Loading ...West Asset Management is Harassing me.
As I discussed earlier about AT&T Still Sucking, it turns out I’ve found a company that’s even worse- West Asset Management.
Now, just to be clear, I gave these guys a fair shake- If a Vulture sees you lying on the ground crawling, it’s expected that they’ll circle. It’s their nature, I won’t fault them for it.
What I WILL fault them for is continually calling me, trying to get me to settle even after I file the dispute charges. I just spent 5 minutes on the phone being berated by one of their telethugs- he
A) admit that I disputed the claims and they received the dispute
B) admitted that my dispute was being processed by them
C) they were waiting to hear back from AT&T
D) that continuing to harass me and attempt to collect while it was being processed on their end was standard operating procedure
So basically they’re going to harass me until I give them money (that I don’t owe) for someone who has admitted that I don’t owe them anything. My favorite part of the whole thing
[me] So let me get this straight- I filed a dispute as you asked me to, and you guys are processing it and waiting for a response back from AT&T. So in the meantime you continue to call me asking me to pay or dispute… do you see the failure of logic here?
[asshat] yes/no. In my experience we are never wrong in this blah blah I’m a moron jackass.
The worst part is he was purposfully antagonizing me- I nearly hung up, but quickly realized it might be one of their rules that hanging up is tantamount to admitting guilt so they’re allow to take further actions (calling at midnight, knocking on my door, etc). so I played it out and asked him (while he was continually berating me) “sir, what do you want from me?” he never answered. Finally after he ran out of steam I asked him if he was done, and told him that I was already disputing the claim and to have a nice day.
So Jackie and I will be looking for a nice attorney who will help us file a cease and desist or harassment charge- whatever it takes to get them to leave me the hell alone. This guy had an attitude problem, and I dearly hope that if this goes to court, they recorded the call so I can drag that shit out and he gets fired. grrrrr.
Ahh. I feel better. A waste of a lunch, but I feel better.
Test
Your Might
MORTAL KOMBAT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMf40daefsI
You know what would be fun? If I was to call 202-367-9704 (the phone number Mr. Asshat called from ) and tell them the following:
“Hello, I would like to remind you that Jesse Morgan is disputing the $241 charge filed By AT&T, since AT&T has already admitted it was a faulty charge for a service they could not have possibly provided, and as of December 2008 removed it from his bill. Thank you, have a nice day.”
Now, if only I could figure out a way to remember to call them often and remind them…
14:13 < unEZ> morg if the guy is being abusive that’s an FCC violation
I’ve taken note of that.
Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction here, not the FCC. At least try INFORMED righteous indignation…
did you call that nice man names? and use foul language?
no- even when I’m angry, I try not to resort to namecalling in an argument.
you realize there are two sides to every story right?… why don’t you stop being a bum and pay your bills?
did you not read? all bills were paid- there was no “bill” for me to pay.
Speaking of debts, you still owe me $273.
you’re still a bum…
at least I’m not an anonymous asshat.
at least i don’t think the public actually cares about your debt problems.
Did you ever get this resolved? From what I understand, of the law (according to the FTC official webpage) you don’t even have to file a lawsuit. You send them a letter certified return receipt instructing them to stop contacting you since you do not owe the debt. Keep a copy of the letter.
I may have spoken with the same man at West Asset Management. He keeps calling me about my brother’s bill. I’ve told them that I don’t owe my brother’s bill and that I don’t even believe my brother owes as much as they claim. After I told the guy I’d already spoken with someone the day before on the matter, he basically told me that since it was an “open collection” they could call me every day. Before I could say anything, he hung up on me. That was the last time I spoke to anyone from West Asset Management. Now when I get calls from them, as soon as I answer the person on the other end hangs up.
