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UCB - United Collections Bureau Nightmare, Cruel, Heartless, Bloodsuckers, No Consideration, Rude, Nasty, Liars, Unethical, Immoral, Shameless, Think they are like gods, Must be stopped! Ripoff Toledo Ohio
My ex husband and I were barely living in a bad neighboorhood, and were not really even getting by. We had our first son by then, he was a baby, and he'd just lost his job. UCB started harrassing us about this bill, I'd tried to make payments on it here and there when I could, but never was able to do maybe more than $25-50 at a time. We were STRUGGLING. Living on $60 a wk in groceries, if LUCKY. (That included diapers, formula, etc).
I had actually managed to land a GREAT job at my Dad's job (JEEP!). We felt so blessed, life had actually started to turn around, I was working all hours, and we were starting to catch up. Then it happened...I got pregnant, and because of my condition while pregnant, I had to quit Jeep. That really crushed us. But, it was the job or the kid. (Sorry, no option there for me).
Well, like I said, I had tried to make payments as I could. UCB had taken a check we'd sent, and turned it over to Alexandria Vaneck, their attorney. In turn, they took this to a judge, without notifying us, and won a judgement against us. They sucked our bank account dry. All we had in there was RENT. They took it all.
Checks bounced, we asked the bank what was going on, THEY didn't even know. They told us there was a debit from our account to a company, but they couldn't tell which one. Great, now we couldn't pay rent....had a baby on the way, one still in diapers, and our money just 'disappeared'. Then, two weeks later, we got a 'judgement' in the mail. 2 WEEKS LATER! (By then, the bank had already gotten back to us).
We HAD explained our situation with them, I wrote them letters...each time I was met with cruel words, telling me things like, "Oh, you can't even take care of your first son, and you're having another one??" Who the hell would say something like that to another person? I hope that person reads this, and knows what damage they did to our family. I hope that maybe that jerk has a family himself, and has struggled to survive, starving HIMself, so HIS kids can eat. Or the other one I heard: "Ma'am, women are pregnant everyday, and THEY work to pay their bills". I'd like to give her a real good slap in the face. I have a real rough time carrying kids, I just can't keep 'em. My two boys are REAL miracles, my youngest managed to hang on, just barely, but he did (I knew he could make it, that's why I quit Jeep). They were starving a family, and only cared about their money.
Since that happened, a whole other chain of events set off, we had NO money to be able to deal with anything, tried to catch up as quick as we could, but just couldn't do it. It was a real blow. We eventually became homeless....living at his parents' house. Everything just broke our family apart.
Just today, I got a call from them. My heart still drops when I hear a UCB collector on the phone. Mind you, I went through all that YEARS ago, but they wonder why people don't answer the phone. Change your damned attitude, it might work wonders. Again, life hasn't been a bowl of cherries. But I've tried. When you have NO job (company closed), you have NO money, and when you DO get another job, you have to catch up the utilities and rent first and foremost....that is a no brainer. That is survival. Tell this to them. They will tell you there's no excuse, that it's your fault for not having the education to have a better job, that would pay you more, so you CAN pay your bills, oh yes, they go THERE.
And people wonder why this world is so rotten? It's when people act like that toward eachother, and say that nonsensical crap. Walk a mile in another man's moccasins before you judge, jerk.
For the record, I used to be a collector myself. I never ONCE acted like that to anyone, kill em w/kindness, even the jerks, lol. (After talking with some of the 'jerks', they ended up just being regular joes like me, struggling, thinking we were going to be like UCB...kid you not). There ARE agencies out there that will work w/you, UCB is just not one of them. We had people sending us Christmas cards for crying out loud, and we were bringing in the payments real good. There are different strategies to use. But UCB is just the bully of collection agencies...it's agencies like that that give collection agencies a bad face.
If you have NEVER struggled, if you've always had a silver spoon, if you're still living at Mommy and Daddy's only concerned about your personal bills, then it might be hard to see the other side of the coin, so to speak. If someone tells you to say these things to another person, and they threaten to fire you....can't you see the horns on their head?? It should be plain as day. No amount of money is worth MY soul, and you can take THAT to the bank. I know I was raised better than that, and I will not make someone cry, or worry, or break a damned family apart, because I need a paycheck. There are other jobs out there.
Well, I guess I'll get off my soapbox now. I'm pretty sure they are going to go after me with full guns again...I owe from school. When I left my ex, I tried to go back to school, but when Mom ain't home, it shows. I was working full time, and going to school 4 days out of the week, so the kids barely saw me. Let's just say, I choked on the $2500 bill, sucked it up, and quit school to be a Mom. I still have to work, but I have really seen the difference. I will not put my own career before my children.
