Complaint Review: Viking Collection Services

I agree that 52 sounds like a lot, but I've known people who get on the bad side of the less reputable collection agencies, like Viking, and they have words with one of the collectors who proceeds to harass them. How do you prove incoming calls if you don't let a machine record them? It's easy for someone to hit "redial" again and again.

Bottom feeder collection agencies trade off of the assumption that the average consumer doesn't know the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Bill collectors exist to fill a legitimate need -- getting people who have promised to pay to fulfill that promise or, if their circumstances have changed and they can't work out some sort of agreement. The problem is that, while it sounds find on paper, this type of work attracts a certain personality -- either a sociopath or a weak and insecure person who feels powerful because he or she is hiding behind the telephone.

Yes, this woman absolutely could sue for violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, but she would a) Have to be aware of her rights and b) Have hard evidence of the violations.

There already is a class action lawsuit against Viking for harassment and violations of the FDCP.

do you really believe that she got 52 calls in one day? if she did, she'd have the proof, which would mean she would have an attorney, which means her attorney would tell her to communicate nothing about the case until it is settled...

sorry, i don't buy it...

vindicated... don't threaten cease and desist.. just cease and desist... record the calls if they actually exist... suing a collection agency is easy if you have the proof... get it and do it...

This company is filled with some real pieces of work. For the life of me, I can't conceive of how some coward trying to intimidate from the safety of the phone and distance thinks that people are going to cooperate. We're having a similar problem with some wimp named Justin who leaves strict sounding messages like, "I need you to call me back TODAY." Even if it were a valid debt, which it isn't, I wouldn't return a phone call to this pantywaist.

Now, in case you haven't read the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the behavior of this Mary Hayes yo-yo is ILLEGAL. They cannot call you more than once in a 24-hour time frame, they cannot use abusive language over the phone, and she cannot disclose to a third-party the nature of the contact. If she has made threats against you or your family, depending on your local laws, she may be subject to arrest as an individual. Furthermore, 52 calls in one day is considered stalking in some statesm, so, again, possibly you can have her arrested. If she has made threats across the state line, it becomes a federal crime.

I notice the wimpoid nobodies at Viking don't have caller ID, so the first thing you should do is get anonymous call rejection. That way, they'll have to unblock their caller ID. Talk to the phone company about the fact that you're being harassed, and they'll keep records of incoming calls that you can give to the police. If at all possible, have this woman arrested for stalking and harassment.

At the very least, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You can do this on-line at www.ftc.gov. Be sure to document everything. Also, if you don't have a phone machine that gives you the date and time of a call, invest in one. That way you'll have a record of her calls. Make a copy of the tape to prove harassment.