Here’s what the National Consumer Law Center has to say about it:
http://www.consumerlaw.org/issues/seniors_initiative/cc_debtcollection.shtml
hey jessie. i work in collections. if you want to know what you should do, i will tell you. first, you need to mail them a cease and desist letter. now if they are calling your cell phone, tell them to quit it one time. if they proceed, it is a fine based upon the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collections Practices Act). knowingly calling a cell phone without the consumers consent is against the law. If you have any further questions, let me know.
just got a call from the lovely WAM and as soon as they said who they were – i hung up on them…. how friggin dare they call me at work… they must like to take up bills that people don’t owe… mine is supposed to be medical – um, i have insurance for that – is the doc trying to get paid twice – or did they screw up? don’t know don’t care don’t call me.
Just got another call from them WAM. Everything medical covered and paid for hubby ambulance paid twice in one case…..I do not have time to talk to them but when I do I hope I get asshat, he will think twice before making sensless calls. 1 year of hospital bills all paid by insurance 100 pct. Broken neck and other things I am tough enough to get through this, I will chew up and spit out these little vermin. According to the Fair Debt Collection Act, there are many rules they must abide by and yes you may ask them to send asshat to send you a statment, you may write on it you do not owe this and he should cease, but I be he sells it to somone else in the sewer. I am not sure they read.
had service with AT&T for residential service. This was canceled when moving out of state (military transfer) March 2007. I was informed that everything was paid in full. Turned out I had a balance of $7.49.This was turned into a in agency. West Asset Management (parent company West Corporation) in July 2008. Upon notification i contacted AT&T to resolve the issue. Was taken care of and was insured that it was a mistake, as I had been billed when service was shut off. AT&T notified West Asset Management that the account was actually paid in full on Aug 30th 2008 and it was not a collection account. The account was removed from my credit report and I heard nothing else. Then Nov 4th, 2009 I started receiving calls from West Asset Management to collect this debt again. I informed them that it had been taken care of and was a mistake. They were rude and unwilling to help so I contacted AT&T. Delores, in final accounts ensured me that I did not have any debt to them. They had pulled my account back from West Asset in AUG 2008 by mail and phone call. She referred this to a manager who again contacted West Asset management company by phone and by electronically sending a letter. West Asset management continues to call me, several times a day sometimes, always from different numbers. I keep trying to explain to them that it was taken care of and they have received notification twice, which I have proof of through AT&T. West Asset Management company will not let me speak when they call. Every time that I mention that it is not a valid collection and they need to contact AT&T they just interrupt and argue not letting a word in edge wise. They just want payment immediately. When I question on their validity they get mad and hang up the phone I don’t know what else to do? They keep receiving proof that the debt was not a debt and to stop collections yet they continue to attempt to collect this debt. Telling me I need to send proof of what I am telling them . They have received proof through mail, telephone call and electronically. This has been two years and counting
I apologize for the incorrect spelling. In the subject line in my previous post. I’m not that dumb, I am just that angry, just got off the phone with them again.
I just filed a formal complaint with the State Attorney General’s Office in NE. The parent company is West Corporation, home based in Omaha, NE. I will be filing with Arkansas also. The office contacting me is in Texarkana, AK. Although they have a 703 area code, which is a VA. number. Must have an office there. If you “Google” 703-398-0001 you find many other complaints that are very similar.
Did I mention the amount they are trying to collect is a random number of 67.00?? not the $7.49 that was my final bill?
I GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL TODAY (11/16/2009) FROM WEST ASSET GROUP REGARDING A EQUITY HOME LOAN FROM REGIONS BANK. I DO NOT WORK, NOR HAVE I IN 9 YEARS, WE HAVE NEVER BANKED WITH REGIONS, AND OUR MORTGAGE HAS BEEN WITH THE SAME COMPANY SINCE WE HAVE HAD OUR HOME. (8 YEARS) IT IS THROUGH CHASE, NOT REGIONS. I HAVE CALLED THEM AT THE NUMBER THEY SENT IN THE LETTER. GUESS WHAT, IT GOES TO A FAX MACHINE. DOES ANYONE HAVE A VALID PHONE NUMBER OR MAYBE TELL ME HOW TO FIND TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM? BY THE LOOKS OF IT, SOMEONE MAY HAVE GOTTEN HOLD OF MY PERSONAL INFO. THANKS FOR ANY HELP.
