Associated Credit Services For Wells Fargo Financial Rude, Unprofessional and harassing, even after payment has been set up Hopkinton Massachusetts
I had a personal loan with Wells Fargo Financial that unfortunately went to collection. It was only for $1200, but they demanded it all at once after I missed 2 payments, and I couldnt do that.
A few weeks later I got a call from Mike Johnson (probably a bogus name) from ACS. He told me that my account with Wells Fargo had been turned over to them for collection. He asked for my bank routing and account number to "get this resolved painlessly" with 1 payment. I told him that I couldnt do that. He then said that $100 would show my intent to resolve this, which would help him convince his boss to "work with me" on the rest. He was insistent about getting the routing and account numbers. I am no fool.
I told Mike that I was working on a personal loan and would probably have the funds by the end of the month (2 1/2 weeks away). I told Mike I would call him back then and that was the best I could do. He continued to needle me about setting the payment up, but then backed off when I point blankly told him the way it was.
Two days later, Mike began calling me at work. I was out of town and out of the office for 6 days. My secretary told him that. He called me the next 3 consecutive days at work, leaving messages, knowing I was not in the office. Upon my return I called him and asked him what he needed. Mike said he was just "checking in" with me to see how I was coming on the personal loan. I again told him I would call him back at the end of the month. The calls stopped for a few days, then the multiple per day, calls, began at home. I ignored him.
The next week, we were out of town for the weekend visiting friends. My parents showed up. It was over an hour away. They had gotten a call from Mike Johnson, telling them that he "had to speak with me by 8pm regarding a personal business matter, and that it was extremely urgent." I am 40, married w/kids, and havent lived with my parents in over 20 years. They are in their 70's. Johnson put such a urgency in his tone, he scared them and they drove to find us. I called him before 8pm, and he was not in.
The next morning I called and a person answered Mike's phone, saying he was Steve Nimsk (another bogus name I'm sure) and was Mike's supervisor. He said Mike was out to lunch. I explained my anger to Steve, who listened, but defended Mike. He said that they had done an "asset investigation" on me, that led them to my parents. Johnson had my work number, home number, and knew my address. He only contacted my parents in an attempt to harass me. Nimsk assured me he would talk with Johnson when he returned from lunch. I also told Nimsk that I was scheduled to get the funds on the 29th of the month (within a few days) and would mail them a money order. I did not want them having my bank information. I told Nimsk that I did not want any more contacts by Johnson or ACS. He assured me there would be no more contacts as long as they got the money the next week.
The next morning, a Saturday, my phone rang at 705 am. It woke my family up. It was Johnson. I told him what time it was, and he got silent, and said he forgot he was calling a different time zone. I asked him what he wanted. Johnson told me that he was off the prior day (Nimsk told me he was out to lunch and was going to talk to him about his treatment of me) and when he logged into his computer today, he saw I made an agreement to pay. Johnson said he was calling to confirm the payment. I ended the call abruptly.
I called back and dialed Nimsk's extension. I got a female sho said he doesnt work weekends. I told her that I wished to complain AGAIN about Johnson's conduct and that he called me today at 705 am, when Nimsk told me there would be no more calls. The female asked me some questions and told me she entered it into the computer, that Nimsk will get the information next time he logs in. I further told her to notate for him to call me, so he could explain what happened. Believe it or not, that call never came.
This company doesnt care how they treat people and lied to me. Johnson knew I was out of the office and continued to call. He called my parents and alarmed them. How he can sleep at night I dont know.
Andy
Wallace, Minnesota
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Don
Belleville,Illinois,
U.S.A.
FDCPA Violations
#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, November 19, 2007
Let me start by saying I am a collector. First a question. When they called you, did they say they were calling for ACS, or Wells Fargo? If they said they are Wells Fargo, the FDCPA does not apply to them.
First, the obvious violation. Calling you at 7:05 am. The FDCPA allows for calls to be made between the hours of 8 am to 9 pm in the consumers time zone. Anything outside of that range without the permission of the consumer is a violation.
Second, the message left with your parents. IT was not illegal of them to call your parents, at least till they implied it was an emergency or urgent.
Those are the obvious violations. It was not illegal of them to call your work when someone told them you were gone for the week. From a collector point of view, many people lie. Just becuase they were told you were out of town, does not mean they believed you were out of town.
And your headline was incorrect, at least coming from a collector. He did not continue to call you after you set up the payment. You said that the money would be coming in at the end of the month. There is a difference between having a secure payment, and having a promise to pay. It comes back to whether all people tell the truth in their dealings. You say you will send a money order, but without a secure payment (for example a check over the phone or credit card), there is no committment on your end. Some collectors will take these options, most of the good collectors will not though.