VIking Collection Services - VCS Kevin at VCS scumbag slimeball tactics Eden Prairie Minnesota

My husband finally reached a reasonable person (if there can bhe such a thing) at Viking named Don Edwards and he made an agreement to pay $40 a month on his card until I return to work and then we can obviously pay more.  He agreed and said he would send written confirmation of said arrangement, so we actually thought this nightmare of harassment would be over. 

Were we wrong!  Now a scumbag, or should I say collector, named Anne is harassing him on his cell phone since she can't get thorugh to the house since we activated Call Intercept three weeks ago.  Since Viking calls from unidentified numbers, Call Intercept blocks their calls.  It wasn't why I got it, but stopping them at home is in the nature of an added bonus.

Anyway, she left multiple messages on his cell phone and since he has some hearing loss, he asked me to retrieve them.  First, Anne spoke so freaking fast that I had to listen to the messages three times so I could get enough informnation to have him call back.  Then she yells at him so loudly thatI can hear her from the living room whereI am.  he was in the back of the house at the time!  He gave me the phone,completely distressed and aggravated.  I refused to speak to Anne and demanded to speak to her supervisor.  After five minutes of  arguing, Anne realized I wasn't backing down and got him.  The supervisor wasjust as nasty, but at least agreed that Anne would not call him again.  I told him that if the harassment continued, we would turn this over to the attorney working with us on suing Palisades Collections for FDCPA violations.

This morning, while my husband was throwing up from the flu and on his way home, Anne called again- at 6:30 am New York time.  hey sweetie- that is two flagrant FDCPA violations!  You can't call before 8 am in the area where the debtor lives and you can't call for at least three days once you have spoken to the debtor.  Anne and Boog dear nead to getlives and realize that if they don't stop being so overly aggressive, they will join the 15.1 million people out of work at themoment and realize how people can easily fall behind on their obligations.  

Jim, I am so sorry for your loss.  VCS bottom feeding jerkoffs made a bad situation even worse by berating your mother-in-law while her daughter lay dead in the next room.  Is that the type of employee VCS employs, boognation?  If soi, it is no wonder that budhibbs.comlists them as one of America's worst collection agencies!

NCO tried to go after my father for a debt my mom had run up before she died, but since she died without a will, as I assume was the case with your sister-in-law, that means she died intestate.  That means (are all bottom feeder collectors paying attention?) that her family WAS NOT LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEBT AND IT DIED WITH HER, particuarly if the debt was listed in her name only.  Jim,in NY, Arnold Diaz, a consumer reporter for Fox 5, would glom on to a story like this and induct the collector and his company into his "Hall of Shame" for millions of people to see to up the humiliation factor.

Now to my experience with VCS.

In July, my husband and I made a settlement to pay off a Visa he had with Credit One Bank.  Unfortunately, a phishing device placed on a card reader at the ATM around the corner from our home which captured our information and cleaned out our bank account.  While we were waiting for the money back,I got laid off from my teaching job due to the lousy economy in NJ, so obviously we had tomake opther arrangements.  Since we got the first letter from VCS on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, we obviously hadn't called them yet.

One of your less than honorable colleagues,boognation, a woman named Connie (if that is your real name) called and asked to speak to my husband.  After I identified myself as his wife, she proceeded to talk over me and berate me for the settlement.  I tried to explain what happened and she talked over me and wouldnt let me finish a sentence.  Then she threatened to call him at work after I informed her that such c0ntact was not permissible, a clear violation of the FDCPA.  Then she screamed at me somemore and hung up on me after I told her I do not live near a Western Union.  I called back and spoke to her supervisor,who worked out a monthly agreement and allowed me to use money orders after  I told her about her employee's violations of the FDCPA,which I verified as violations with an attorney who is a friend of the family who has known me since I was born.

Jim, if we don't complain about scumsuckers like boognation and his collection agency, then nothing will be done.  Like Steve  from Bradenton, FL said, "Don't get mad. Get paid!"

Anyway, I am so sorry for your loss. 

I cannot for the life of me understand why people on ROR waste their time getting into pissing matches with these scum-sucking, bottom-feeding wastes of life i.e. debt collectors. In this instance, the solution was clear:

1. Sending a CEASE COMMUNICATIONS LETTER makes ALL calls stop...PERIOD. Upon receiving this letter, the bottom-feeder can MAIL one (1) letter stating their intentions regarding the so-called "debt". If they decide to keep calling, the harassed parties can successfully sue the bottom-feeder for $1000 PER CONTACT due to violations of the FDCPA.

