Avon - Allied Data Avon adds charges then turns it over to Allied Data who threatens lawsuit within 12 hours, Internet

I joined AVON a couple months after recovering from an illness that almost took my life.  A few weeks later H1N1 took my mother from us.  I began a slide into depression so my sales were my own or close friends and family and some from internet where I have a couple stores.  At first and I was never told about the absolute noon cut-off to place orders or the subsequent charge if you are even a minute late), I placed orders on Saturdays or Friday afternoons with no problem.  I am an insomniac to begin with and as I went seeper into the darkness of illness and grief induces depression that became worse & worse until I went to sleep at 7 or 8 am and woke about noon or 1pm.  Suddenly after a couple months, a $7.50 late charge showed up for late order placement.  I got it expunged and was told to "try" to get my order in on time.  I did the next one Thursday night and boom there were a bunch of weird charges added.

This kind of thing went on for a few months and suddenly a bill, I estimated, should have been about $97.00 was $358.00 (for $10 in scent samples and $25.00 in 49 cent to 75 cent lip balms on sale)?  I refused to pay and fought.  Meanwhile more charges hit me for unpaid balance.  Eventually, my selling account was closed.  After a couple months, we got the balance due down to $138.00.  Now really depressed over EVERYTHING in my life, including fighting for my Social Security disability, I just wanted one problem out of my life and gave in and agreed to pay. 

A Seller Customer Service Rep gave me a number to call to pay.  I got sick for about 2 weeks and was in bed, not able to remember much of anything.  I was doing well if I remembered to eat every day.  Needless to say, I forgot to call Avon, but I did when I was a bit better.  The number was an automated payment line.  It asked my account number and told me to hold.  Suddenly, the line was dead.  This has happened over 25 times.  THe first couple, I thought okay this is a coincidental error.  But OVER 25 times?  I stopped the hash marks at 25.  Next thing I know, 2 weeks after I stop, I get a call from a Ms. Evans who tells my voicemail that if I do not contact them by noon Central time of the next day, today, that they will file legal action against me in my county and gave the county name.  She never told me this was regarding an unpaid bill or Avon or anything.  I had no idea what it was or what I could have done.

I have never gotten back to where I was 15 months ago in my health.  Some days I can't get out of bed and some days I have 5 or 6 good hours, but never do I have what I had 15 months ago and, then, I thought it was rough because of my back and weak leg problems.  HA!  This whole mess with Avon and then gripping fear I felt yesterday at this call has made everything worse.  And all in the middle of the most stressful move I've ever had from one home to another. 

On top of everything with this person from Allied, she left an incomplete phone number and I saved the voicemail to an audio file.  She told me to call 187-275-7176 and press extension 3404.  I thought the area code was weird but I tried it twice once with a preceding 1 and once without (which I knew was wrong).  Then I went to the internet and put in Allied Data Corp which was the only thing she left in the message to let me know anything.  I mean she was terrifying in this message and bill-collectors in the last 15 months don't frighten me easily but . . . . WHOA!!  I called the number on the internet except I figured out the area code should be 877 not 187.  The automated system voice thanks you and gives you options for calling correct number for ADT or Direct TV then says if neither of these options apply, please check you dialed the number correctly, so then your only option is to call the long distance number and pay for the call back to Allied, which I am not doing, not after finding several hundred complaints online. 

I know the collection laws in general and fully believe this kind of bullying and harassment is illegal in Michigan.  I would love to join some action against them (and Avon) if it comes to it.

Good Luck everyone.