I am not a bill dodger...I do not speak with that company, however. I will speak w/any other one, but not that one. I really hope they do not find out where I'm working, because they do garnish your checks...which I think is just sick. What gives a COMPANY the right to rape your checks? That is just hogwash. That shows that things have gotten out of hand. How are you going to be able to pay your bills/rent/get food/live if you have some company that talks to you like that, taking your hard earned money from you and your kids. How can you get to work, if you have no $$ to put gas in your car? Or buy insurance? Then lose your job, and STILL not be able to pay?? Oh yeah, THERE'S logic for you. They make people homeless, then just get mad, cause they can't DO any more to them then.
If anyone is reading this, and dealing w/UCB too...good luck, my friend. I sincerely mean that.
Kristi
Toledo, Ohio
U.S.A.
11 Updates & Rebuttals
Rick
Ft Lauderdale,Florida,
U.S.A.
Not a teacher...just educated!
#12Consumer Suggestion
Mon, September 25, 2006
Hi Steve,
I enjoy your professionalism during this experience. With that being said, I am saddened to hear that I am not teaching you anything. At the very least I thought I was showing you, and others interested, the other side to the collections business. The non-debt buying side. Reputable agencies representing some of the world's largest banks.
I should take a minute away from our conversation to clarify something. Although my name is Richard, and I go by Rick normally, I am not the same person who has written several pieces on this same site. After my last post I read more on this site and realized the other Rick was someone I did not want to be confused with. Enough said.
To rebut your first paragraph, what you are referring to is a change in terms to the consumer agreement you had originally signed up for. There are two ways this can happen. #1. At anytime a bank may decide to change your terms without you defaulting in anyway. However, once the change has been made you will be notified and offered an option out which will close your account and lock in your original terms and conditions. As long as you do not default once you opt out than you have as long as you want to pay the card off at the original terms. #2. A creditor may change your agreement, without notification, to the default terms if:
a. You are past due greater than 30 days.
b. You are over the credit limit via purchases OR accrued interest, which was not satisfied, prior to your new billing cycle. **Remember OL and PD fees are considered charges and are applied to your principle balance. These fees WILL put you over the limit and in default. There is no grace period to pay these charges as there is with the interest.
c.Behind with any other creditor showing on your credit bureau.
There is no opt out offer made to a consumer in the event of a default as outlined above. This is normally where the problems begin. Accounts in default are expensive. Interest can increase, depending on state law, up to 32%+. A request is made that the balance in full be satisfied immediately. Refusing to do so can result in a judgment being pursued to ensure the account is satisfied one way or another.
That is where collections and purchased debt differ so very much. Remember, your beef is with those companies that buy debt aged greater than the state specific SOL. This debt is legal to collect on however, once the SOL has ran out the debtor has no real legal obligation to pay. That is where the threats and other tactics come into play. These companies have no ground to stand on so they make it up. They hope the uneducated consumer will pay without arming himself with the knowledge needed to fight these guys.
Again, I truly do believe that every consumer has a responsibility, both legally and morally, to satisfy any debt that they may have. If they so happen to fall into that 1-2% of consumers who find themselves in a TRUE hardship then the debt should be erased after a sufficient investigation and proof said hardship has been provided. This is what is normally considered acceptable loss. An inability to pay due to unforeseen, unintentional and often catastrophic reasons.
Debt buying is a business. Whether I agree with you on the terms of this business is irrelevant. I do not see all debt buyers as parasites. I think, just as with any type of business, there are extremist willing to do anything, including break the law, to feed their greed. Governing bodies cracking down on the offenders will fix that problem. We all just have to remember one important thing
We charged the debt at the terms we signed up for. If they change due to no fault of my own I can opt out and pay the card at its original terms. If they change due to my own negligence the repercussions are severe and swift. At the end of the day, I OWE THIS DEBT. If I am not the 1-2% of consumers in a catastrophic situation, I OWE THIS DEBT. 1 year, 3 years, 13 years later, I OWE THIS DEBT. MORALLY I OWE THIS DEBT.
Imagine a world of stand up people utilizing billions of dollars in credit lines and faithfully paying as agreed. It is 95 out of every 100 people. I feel proud to say that.
95 out of every 100 people. They get it. They understand the credit world. Good or bad, they get it. Not all collectors are bad peopleonly in the opinion of the other 5.
In case there are those that cannot read between the lines, I am pro-credit. It plays a very important role every day. Without credit our lives would never have been the samethis world was built on credit and the 95 out of 100 stand up people who use it correctly and responsibly.
