Posts Tagged debt collection collection agency
Scranton Taxpayers May Have Received Collection Letters That They Might Not Have Deserved
Posted by Mallory Megan in 1 on March 9th, 2010
More than 200 Scranton taxpayers may have gotten a letter from a debt collection company that they did not deserve. The notices are for unpaid garbage fees that may have actually been paid. According to officials, the garbage bill itself for 2009 could be to blame for more than 200 collection notices sent to city taxpayers in error last week.
They believe the issue may have been the way that the bills were folded into the envelopes. The bill is mailed along with a perforated line above a bar code that identifies the customer, but because a crease created by the folding of the envelope, a second line under the bar code was formed, causing people to pull the bill off without the bar code.
Bills without a bar code would cause a bank not to register the payment. The mailing house that Scranton hired to stuff the envelopes was blamed. If the bill was mailed to the bank, it would be the pay stub in their payment that goes directly into a lock box. Then the stubs are scanned and the bar code is read. After that the bank sends the town a list of those who had come through based on the bar code readings.
Representatives from the collections company who sent out the letters say that they are taking every dispute from people who may have paid very seriously. Company protocol permits consumers to dispute a notice within 30 days of getting a collections letter. Additionally, representatives claimed that no bill will be collected while they are still sorting out the issue.
The agency will look into each claim from those who alleged they had paid the bill and gotten the notice. Those that they think have paid will be absolved from their debt and will no longer get collections notices and will not be pursued by the collection company.
Mallory Megan works for a collections agency that works with a debt collection lawyer. She also writes articles on business, finance, consumer spending and collections agencies.
The Scoop On How To Obtain Financial Information Of Your Debtors
Posted by Mallory Megan in Currency & Finance on March 2nd, 2010
Being able to locate a debtor’s bank account information could be very useful in your attempts to collect debt. By law, it is required that a private investigator to do the work. Be wary when you hire someone to locate bank account numbers as there are a number of scam companies claiming that they can help, and take your money with no activity in return.
Below are legal ways to obtain a debtor’s bank account number.
First, if your debtor works at a retail store buy something from the debtor and pay by check. This is a good way to find out account information by looking at your own bank statement; the bank account information will allow you to determine the debtors account number.
Interacting with a previous landlord of the debtor can be quite helpful. Ask his formal landlord if you can look at the rental application and obtain financial information. You can also subpoena the old land lord for a copy of the rental application to see where the defendant banked. Because old habits die hard, it is likely that the debtor still uses the same bank account.
One consideration that is helpful to think about is serving a Business Record Subpoena on the employer in order to get a copy of a payroll check the debtor has cashed in. The check should have the defendant’s account number and quite possibly the name of the bank on the bank.
In addition, there are a few “colorful” ways to acquire information about a debtor’s bank account. Conduct a trash search. This is an simple way to obtain bank information and a way to get to know more than you ever wanted about this debtor.
One very elaborate scheme to get the information on your debtor’s bank account is what I like to call “the fake block party.” Mail post cards to everyone who lives on your debtor’s block, and put up signs directing traffic towards his house. The debtor may get block party fever and open his garage. Scope out his items and take inventory. He may even start to sell things. At this point, buy something and give them a check.
So there you go. All of this is legal, but my advice would be to look through trash and stage a block party last, because that seems kind of crazy.
Mallory Megan is employed by a debt collection agency. Also, she does articles on business, finance, the credit industry, and debt collection.
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