Merchant Credit Association Merchant Credit Association Company Preying on my Son's Younth and Inexperience Redmond, Washington

My Son is 19 years old. Had a decent job deburring for J&M. Got medal in his eye on the job. Didn't know for sure the day his eye bothered him. Next day was sure. Told his boss, boss sent him to the company's preferred clinic. Clinic dealt with it; than stated that he did not properly report to his boss the day injury occurred. Boss had ended up calling clinic and stated it was not a job-related injury and berated my Son making him feel like he had falsely reported his injury. My son was stuck with this bill. Fired. Unable to pay this bill off up till recently. Son received a part time job months later. Now lives with me. Original debt was somewhere around $500.00. Now totaling around $700.00. Son worked on a payment plan of $65.00 each payday with Ms. Collins at X-131. Son was able to make one payment so far. At his low salary, son is finding it difficult to manage payment arrangement. Needs to prioritize and pay for auto insurance as well as a couple other small debts from living on his own for the first time ever. So, was not able to pay last month, but my son called and it was worked out with Ms. Collins whom my son said was very nice.

This morning, a Ms. Edwards from Merchant Credit Association contacted him. She informed him of additional costs and that he will need to pay in full. I was with my son and was able to hear his response. He was upset, but not shouting. He was whining and began to cry...lol. He was asking questions to try to better understand how the agreement had changed or how he incurred so much more debt. She told him to stop yelling at her and told him she has to go now as if he was speaking to her inappropriately, when it was her that was speaking to him unprofessionally and attempting to provoke him. I decided it was time to step in. Educate him a little. In a constructive and helpful way. I called MCA and the gentleman I spoke with asked my sons permission to speak with me and my son gave him that. It went well for now. I informed him that I will be advising my son to continue to make payments the best he can, but will also inform him of his rights and how he is to be treated from this point on. For now this company agrees. At one point they wanted to try and collect the debt from me!! LOL I said noooo, I am just calling to inform them I am aware of his rights, he will be educated and advised by me and they will no longer be allowed to harass him or I will advise him to defer.

Now after reading the previous complaints reported about this company, I am hoping they are watching the Ripoff reports and understand that I am ensuring my son is even further informed of their illegal forms to collect debts and that they may still attempt to rail road him or treat him poorly in the near furture. My son will be ensuring that any further phone conversations will be with me by his side and will be giving me permission to speak for him. My son and I have read the reports together and we are both under advisement from the former employees reports and what we should do next. I have the BBB website up as well and can see there are many (over 30) collection complaints against them. We will request the payment plan in writing, and demand no further contact other than to accept his payments from this company. He will continue to make the payments he can, and if they chose to stop accepting, than we will call the client (medical offices) and inform them of MCAs behavior. We will than file at the AG and the BBB. I will advise my son to continue to attempt to make payments and if he is sued advise him to show up to court with a statement from me. I will also advise for a deferral. Thank you for your time. Maureen P & Michael A