I am getting twice daily calls from them over the debt that the person who previously had this number owed. Apparently they think I’m hiding this guy under my bed.
Wow it is incredible to watch the volume of sheer delusion on this topic. Here is a coupl eof things to remember
1. WAM is a 60000 employee multi BILLION dollar company. They are not some sweaty guy in a basement trying to trick you.
2. If they are calling you, the following things will NOT stop the calls. Hanging up as soon as they identify themselves, yelling at them. stating you dont work and hanging up. screaming, whining, crying, cussing and lying.
3. If you are going to cry harrassement and whine that they are collecting “bogus” debts keep a few things in mind. Look up what harrassing means for a collection agency. 2 calls a day? not harrassment. thats called due diligence.
For once in your self focused lives take a moment to think about this from the collection agencies side. let us say an average collection agent talks to 100 people a day, of which 10 stay on the phone long enough to talk. of that 10 every single one is crying that htey are broke, have no money its not real its a dispute they are disabled, they cant pay cause their mother died, there father died, they died, there cat died and a billion other lies.
In a given month there is maybe 1 legitimate dispute out of the hundreds of claims. What do you expect the collection agencies to do? take veryones word for it? just trust that everyone on the phone is being honest with them? people lie folks, they cheat and many do anything they can to not pay their debts.
Collection agencies are responisble for collecting the money that paves your roads, pays your teachers. covers unemployement and medicaid. WAM itself collects no less then 4 seperate state tax contracts and 2 federal government collection contracts.
Stop being so juvenile and assuming that some big bad collection man is out to get you and understand that that collection agent that you call asshat spends 8 hours a day working with people who threaten him. swear at him. curse hinm. cry at him. lie to him. call him every racial epitath you can think off. imagine being a 20 year old college kid being called a the wrost racist comments you can. Get cussed out for 6 hours straight and tell me youre going to be a super customer service guy.
Collection agents are normal people doing a job. What do you want? you want the 750000 in the collection industry to lose their jobs?
You want the BILLIONS of dollars of federal money brought in via collection agencies to dry up?
Get real people, if a corporate collection agency with government contracts is calling you saying you owe them money. you either A. owe them money or B. need to understand that when you deal with 14 MILLION accounts like WAM does, theres mistakes made.
It isnt hatefulness. It isnt maliciousness, it isnt spite its human freaking error. I get so tired of self righteous pricks who think that just because I happen to work as a collection agent that makes it okay to call me whatever you want.
We have what might be the hardest job in the world I can think of, and 99 percent of the time if we sound pissed, its probably because weve had a rough day.
Yall need to get off your high horses and take a look at things from the other side of the coin.
Oh and before you all go off on how many complaints are online about a colelction agency, use your thinkign caps. People GATE collection agencies. There are whole websites dedicated to howt oscrew them over. Of course people are going to complain and most of the ones who complain are the same ones who should be paying their debt.
So here is the BIG SECRET on how to get good service from your colelction agency.
1. stop treating them like dirt, if they call you at work talk to them politely and give them an alternate number and then ANSWER IT.
2. if you cant pay dont lie and dont give us a sob story (I assure you weve all heard worse then whatever youre saying. Ive spoke toa women was was currently watching her dead husband get gurneyed out. you are better off then some trust me)
3. IF you cant pay thats fine. say that. and lastly
4. STAY IN CONTACT be an adult, set upa plan to touch base 1 time ever 2 weeks to track changes.
Do that and I promise you you will not only get the best collection agents, cause they will fight to call you. but you will earn the respect of the person on the other end of the phone and that person is actually trained in things that might help you…