Southern Tier agency/Patrick Corbett

[marializ]

Hello, I am writing to you regarding a call I recieved from Patrick Corbett regarding a debt from 2 years ago from a defaulted payday loan. He called my cell phone which I kept, saying if I didnt call him back he was going to take it to the next step? I called him back because I got scared and pressured. At the time I gave him my debit card because I panicked. I asked him to send me documentation of this debt I owed. After 5 times calling there office still havent received anything at all in the mail. The only thing we have received was a email stating how much I owe. We spoke to our county court house and they are saying that the number he gave us was not a case number. I then google the number and found others reporting this same place called Southern Tier/Patrick Corbett.

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-891-9725/3#pmRSCFAEYjQBqswjKSGH2Dw

At this point I decided to contact the original creditor to try to settle it with them directly. Which I have not heard a word from yet. I cancelled my debit card because I felt without the proper paper work that I was being scammed.

Today, I received another call which i have on my answering machine saved. Saying that if I dont call him back he will go to the next level and he wants our attourney to contact him right away.

Is this just a scare tatic? Can he sue me? Can he garnish my wages? The amount I defaulted on was $800 and the first time I spoke with him he said that they wanted $2800 but if I payed him in two installments he would only be charging me $550 per month. I sent a cease letter till we get proper documentation other then a email.

Do you have any advice what I should do .. I would really appreciate it.
thank you,
Maria

[HHM]

He "can" sue you, but the real question is will he.

Since this is a 2 year old payday loan, I am not surprised by the $2,800 balance (keep in mind, interest is accumulating all this time, as are late fees, etc).

No one can really answer whether this agency will actually sue, but they do have the legal right to do so.

First thing you should do is figure out if this agency is licensed to perform collection activity in your state. (visit your state's website and start poking around, generally you can find this information in your state's Secretary of State dept). If they are NOT licensed, then contact your state's attorney generals office and report it.

If they are licensed, the documentation will usually include an address. Send a certified cease and desist letter to that address.

But eventually, you will need an end-game plan with how to deal with this debt. The debt will probably get re-sold and then a new collection agency will start calling, so on and so forth until the debt is paid, you file BK, or you die.

[marializ]

collection

thank you responding.

What is they are refusing to send me anything. By law shouldnt they be sending me paperwork by certified mail?

[HHM]

thank you responding.

What is they are refusing to send me anything. By law shouldnt they be sending me paperwork by certified mail?

All they are legally required to do to validate the debt is send tell you the name of the original creditor and the amount owed. And no, they do not need to do that by certified mail.

[FreshLikeADaisy]

Marializ, was this debt included in your bankruptcy that was discharged (according to your sig) on 4/3/06? If it was, I don't see how he has the legal right to do anything other than wave goodbye... ?

[HHM]

Good point, if you filed BK, this debt is gone.