2. Don't want to wait for the bottom-feeder to break the CEASE COMMUNICATIONS order? Your wish is granted. By misrepresenting the fact that they were a debt collector with their initial contact to the funeral home, they violated federal collection law - which requires debt collectors to identify themselves as such from the outset and disclose that their communication is for the purpose of collection of a debt. Just as bottom-feeders cannot claim to be law enforcement (I LOVE that trick. Yes, law enforcement exists to collect debts for greedy companies...except that they are PUBLIC SERVANTS funded by TAXPAYER DOLLARS), they cannot misrepresent who they are and the purpose of their call. I would sue that scumbag IMMEDIATELY for trying to pull that stunt.

3. Viking Collection Services, MEET THE PRESS. I would flood my local and city newspapers (as well as someone like Keith Olbermann, who just LOVES to splash companies like this all over his "Worst Persons" segment) with the precise account of what happened - including the name of the bottom-feeder and the companies who are referring accounts to them. Their newfound fame will do wonders for their client base.

To the uneducated, lowlife bottom-feeder "Boognation", I offer the following advice: Get an education, and then get a TRUE job. No one owes you or your merry band of bottom-feeders ANYTHING. Debtors don't owe you SQUAT. By law, they have every right to deal directly with the original company (assuming the debt is even legally collectable) and tell you to PISS OFF via a CEASE COMMUNICATIONS LETTER. I work for a company that, at times, refers accounts for collection. The first time we hear of ANY outside collection agencies trying to strong-arm people into paying or using illegal tactics to collect, we recall the accounts and fire the company. We then file complaints on behalf of the former customer. We have only had to fire a collection agency once - and we have never had to do it again.

You and your ilk represent the worst of what society has to offer. The educated consumer is your worst nightmare. Thanks to ROR, your days as a business are numbered. Sleep well, bottom-feeder...

Boognation, I see that reading comprehension is not one of your strong suits. Not surprising, considering the caliber of people VCS and other collection agencies hire these days. I suggest you read the post again, sonny boy. One of your buddies at VCS called the funeral home, said he was a family member, only to get the MOTHER of the deceased on the phone to attempt to collect a debt. Now, clearly you're a genius, so I'm sure the idea that these sort of actions are considered deplorable by 99.9% of the people in this world is just a mind blower to you. Numerous local news folks found it to be equally deplorable and challenged VCS on this very issue. You would do well to remember little facts before going on a tirade bashing someone over something that 100% not their fault.

Oh, yeah, you need your money. Blah blah blah. It isn't the debt of the family, smart guy. Ever heard of an "estate"? When folks need to collect on a debt, and the debtor is deceased, they have 4 months after the estate goes to probate. Ever heard of probate, genius? I spell this out to you for this reason - If VCS was that serious about collecting, all they would have had to do was file against the estate. Like MOST folks that are due monies would do. but Gosh BOOG, Kevin and VCS didn't do that now did they? No, they called a funeral home to harass family into paying a bill that wasn't theirs to begin with. do you get that, buddy boy? If not, ask someone slightly smarter than you, they'll clue you in on the process.

Now, with regard to your comments about me being a "loser" and a "whiny baby". Completely without merit and totally uncalled for. But I'll give you credit - you are a fine representative of your wonderful company, Booger boy. You act just as Kevin did. You should be proud. as should those that pull your strings. Adios, tough guy.

I am an employee at Viking and I dont want to waste much time with a person like you but stop putting all the blame on everyone else. Your a typical belly rubbing whiny baby. Maybe your sister shouldnt have run up so much debt. Thats too bad she passed but take some blame and stop putting it all on everyone but her. She ran up the debt and it needs to be paid. And people like you who make threats over the phone are the biggest losers in life. You probably have been pushed around your whole life and you think your tough cause you can finally talk crap to someone over the phone who cant kick your a*s like usual. Well I have waste more time than I wanted to on a loser like yourself. Point is bills need to be paid and not just when its convenient for you. She took the money and now it needs to be paid.

I HAVE WORKED FOR A COLLECTION AGENCY FOR OVER 6 YEARS NOW, AND THE FIRST THING I LEARND IS THAT YOU DONT NEED PROOF OF ANYKIND TO PROOVE THAT A COLLECTION AGENCY HARRASSED YOU OR SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY ECT..IF THEY SAY U ARE HARRASSING THEM YOU NEVER CALL BACK.. HARRASSMENT IS NOT DEFINED IN THE FDCPA..I WOULD SAY THAT MAN HARRASSED THAT FAMILY AND THAT ALONE IS A SUIT...

First of all...Jim, I am so sorry for your loss. That is a terrible thing to endure and even worse around the holidays. My deepest sympathy go out to you and your family.

Second of all...Dan get a real job, and better yet get a life. Who do you think you are to come on here and throw your "knowledge" if you can call it that, out to someone who not only lost a family member but also had to deal with the spineless cowards who work at Viking Collection?

Honestly, if people like you had a decent bone in your body you wouldn't be working in a business where you can hide behind a phone and try to strong arm people who maybe just can't pay at the time because of a situation they couldn't control, or in this case people who suffered deeply and didn't have ANY control over the situation. The truth is someone in YOUR line of business crossed the line and honestly I think you have crossed the line.

