This has to be some type of violation and who do I report it to?

[Anonymous]

Hi! I was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. The medical bills are astronmical! I am paying what I can when I can and most of the medical people have been very polite about all of this.

I was turned over to a collection agency on one of my bills. My wife received a recorded call the other day that went like this:

Collection agent: Is Joe there?

Wife: he is unavaiable, I am his wife may I help you?

Collection agent: This is a personal matter with Joe and I will call back

Wife: He is extrememly ill and you probably won't be able to reach him. may I help you?

Collection agent: I can't talk to you unless you are his personal rep.

Wife: As a matter of fact I have his POA

Collection agent: Can you fax it to me?

Wife: Sure tell me who you are.

Collection agent: My name is Tracy

Wife: Ok Tracy, who are you with?

Collection agent:I can't tell you

Wife: I can't fax it unless I know who you are.

Collection agent: I am Tracy

Wife: And you are with?

Collection agent: I can't tell you but you have a nice day and "Go PLAY WITH YOURSELF!" Click!

My wife dialed the # back from the caller id and they answered it account services, which collects for the hospital (We know that as they just sent us a letter.)

Is this allowed for phone conversations?

[Scamp]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis! 

Wait to confirm this with more knowledgeable members' responses, but from what I've read on these boards, at least the last bit of that conversation is likely in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and therefore actionable on your part.

Looks like you've already got notes on the conversation, but if you or your wife haven't already done so, do write down all details relating to this call - date, time of call, what was said by whom, every detail.

Also, consider installing some means to record future calls from this company.

I'm sure you'll be getting much more advice and information from others on here about how best to proceed and protect yourself and your wife from such abusive collection practices, but there's a start for you.

[Scamp]

I found this thread by noah_bodie to be extremely helpful and informative about this issue:

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/fico/board/message?board.id=generalcredit&thread.id=21764

Good luck with those yammerheads!

[Anonymous]

You said "recorded call", do you have this where you can take the recording or record it on to a voice recorder that you can transport?

If so, I'd call up a consumer lawyer.

[Anonymous]

please make sure you can legally record calls in your area before making the existance of a recording common knowlegde.

[haulingthescoreup]

poppy, I'm so sorry to read about this, and to have someone dump on your wife is unforgivable.

I'll let the others speak to your legal recourse, but as you said that this call came from the hospital, I really, really hope that you will send this information to the hospital's Board of Directors.

Hospitals are required to have a Board made up of community leaders. The Board's job is to make sure that the hospital is serving the needs of the community. I can't fathom that this would be acceptable behavior for ANY hospital, but especially if it's a faith-based institution, this is intolerable and outrageous.

Please let the Board know of the actions that are being taken in the name of their hospital. And best wishes to you and your wife.

[Scamp]

*bumping* for poppy...

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of your advice. I have fire off a letter to let them know that they are to cease all phone communication with me and told them why.

To clarify this is Account Services which is the collection agent for the Hospital, not the Hospital. I wonder if I should still contact the hospital and let them know anyway or if they would care?

Thanks again and I will be looking into a recording device as funds permit.

[haulingthescoreup]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for all of your advice. I have fire off a letter to let them know that they are to cease all phone communication with me and told them why.

To clarify this is Account Services which is the collection agent for the Hospital, not the Hospital. I wonder if I should still contact the hospital and let them know anyway or if they would care?

Thanks again and I will be looking into a recording device as funds permit.

---

I really would. It sounds to me as if Account Services is the in-house collections service for the hospital, but even if they're not, I feel that the hospital should be aware of the tactics used by those whom it hires.

We're not talking about collecting on a $200 1963 used piece of junk.

[Anonymous]

This is NOT allowed. As hauling said....send a letter to the board of directors at the hospital and send it CMRRR  make them sign for it....IF you can get the name of the chairman & put it to his attention!!!!

Put every word in writting and mail it to the FTC send that CMRRR also!

If they every call back  have her tell them not to call again!

If you have their address  send them a DV  CMRRR    only because it tells them in writting not to call.

Keep all call on the caller ID   do not delete.

Poppy what state are you in and what state did the call come from?

Message Edited by HappyDays on 04-06-2008 08:37 PM