Complaint Review: MRS Associates

In answer to your question, no I am not a lawyer. I worked for several years in various aspects of the financial/credit world. And I have studied extensively to represent myself against several lawsuits by collectors, all successful I might add.

I was also active in politics in NV for several years and have actually created legislation in the commercial transportation industry, and was also a labor advocate and union organizer for the Teamsters.

Needless to say, I have spent alot of time in court! I guess it paid off! I'm glad my efforts have helped someone else.

steve
that's some good advice. what is it you do? are you a lawyer or something like that. that's really all i was going to say.
that has to be the best advice i have read on this board.
kudos to steve!!!!

Dear Steven,
Yes, I did get a letter about settlement. After payment ( registered mail with return reciept the only way to make sure it was received)I got a letter stating the debt is paid. Thanks for the information.

Fathiyyah - Burlington, New Jersey,

Responsibility goes BOTH ways. When unsecured lenders start practicing RESPONSIBLE lending, I would agree with you. Until then, I laugh until my sides hurt every time I see someone else do to them what I did. They need education, and hurting them in the pocketbook is the only way to do it.

Extending credit to someone in financial trouble is like dangling food in front of a starving homeless person or drugs in front of a drug addict. Of course they will take it and use it. By human nature we take the path of least resistance, or the easy way out.

I had spotless credit for 14 years and a 735 credit score, however I also had no means of income for 8 months due to an injury. Guess what? Based on my credit score only, I wqas getting unsolicited credit cards with a starting limit of $10k, etc.

These "lenders" want to push the debtor to thier limits. In 14 years of excellent credit, I NEVER had even 1 lender do a means test on me, or verify my income or ability to pay. My DTI ratio was about 95%!! They had no idea.

Responsibility STARTS with the lender. They CHOOSE to give UNSECURED credit to people they should not give it to, therefore they deserve whatever happens for being irresponsible, arrogant and greedy.

I hope you got that "settlement" offer in writing BEFORE making your payment. If you didn't, this is FAR from over. Here's why.

By making that "settlement" you made a payment that restarted the SOL for collections enforcement, and you re-affirmed the debt.

You are no marked as an easy mark, and they WILL come after you for the rest. You can bet on the fact they will come after you for the other half, or they will sell it to another JUNK DEBT BUYER that will.

NEVER pay a third party collector, and NEVER speak to ANY collector on the phone. Doing either of these things will almost always cost you money.

It is NOT over. Guaranteed.

Apparently you didn't like or read the NY Times article, as for my debt. I still think debt collectors are scum of the earth, my personal opinion. And if you read my second post I wrote END OF DISCUSSION. I settled with the company by paying half of what is owed. Please DROP THE SUBJECT!!!!!!!! THIS IS MY LAST REPSONSE TO THIS TOPIC,

first of all, i would like to say,that i am a debt collector. I deal with all types of peole, and a debtors credit report tells you alot about a consumer. I try to educate people on their debt, because most carrer debtors dont read their contracts,especially with auto deficiency. I find that alot of people get upset with us because of their bad decisions.

Stop blaming the debt collector and take responsiblity for what youve done, You have used the goods and services of the credit card, chrged it up, let it charge off, and expect to walk away, thats flat out stealing. And the government needs to statr making debtors responsible and making career debtors be held criminally responsible for their actions,just as if you walked into the bank and robbed it. Thats a federal crime. So should credit card debt. This would stop people form signing on the bottom line line and think b4 you swipe

I may have misquoted some laws, BUT it doesn't stop collection agencies to have VERY nasty tone of voice and nasty underhanded illegal tactics. whether i owe or not, (I do) And i can't give money to you I don't have. I enjoyed this article and it brings to light all the illegal underhanded tactics,some collection agencies do. I did not write the article nor quoting it.

read Wedensday July 5, 2006 New York Times article on Debt collectors, it made front page news. www.nytimes.com so you can read it at your leisure, have a nice day. And for me this discussion and report is ended, For me time to move on...

Steve is right. The collector gets your neighbours information from phone directories. When they call there, they can not tell the neighbour about the debt, but are legally allowed to ask for your contact information. Just like if you were trying to get your ex-girlfriends phone number. You can call and ask for a number.

Yes, it is more than possible for 6 different agents to call. In my office, we are given a large group of accounts (not sure how big it is). They are put on a dialer (unless state law prohibits this), which calls numbers. Any available agent could have the call. Yes, an agent can request the file for their personal "chain".

Fianlly, it is not paid by commission only. Most of it is paid hourly. However, if an agent achieves their monthly goal, they may receive commission on top anything else they collect. At least that is how it works in my office.

Eris,

First, STAY OFF THE PHONE!! NEVER speak to any debt collector! Always demand it in writing. You can do this with a CEASE COMMUNICATION request as per your rights under the FDCPA.

Talking to them could re-validate the debt that may be past the legal SOL for collections.

They get your neighbors address from a reverse directory. Public records. Not illegal.

There is no requirement that they can only contact someone on your credit application, stc..
They can contact anyone to get your whereabouts, legally.

There is no magic $5000 rule that allows them to harass you. $1 is the same as $1million under the FDCPA.

Go to the FTC website and read and print out the FDCPA, as you really should study it so you have accurate information about your rights. FDCPA is Federal law which is the basis for all state laws. State laws can only exceed the protection of Fed law.

And as far as the commission only job, as an EMPLOYEE, that is illegal. An EMPLOYEE nust get at least minimum wage if they control your time and/or activities in any way. This is an illegal operation.

Knowledge is power, but you should not quote laws that do not exist.