Working for a company like you do, maybe you do know a "little bit", because thats all it takes to work in that line of business...VERY LITTLE. I hope that not only your business closes but also Viking Corp. And like I said above...get a real job where you have to be a grown man and face the people you are trying to strong arm, but then again...you're probably a 5'2" 100 lb. punk a*s who was bullied in school for having "short man syndrome" and since you know a "little bit" i feel I should go into detail about that syndrome.

It when someone is physically small and has to have a big #@$@# attitude to feel better about themselves at the end of the night. Since you assumed about Jim's situation I just assumed about yours. I hope you get sued and you endure a really tough situation, so that in the end karma can bite ya where the good Lord split ya. And you, sir, better hope he is a very forgiving Lord because you are headed to meet the "man" underground with your Holier Than Thou attitude.

Again Jim...I'm deeply sorry. I just had to get this off my chest. I was upset when I read the nonsense that that person wrote. But I do feel better :)

My complaint had NOTHING to do with tarnishing the fine image of your occupation. It had to do with making people aware of the deplorable tactics used by someone who clearly crossed the line. Sure, if I can tarnish Kevin in the process, who cares. But ask yourself this - How did Kevin come in contact with the family at the funeral home? He read the obit and chose to make a ruthless call to shake down grieving family members for a portion of the debt. What kind of a person does this?

Regardless of whether my sister in law owed the money or not, when she died he knew he was up a creek without a paddle on the debt and he chose to call and harass the family on the day we were saying goodbye to her. And what's more, it was not the fault of anyone in the family that she had a debt. Good people, regardless of their relation to the debtor, were cause further pain by this. Good god, her mother had to listen to some p***k berate her over a debt while her daughter lay in wake in the next room. But because all debtors whine that should make it ok? I'm sorry Dan, but the collections profession isn't gonna get any sympathy here.

This was a clear cut case of harassment. He was wrong. Nothing justifies Kevin's actions. Not the general distain that collectors have for debtors, not his zeal in trying to please the company, nothing. Put the shoe on your foot Dan. If it was your daughter, your sister, your family member how would you feel?

Well...I've been a bill collector for a while now so I know a little bit. Im aware of all the agencies getting sued including mine all the time, its nothing new. I did a search so im aware of all the violation complaints.
But Im just saying unless you got it all on tape you pretty much got nothing. You can go thru the trouble of getting a lawyer with no evidence. While all the agency has to do is show up to court and show the notes that the bill collector wrote (name) refused to pay. swore at me, and threatend me and hung up the phone. You lose sorry.

I just find it so funny that debtors think they are special that they dont think they should pay the fees and interest when thats what the agreed to in the first place. Then have the nerve to shout harassment to every bill collector that calls. If debtors spent half of the motivation they have on dodging bills they could have it paid or have it worked out.

Also it seems that the only ones that whine about how the fees and interest rates are so unfair are the ones with a 200.00 limit. I mean c'mon, they only gave you that small limit for a reason....thats cuz you have a history of not paying bills. I rarely hear people with high credit limits complain...credit cards is a game. Learn to play it or just don't use them. Don't use credit cards to supplement your income because all your doing is trying to live abouve what you make.

If you do searched on collection agencies on this site, you will find numerous complaints about violations. One collection agency was recently shut down. Maybe you work for a "good" collection agency, but there are still agencies out there who break the law on a a daily basis. Here's hoping they are next in line to have their doors closed...permanently.

Im sure your pretty mad but unless you have the call recorded theres nothing you can do. Its your word against theirs.

Plus the collector can document anything they want and if it does go to court and you dont have the conversation on tape the judge will most likley believe the agency.

Collection agencies now days are not the same as they were 10 years ago. There are so many checks ang balances that unless you got hard proof, dont waste your time with an atty.

depending on the amount of effort and time you want to put toward this situiation you do have recourse. first of all if your post is correct and this was a personal bill ther is no responsibility on the part of the deceased's mother.

the act of making that phone call is a violation of collection law. the FDCPA (fair debt collection practices act) or p.l. 95-109a, states that it is a violation to call or try to call a consumer at any time that is inconvient or know to be inconvient. it also states that it is a violation of the FDCPA to release the deatils of an account to anyone except the consumer without power of attorney or permission from the consumer. i assume that she had passed away recently that there is no power of attorney and oblivously there was no permission given.

there are several other violations of the law in the breakdown that you just provided. i would get an attorney and have a suit filed against these jerks. i am in the finance industry and people like this give all of us a bad name. you may also want to run an internet search on a cons advocate named Budd Hibbs, he can probably help. i am sorry for your personal loss and the problems these loosers haave caused. godspeed.