Call from "Pre Legal Department"

[Trixie007]

Ugh, just got a voicemail where the woman identified their company as "Pre Legal Collection". Called to see which accounts they have - BofA - and when pressed she said her company is actually North Star Collections and they've been hired to collect on this. She was very reluctant to give the name of the company, kept saying "Pre Legal" over and over... purely designed to intimidate I'm sure!

She told me that BofA has determined that we are good candidates for being sued, but that they wanted to try collections first. I asked if they intended to sue... no clear answer there lol. Then she asked, "are you going to be difficult and if she needs to tell BofA to file suit, or are you gong to make payment arrangements?" I have nothing in writing from them, she said they mailed a letter on Monday, so I should get it soon.

I'm guessing that she's full of hot air? and if not, I can DV them and buy some time. I only need 66 days til I file... still, pretty nasty. Quite a difference from the BofA in-house reps!

[StartingOver08]

Yes, that is a common term the collectors use. I just laughed the first time I heard it..everything is pre-legal until you have suit in hand!

IMO these collectors sit around and make up terms to scare you into a payment. When you are so close to filing BK, there is really nothing they can do to you at this point.

[magyar123]

You should have asked: Pre-legal? Are you a law school flunky?

[willowhare]

Yes, they do make up terminology like that. It's to try to create a false sense of urgency in the consumers. That way, they do what the company wants them to do, which may not be what is in the consumers' best interests.

[optimistic1]

Hey Trixie, how old are the BofA accounts, I have two of them.

[treehugger1]

I can't remember how many times I've heard from a "pre-litigation" department. LOL. I did learn to either answer the phone or attempt to find the caller (whocalled.us.) Many times I was told that a "letter had been sent out." But, I'm convinced that no letter had been sent until I requested they send me the letter and I would state the FDCPA rule.

The other line is that, "We are attempting to determine if we should proceed with an asset search." I posted my response to this in another post, "If you discover any assets, let me know."

I even had a collector tell me, "Right now I'm your best friend." I just said, "Great, be a good friend and send me some written information." They often want to go on and on. But, once you acknowledge the initial contact and ask for written notice, the ball is in their court.

Since I now record everything and let CA's and JDB's know I'm recording, the conversation is generally brief, and within a couple of weeks, I receive a written dunning letter. Iwait 15 - 25 days and send the DV request.

In the past 3 - 4 weeks, I have had very few calls from anyone.

[optimistic1]

Whats a dunning letter?

[treehugger1]

In these cases, a letter sent to you demanding payment of debt; an alternate term for collection letter.

[catleg]

They're pre-legal, I'm post-paying. Sounds like a mixed marriage.

[Trixie007]

Hey Trixie, how old are the BofA accounts, I have two of them.

Last full payments on the two that charged off were May '08. We have two more that were last current in June & July, so I guess they're coming up too. btw, we owe BofA about 80k (just under I think) total on cc's.

[Trixie007]

They're pre-legal, I'm post-paying. Sounds like a mixed marriage.

I'm pre-legal now too... just got my tax refund today, I'm meeting my attorney to officially hire him on Tuesday!!

[treehugger1]

They're pre-legal, I'm post-paying. Sounds like a mixed marriage.

That's great!

[Bell30656]

My favorite one is when the "Pre-Legal" department calls me up to tell me that this matter MUST be taken care of prior to five o'clock today!!! Will I be paying with a Master Card or Visa? I get all excited and demand to know what will happen at 5:01? Will they turn into a pumpkin?? Can I possibly get them to call me back just before 5:00 so we can do a count down together?

When they call me from the Attorneys Offices of So and So... I immediately ask for the individual on the phones bar number. So much fun to hear them back peddling.

[BigJohn]

My favorite one is when the "Pre-Legal" department calls me up to tell me that this matter MUST be taken care of prior to five o'clock today!!! Will I be paying with a Master Card or Visa? I get all excited and demand to know what will happen at 5:01? Will they turn into a pumpkin?? Can I possibly get them to call me back just before 5:00 so we can do a count down together?

When they call me from the Attorneys Offices of So and So... I immediately ask for the individual on the phones bar number. So much fun to hear them back peddling.

I had one pull that rap on me.

Me: "Aren't you jumping the gun? Why did you call the cop already?"


The conversation continues with my paranoia.

When they hear me loading the shotgun, they seem to be concerned.

[Overmylimit]

I have 3 B of A accounts and I stopped paying all of them in August, they have like 4 different companies and "legal" departments coming after me. So far I haven't heard or seen one actual legal anything.