of dirty tricks.If this comes up again you should start filing complaints with anyone you can.You could also sue them.
As they have given you an indication that they are dropping the matter,you have the right to assume it is dropped.
I also believe it would be illegal for them to try to continue this matter in any way.