- Report: #355438
Complaint Review: Palisades Collections - Bethlehem Pennsylvania
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Palisades Collections
87 South Commerce Way, Suite 70 Bethlehem, 18017 Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
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Palisades Collections WELL, THEY GOT ME! Bethlehem Pennsylvania
So, I was finally able to track down the collection agency of the company that was handling an old credit card debt. Admittedly, I owed $2,500 and was perfectly willing to pay it off. Unfortunately for me, the collection agency was Palisades. Now when I initially called they were willing to accept my $2,500 payment. However, when they found out that making payment was a requirement before I could purchase a house, they immediately demanded that I pay them $4,190 (they tacked on interest and some bogus legal fees.)
Okay, I grumbled about this but was still willing to pay just to get the cockadoodie thing off my credit report. Well, because my account was handled by another agency before Palisades purchased it, my bank insisted that I had to make payment to both companies even though it was for the same credit card debt. When the company that had my account before Palisade received the double payment, they forwarded it on to Palisades instead of sending it back to me. Now Palisades has $8,380 of my money for a debt that originally started off as $2,500. AND THEY REFUSE TO SEND THE OVERPAYMENT BACK TO ME!!!!!
What justification do they have to keep money that is above and beyond the amount they said I owe?????? All I am getting is a combination of the run around and agents with nasty attitudes. Surely, this is grounds for a lawsuit! I'm not going to take this sitting down. I have read numerous complaints against this company on this site and some others. These guys are nothing but a bunch of rip off artists with no scruples or regard for people who are honestly trying to clear up their credit records.
Gamma
Manassas, Virginia
U.S.A.
Okay, I grumbled about this but was still willing to pay just to get the cockadoodie thing off my credit report. Well, because my account was handled by another agency before Palisades purchased it, my bank insisted that I had to make payment to both companies even though it was for the same credit card debt. When the company that had my account before Palisade received the double payment, they forwarded it on to Palisades instead of sending it back to me. Now Palisades has $8,380 of my money for a debt that originally started off as $2,500. AND THEY REFUSE TO SEND THE OVERPAYMENT BACK TO ME!!!!!
What justification do they have to keep money that is above and beyond the amount they said I owe?????? All I am getting is a combination of the run around and agents with nasty attitudes. Surely, this is grounds for a lawsuit! I'm not going to take this sitting down. I have read numerous complaints against this company on this site and some others. These guys are nothing but a bunch of rip off artists with no scruples or regard for people who are honestly trying to clear up their credit records.
Gamma
Manassas, Virginia
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
John
Louisville,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
RE:
#2Consumer Comment
Fri, July 25, 2008
I would start with the following: Send them a letter via Certified Mail + Return Receipt stating: Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I am requesting written validation of the charges and interest above the initial $2,500 that you have received payment for this account. You firm has accepted payments of over $8,000....over $5,500 beyond the $2,500 amount your firm put on my credit report a few months ago as the official amount that I owe. Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, please give a detailed statement/summary of the interest/charges accrued on this account that would account for the additional $5,500 amount in such a short amount of time. ====================== You should contact an attorney to help you with the rest...
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
"Gamma" you have many misunderstandings on how things work.
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, July 25, 2008
"Gamma", First, your loan officer/mortgage broker was laying down on the job. I was in the mortgage business and in most cases I could get a "lender exception" on most OLD bad debts. There is no firm requirement to pay off all negatives prior to getting a mortgage. Second, paying off an old collection account DOES NOT "get it off" your credit report. In reality, you hurt your credit score more by paying it than just letting it go. Third, NEVER call or speak to any third party debt collector on the phone! NEVER do this!! It will never produce positive results for you, and will usually make things worse as you have found out. You should have just disputed it, and during the dispute the item would have been removed from your report. Then you get your mortgage during this time! Did you ever consider that the debt may not have been legally collectable anyway? It was most likely past the statute of limitations. And, it is not likely that a $2500 debt could become $4190. They cannot legally add any collections fees. The only thing they can collect is the original amount, and interest mandated by federal law, which at last i checked was capped at 6 or 8% on post charge off interest. Knowledge is power. Never let lowlife bottomfeeders shake you up. Stay off the phone, do everything in writing by certified mail, RRR. NEVER pay any third party debt collector. Always make them sue you, as most won't.
John
Louisville,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
Lessons Learned the Hard Way....
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, July 25, 2008
Just a few minutes of research on the web would have indicated that Palisades Collections is a sleazy bottom feeder collection agency with the ethics of a barrel full of snakes.... It would have been wise to proceed accordingly rather than giving them ammunition by telling them that you are buying a home and you need this off your credit file. Only ONE debt collector can handle your account at any one point in time....your bank was totally in error in stating that both collection agencies needed to be paid. If Palisades Collections bought the account...they are entitled to any payment, not the previous debt collector. Take them to small claims court for the amount of the double payment....you should get this back.