Talk with you soon Steve. Thanks for the feedback!
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Rick, I suggest you read some of my prior posts
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sat, September 23, 2006
Rick,
Please don't think for a minute you are teaching me anything new. AND, I purposely walked away from these debts AFTER being royally screwed by most of them for no reason. I was a perfect customer for 14 years with a 735 credit score and the intent and ability to pay. Several banks sharply raised, even more than doubled my rates for no other reason than greed. I tried fixing the problem. They gave me a "take it or leave it" attitude. I took that as 2 choices, so I left it.
Greed and arrogance is a bad combination. They feel they do not have to be accountable to the debtor, and the debtor just has to accept anything they throw at them. I proved that this is not the case. I beat them at thier own game.
I fully understand what a charge off is and what it means. I did not need an explanation from you. However, a charged off debt, and a SOLD debt are 2 VERY different situations.
You see, once that charged off debt is SOLD, and the tax deduction is taken for the loss, it is no longer a DEBT. It is an INVESTMENT. That debt buyer must now be able to prove that they have the legal right to collect it, and some very interesting case law is being developed on this, and I helped make some of it.
And, I have successfully beaten every collector and attorney that has come after me over the past
When someone knowingly and willingly purchases an old charged off bad debt for pennies or less on the dollar, they have made an INVESTMENT. They are NOT creditors, they never extended credit, therefore that debtor has no real obligation to them. This is like your stock broker selling you a stock, and it crashes, so you sue your stockbroker for your loss on your INVESTMENT.
Furthermore, in most states you can only sue for what you actually lost, which is the pennies on the dollar you actually paid for it, if that.
You wrote:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What happens to accounts at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 days of delinquency? Then comes charge off at 180 (150 days with some lending institutions). Federal law stipulates that a debt must charge off at a specified date. This does not mean the debt goes away.[See above] It simply means that the institution can no longer claim the account as revenue. Collections does not cease. In fact, it escalates because the debt now is at a higher risk of non-payment. At this point companies will forward for possible legal work up and seek judgment. I love when I see people post that they cannot/will not be sued over failure to pay a debt. * The rest are professional debtors getting one over on the financial lenders that have built this country. Sure, when a collector has to explain that their client has the absolute right to pursue them legally it can be taken as an aggressive "tactic". Truth is perception is reality. *An educated consumer would pull out his consumer agreement (1 is received with every new credit line) and read every detail. If they default the repercussions are severe. Default terms include: loss of credit line, increased interest, loss of other accounts with same creditor, request the balance be paid immediately, and the creditors must final of answers to collect the debt.... a judgment including the court cost and lawyer fees. Steve, this is not a jab at you but why is it you ran [Ran? No, I calmly walked away, and stayed gone throughout the SOL period] from your debt as posted above? Taking a cash job to avoid paying and waiting for the SOL to run out and more importantly, LAUGH ABOUT IT? Does that not show a lack of integrity when one would openly refuse to pay a debt, especially for so long, that one rightfully owes?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A charged off bad debt that is SOLD to a JUNK DEBT BUYER is no longer a debt. It is an INVESTMENT, and for the jackoffs that bought my old debt, they found out it was a VERY BAD investment! Debt buyers are parasites, and are entitled to nothing. If they don't want to lose money, they should not gamble on buying bad debts. No one forced them to buy these old charged off debts. They did it out of greed. Pure greed, and nothing else.
I owe them NOTHING.
Rick
Ft Lauderdale,Florida,
U.S.A.
Hi Steve. Debt buying VS. Outsourcing
#12Consumer Comment
Thu, September 21, 2006
Steve - Your comments are great for those debtors of purchased debt. Debt buying is in fact a billion dollars business however; most of the larger agencies are not debt buyers. Most are vendors that have business outsourced to their agency for collection work. They have not bought, cannot buy, nor wish to engage in that form of collections. Most large lending institutions will not sell the debt until the SOL has ran out.
What happens to accounts at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 days of delinquency? Then comes charge off at 180 (150 days with some lending institutions). Federal law stipulates that a debt must charge off at a specified date. This does not mean the debt goes away. It simply means that the institution can no longer claim the account as revenue. Collections does not cease. In fact, it escalates because the debt now is at a higher risk of non-payment. At this point companies will forward for possible legal work up and seek judgment. I love when I see people post that they cannot/will not be sued over failure to pay a debt.
People have problems and this is true. Fact of the matter is less than 5% of a banks credit card portfolio falls into collections longer than 30 days. LESS THAN 5% and we are talking 100's of billions of dollars...again LESS THAN 5%. The fact of the matter is simple; of that 5%, 1-2% are legitimate hardships. The rest are professional debtors getting one over on the financial lenders that have built this country. Sure, when a collector has to explain that their client has the absolute right to pursue them legally it can be taken as an aggressive "tactic". Truth is perception is reality.
