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Does anyone know who I should contact, or if I have anything to complain about regarding a collection agency out of Texas. I used to actually work for a collection agency 20+ years ago out of Florida, and we would NEVER have been able to say what these people have said to me via phone, let alone in a letter I just opened. Long story short, yes, I owe HSN $200+ for a computer I bought on a payment plan of $135 a month. Before I was done with payment #2, it broke, and thus began months and months of me sending this junk back and forth with Gateway. It was a lemon model, thus why it was offered for 5 payments on HSN. After I made payment #2 and Gateway had the computer for repairs more than we had it to use, I called HSN. In no uncertain words, the sales rep told me "you bought it, you deal with it". There were lots of reviews at this point on HSN and all buyers were furious, as it was junk. HSN quickly removed the computer and reviews. So, yes, I have been lax in paying it, but it didn't even last 2 months. At any rate, they throw me to a collection agency, who calls at least 15 times a day. I am sending them payments. I get a letter today that actually says they are going to "ASSEMBLE AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT WHICY WILL OR MAY INCLUDE...INFORMATION AS TO MY CHARACTER AND GENERAL REPUTATION"... the caps and bold are their writing. It then goes on to say that I should send $$ immediately as they have "NO DESIRE TO CAUSE ME EMBARASSMENT"... Can they word things this way? I have never in all my life seen anything worded to this effect, as obviously, even though they use the word "may", it is a direct insinuation to scare me that they are going to ruin my reputation and are questioning my character, and threatening embarassment. Seriously, has anyone ever seen this before? I don't have a lot of experience with agencies, other than working for one decades ago, and hearing horror stories on TV shows about stuff like this, which I could not believe! Does anyone have any thoughts on who I could contact? I wonder if HSN knows this agency is saying personal stuff like this? I know companies just farm out their old debts to agencies. Again, its a tough one for me to swallow, as the computer never lasted even halfway thru their 5 easy payment plan, but I have recognized the debt and am paying, albeit at $50 every 2 weeks. But this insulting letter was just the icing on the cake for me. Do you think its legal? |
