Franklin Collection Services harassement, failure to comply to fdcpa, threats tupelo Mississippi
I was contacted on October 17th by David w/Franklin Collections regarding an outstanding medical bill. I explained that I would set up payment arrangements and would give him my debit card number for it to be automatically withdrawn from account, but i could not provide that information to him right then because the bank was issuing me another debit card. I further explained that it should be in that day's mail (which it was) and I would call him back with it. At this time he advised me that they will be taking further action including adding attorney's fees and legal charges to my account.
On October 20th I was contacted at work by another Franklin employee. I took a break, went outside and told set up payment arrangements of $20.00 per 2 weeks beginning on the 31st. He didn't even ask for my card number, he just told me how to pay on line. I asked him why David (the first collector) didnt give me that option and he stated that there were no notes on my account indicating that i had ever talked w/David.
Approximately 1 hour later David called at my work. I told him that arrangements have been set up and that he is doing nothing but harassing me and that he had no reason to call me at my work when i just finished setting up payment arrangements. He said he didnt know what i was talking about but that those arrangements are not acceptable and that I had to pay in no more than 2 payments to avoid further collection activity. I asked for a manager.
A "Mr. Reese" picked up the phone who tried to say that i was not cooperating with them, but i explained that I had patients waiting for me and that I had just set up payment arrangements with someone else. I further explained that I had to take a break in order to do that and that they cannot continue to call me repeatedly at work. Furthermore, the entire conversation I had earlier was wasted time because they are now saying that it is not acceptable and this clearly falls within the definition of harassement according to the FDCPA guidelines. He said he will pull the tape and will call me back.
I have still not heard from Mr. Reese regarding that tape. I did call back after I got off, but they said he was already gone. I have still not heard from him today.