An educated consumer would pull out his consumer agreement (1 is received with every new credit line) and read every detail. If they default the repercussions are severe. Default terms include: loss of credit line, increased interest, loss of other accounts with same creditor, request the balance be paid immediately, and the creditors must final of answers to collect the debt.... a judgment including the court cost and lawyer fees. Steve, this is not a jab at you but why is it you ran from your debt as posted above? Taking a cash job to avoid paying and waiting for the SOL to run out and more importantly, LAUGH ABOUT IT? Does that not show a lack of integrity when one would openly refuse to pay a debt, especially for so long, that one rightfully owes?
Again, I do not want to make this a jab fest rather offer a professional look at the collection world. What you did Steve would be considered the 3% of the population in collections...professionally. We offer a service that most would not like to touch. Spend tedious hours skip tracing people intentionally hiding. Listen to their insults. Offer solutions conducive to their individual situation only to have the promise to pay broken and the consumer to once again disappear. Why disappear???? Maybe to wait for the SOL to run outthere's a thought.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Lori...You are missing the point...Please read carefully..
#12Consumer Suggestion
Tue, September 19, 2006
Lori,
First, I really would like to ask you to not use all caps. It is considered rude, and is VERY HARD TO READ.
Second, the advice given to people being hounded by collectors is GOOD ADVICE and is given for very good reasons. Let me explain..
MOST debts being collected by THIRD PARTY COLLECTORS are those of JUNK DEBT BUYERS, and cannot be documented, or legally collected due to being past the legal STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. These debts are purchased in large portfolios for less than a penny on the dollar.
The original creditor has written it off as a loss, sold it, AND taken the tax deduction on taxes for the loss! It is NO LONGER A DEBT. It is now nothing more than a BAD INVESTMENT.
The reason for the advice being given to "debtors" to NEVER speak to ANY collector on the phone, is that collectors use tricks to collect debts that they are not legally or morally entitled to. They coerce unsuspecting people to re-affirm a debt that may not have been collectable.
Think about it. WHY do you need to speak to a "debtor" on the phone? It is so you can get information you currently do not have, or to trick them into re-affirming an uncollectable debt. IF you have a valid claim, why not just send 1 notice, and then file a lawsuit? I can answer that question. It is because that debt cannot be documented to win in court as it is LEGALLY UNCOLLECTABLE!!
There is no reason to ever speak to any debt collector on the phone. Doing so will NEVER do anything positive for the "debtor" and will almost always make the situation worse.
Just because you have some fragments of an account in front of you does not mean that the debt is legally owed, or that you even have the right person! The entire burden of proof is on YOU, NOT the "debtor".
A CEASE COMMUNICATIONS request should be made immediately upon first contact by any third party debt collector. This weeds out the frivolous collections efforts and documents the activity so you can sue, and if needed, prosecute the offending collector.
Lori, if you cannot understand this, you really need to find a new job.
Lori
OMAHA,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
NOT ALL COLLECTION AGENCIES ARE THE SAME
#12Consumer Comment
Tue, September 19, 2006
I UNDERSTAND YOUR HOW HURT YOU MUST FELT, BUT WHAT I DONT UNDERSTAND IS ALL THE POEPLE WHO RIGHT OFF THE BAT JUST SAY " NEVER TALK OR SEND MONEY TO A COLLECTION AGENCY" OK I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE HAS SOME PROBLEMS NOW AND AGAIN BUT THAT DONT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO JUST IGNORE YOUR BILLS. NOT ALL COLLECTORS ARE RUDE. I WORK FOR A COLLECTION AGENCY I LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT THAT STILL DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO TREAT US COLLECTORS LIKE THAT. WE ARE WORKING TO PAY OUR BILLS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THIS JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE ALL I KNOW. SO JUST BECAUSE ONE COLLECTOR WAS RUDE DOESENT MEAN WE ALL ARE.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Thanks Deanna...and..FYI..Iused to live in Las Vegas!
#12Consumer Comment
Mon, September 18, 2006
Deanna,
Thanks for the compliment. I have made it my mission to destroy debt collectors and debt buyers.
I was in the mortgage business while I lived in Las Vegas, and was also active in the transportation industry, and in politics in that industry too. I drove a cab for several years while dodging creditors, and working for daily cash! It's so much fun watching them try to get a judgement and a garnishment!
