Monterey Financial Accused of being a low life cheat Oceanside, California
Received call on 5/2/12 @ 7:20pm CT. Somehow the caller was able to interrupt a
current phone conversation I was having with my father. The caller never identified herself or the
company she was with (had to do a reverse look up). Caller accused me being a crook/low-life
because I have not made payment on a diabetic pump. Tried to explain that I had not received a
bill (cannot pay for something if you do not have an acct number or payment amt). I told her I had contacted Medtronics (pump provider) with regards to this issue and she stated they should have provided their number, I told her I had never received their number and was told by Medtronics that a statement would be faxed & mailed to an alternate address. (After speaking with Medtronics on 5/3/12 address was finally changed still awaiting a fax of my statement). Caller informed me that I needed to make a full payment of $300.00 or she would forward my account to collections. I told her that I did not have a full $300.00 but would be willing to make arrangements, she refused. Told me that I have had the pump since October, that I should have set money aside for this bill. Unfortunately, we live day to day and I again tried to explain that my bills are paid when a statement is received, unfortunately I cannot remember to pay bills when a statement is not provided. Caller again stated I was trying to get something for free. Conversation started to get volatile on both sides with both of us talking over each other, threats & very aggressive comments by the caller and me losing my temper with foul words
exchanged. I told her I would contact my attorney in the morning and she stated I needed to give her my attorneys information and she would contact him directly, REALLY???? Also, told her I would contact my doctors office in the morning to cancel everything with the pump and return (I know I would still be responsible to pay) she then informed me that there would be a 65% fee added to my account for canceling. Really? How is this legal? By the time I hung up on her I was so agitated that my insulin levels and blood pressure was extremely high.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
angryALconsumer
United States of AmericaUpdate
#3Author of original report
Thu, May 03, 2012
I have since spoken with my attorney with regards to the harassing phone call, the 65% fee, along with the issue of her breaking into a phone conversation, all which he stated is illegal . I have also spoken with a supervisor with Monterey. They did in fact have my address incorrect and confirmed that per Medtronics I have contacted them with regards to not receiving bill, per Medtronics it appears some paperwork was never fowarded properly which could have caused the initial problem. So with that being said- I will amend to say the supervisor was extremely helpful and seemed to understand my point of view with the supporting documentation of the initial account set up so the problem has since been taken care of.
With regards to th particular caller has per the supervisor had several complaints and has been sent back to training....whether this is true or not, I do not know or care.
With regards to the previous comment.....
Never said I was having financial problems only that I did not have the $300.00 at that time. Yes, I have the pump since October, but the first payment was not due for 90 days, when I did not receive the bill in January I called....and unfortunately with "LIFE" I forgot to follow up, so yea that is on me...which I am sure happens to EVERYONE.
Your right, the caller has probably heard "I will contact my attorney" from several consumers, but thankfully in my case it was correct since my attorney is a friend.
Again, if she would have been half way polite this whole episode would have been easy to remedy. But the threats we definitely not necessary.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Comments
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, May 03, 2012
I am not going to go into any "rudeness" or accusations that this company made, but you did make a few other very interesting comments.
I told her I had contacted Medtronics (pump provider) with regards to this issue and she stated they should have provided their number,
- You had this equipment since October, and apparently since you stated you have been talking to the company one could figure that you knew money was owed. So their point that you should have been putting money aside is a very valid one.
I told her I would contact my attorney in the morning and she stated I needed to give her my attorneys information and she would contact him directly, REALLY????
- The "I am going to contact may attorney" is probably in the top 10 of things people think they can say to get the other side to back down. But it doesn't really work that well when just seconds earlier you were basically claiming you couldn't pay on equipment that you have had for months.
So yes really, I bet she was basically calling you on what she thought was just a bluff. After all how can you pay an attorney if you are in such bad financial shape? However, if you wanted to prove that you did have one you should have given her the information. After all your attorney gets paid to handle things like this.
she then informed me that there would be a 65% fee added to my account for canceling. Really? How is this legal?
- Perhaps you should have your attorney review the agreement you signed. They are the best person to tell you if it is legal or not.