I had a BoA charge off perhaps a year ago. They sent the account to a couple of collection services and finally sold the account to a national junk debt buying firm. I won't say the JDB firm name at this point. I will say that this firm has many subsidiaries that are CA's who attempt to collect on the debt. The JDB has also been sued many times by many states and consumers. Here are some details.
BoA shows account sold with $0 balance on my credit reports. I called them a few months ago just to "check the status" of my account. BoA told me they no longer owned the account and when I asked them what I owed them, they replied, "Nothing, you no longer have any accounts with us." They verified that the debt had been sold. Interestingly enough, they didn't know who had purchased the account. I'm guessing the account was packaged in some portfolio. It is hard to know. I also assume that this must be the reason why the JDB never responded to my request for verification. The JDB does report the account to credit reporting agencies marked as "disputed."
The JDB passed the account to one of their collection attorney firms. I responded this time with a C&D. Nothing happened. About a month ago, the JDB account was then passed to another of their collection agency firms. I did some research and discovered that this particular CA is the firm the JDB uses when the consumer is hard to collect from. I have not sent them a DV yet, but will send one in a day or so.
I received a call this week from the CA.
C: Is ####?
Me: Yep, whose calling please.
C: #####. (Some time spent verifying who I was and reading me the debt collection rights stuff.) This call may be recorded.
Me: That's fine. What did you say the name of your company is again? I will also be recording the call. (Turn on recorder.)
C: That's fine, sir. I represnt #######. We are calling in reference to a delinquent BoA account.
Me: I'm sorry, I don't have a BoA account. Are you sure sure you are collecting for BoA? Remember, I am recording this call.
C: Yes, BoA.
Me: Hmmm...You see I called BoA and they told me that I don't have any accounts with them. They also told me that I don't owe them any money. So, who exactly are you collecting for?
C: I told you, sir. BoA.
Me: Do you know that it is against the law to misrepresent collections actions? Are you lying?
C: Are you accusing me of lying?
Me: Just asking. One more time, who are you collecting for?
C: Do you intend to pay this debt?
Me: Can you give me a mailing address where I can send you a summons via certified return-receipt mail? (Total legal in my state.)
C: Click.
This was really amusing. In addition, it showed me that this particular CA firm (owned by the JDB,) probably tells their call center people nothing about the details of accounts.
Would I sue them. I have better things to do with my time. I will send them a DV letter (first contact) and request verification and name and address of original creditor.
I found it amazing how calm I was through the entire coversation. I was somewhat stunned that the caller appeared to have no idea that she was not collecting on behalf of BoA. She was very kind, but apparently ignorant.
BoA shows account sold with $0 balance on my credit reports. I called them a few months ago just to "check the status" of my account. BoA told me they no longer owned the account and when I asked them what I owed them, they replied, "Nothing, you no longer have any accounts with us." They verified that the debt had been sold. Interestingly enough, they didn't know who had purchased the account. I'm guessing the account was packaged in some portfolio. It is hard to know. I also assume that this must be the reason why the JDB never responded to my request for verification. The JDB does report the account to credit reporting agencies marked as "disputed."
The JDB passed the account to one of their collection attorney firms. I responded this time with a C&D. Nothing happened. About a month ago, the JDB account was then passed to another of their collection agency firms. I did some research and discovered that this particular CA is the firm the JDB uses when the consumer is hard to collect from. I have not sent them a DV yet, but will send one in a day or so.
I received a call this week from the CA.
C: Is ####?
Me: Yep, whose calling please.
C: #####. (Some time spent verifying who I was and reading me the debt collection rights stuff.) This call may be recorded.
Me: That's fine. What did you say the name of your company is again? I will also be recording the call. (Turn on recorder.)
C: That's fine, sir. I represnt #######. We are calling in reference to a delinquent BoA account.
Me: I'm sorry, I don't have a BoA account. Are you sure sure you are collecting for BoA? Remember, I am recording this call.
C: Yes, BoA.
Me: Hmmm...You see I called BoA and they told me that I don't have any accounts with them. They also told me that I don't owe them any money. So, who exactly are you collecting for?
C: I told you, sir. BoA.
Me: Do you know that it is against the law to misrepresent collections actions? Are you lying?
C: Are you accusing me of lying?
Me: Just asking. One more time, who are you collecting for?
C: Do you intend to pay this debt?
Me: Can you give me a mailing address where I can send you a summons via certified return-receipt mail? (Total legal in my state.)
C: Click.
This was really amusing. In addition, it showed me that this particular CA firm (owned by the JDB,) probably tells their call center people nothing about the details of accounts.
Would I sue them. I have better things to do with my time. I will send them a DV letter (first contact) and request verification and name and address of original creditor.
I found it amazing how calm I was through the entire coversation. I was somewhat stunned that the caller appeared to have no idea that she was not collecting on behalf of BoA. She was very kind, but apparently ignorant.
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