After that I started a trucking company with a partner and then a few years later closed that biz and went to FL to care for my Mother and Grandmother.
All but 1 debt has passed SOL. That one is AMEX and they actually bought the debt back! After 2.5 years in collections! No collection agency will touch it as I have blown away so many collectors on it, it is like a 12 agency debt!
So much fun beating these morons.
Deana
Las Vegas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Steve is someone whose advice is good to take and use.....
#12Consumer Comment
Mon, September 18, 2006
Read carefully what Steve says....try to follow his advice and you will see that his suggestions work more often than not.
I wish I lived near Steve, I would let him guide me every step of the way regarding straightening out my financial situation. Bet ya that given a little time, and putting out the necessary effort it takes to follow his suggestions, a brand new financial portfolio would be a thing to proudly display....
Trust me, I have read everything I can find that he posts....He is not blowing smoke up your nethers...I have checked out the suggestions he offers and I have yet to find him wrong.
By the way, if he reads this, no Steve I am not stalking you! LOL....just looking to clean up the results of my ignorance from a few years back, compounded by some unfortunate circumstances....when I get this mess of mine cleaned up, I will not allow myself to ignore the fact that the future always becomes the past ever again! A hard lesson was learned I can tell you!
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Advice for Kristi...re: paying debt collectors like UCB
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sun, September 17, 2006
Kristi,
I'm sorry to hear what happened to you, but it is all too common.
This is exactly why you NEVER speak to any debt collector on the phone! It will never do anything positive for you, and will ALWAYS make things worse for you.
And, NEVER pay any debt collector. When you made a payment to them, you re-affirmed the debt that might not have otherwise been collectable. Always ignore them and make them sue you. Then the burden of proof is on them, and in most cases they cannot document the debt and it gets dismissed.
Now, you need to get every piece of paper available that they used to get your money. It is almost guaranteed that they falsified documents and/or served an old address of yours which is illegal. You have recourse, and you can get criminal charges filed on them for filing false documents with the court, and you can get your money back, plus damages.
Get a lawyer ASAP, even if it is legal aid. Go to the NACA for a referral.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Advice for Kristi...re: paying debt collectors like UCB
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sun, September 17, 2006
Kristi,
I'm sorry to hear what happened to you, but it is all too common.
This is exactly why you NEVER speak to any debt collector on the phone! It will never do anything positive for you, and will ALWAYS make things worse for you.
And, NEVER pay any debt collector. When you made a payment to them, you re-affirmed the debt that might not have otherwise been collectable. Always ignore them and make them sue you. Then the burden of proof is on them, and in most cases they cannot document the debt and it gets dismissed.
Now, you need to get every piece of paper available that they used to get your money. It is almost guaranteed that they falsified documents and/or served an old address of yours which is illegal. You have recourse, and you can get criminal charges filed on them for filing false documents with the court, and you can get your money back, plus damages.
Get a lawyer ASAP, even if it is legal aid. Go to the NACA for a referral.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Advice for Kristi...re: paying debt collectors like UCB
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sun, September 17, 2006
Kristi,
I'm sorry to hear what happened to you, but it is all too common.
This is exactly why you NEVER speak to any debt collector on the phone! It will never do anything positive for you, and will ALWAYS make things worse for you.
And, NEVER pay any debt collector. When you made a payment to them, you re-affirmed the debt that might not have otherwise been collectable. Always ignore them and make them sue you. Then the burden of proof is on them, and in most cases they cannot document the debt and it gets dismissed.
Now, you need to get every piece of paper available that they used to get your money. It is almost guaranteed that they falsified documents and/or served an old address of yours which is illegal. You have recourse, and you can get criminal charges filed on them for filing false documents with the court, and you can get your money back, plus damages.
Get a lawyer ASAP, even if it is legal aid. Go to the NACA for a referral.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Advice for Kristi...re: paying debt collectors like UCB
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sun, September 17, 2006
Kristi,
I'm sorry to hear what happened to you, but it is all too common.
This is exactly why you NEVER speak to any debt collector on the phone! It will never do anything positive for you, and will ALWAYS make things worse for you.
And, NEVER pay any debt collector. When you made a payment to them, you re-affirmed the debt that might not have otherwise been collectable. Always ignore them and make them sue you. Then the burden of proof is on them, and in most cases they cannot document the debt and it gets dismissed.
Now, you need to get every piece of paper available that they used to get your money. It is almost guaranteed that they falsified documents and/or served an old address of yours which is illegal. You have recourse, and you can get criminal charges filed on them for filing false documents with the court, and you can get your money back, plus damages.
Get a lawyer ASAP, even if it is legal aid. Go to the NACA for a referral.