Leading Edge Recovering Solutions rude, harrassing, lying, ripoff Chicago Illinois

First, I never give legal advice. I try to make that clear every time. I am not a lawyer and I do not know the specifics of any particular matter. I give my opinion or I share information that I have seen elsewhere. This is a public forum and there is no quality control that I know of; other than the hosts screening out obvious problems. No one should ever rely on this type of information. They need to think for themselves.

I do not verify every peice of information. I share it if I think someone will find it interesting or possibly helpful.

With technology today, you can set up a call center anywhere. I did not say offices. Ever hear of VOIP? Check it out.

I didn't say they cared about the homeless. I said they made them work for food. They were taking advantage of them,not helping them.

I do not believe that there is a strict background check required to work at a call center. Turned down because of an 8 yr.old DUI? Baloney!

If you are a collector, why don't you explain to us exactly why you guys deserve to be paid anything. Give a full legally valid explanation,not some vague B.S story.

It is true that you don't have to provide customer service. You can be as rude, mean and nasty as you want to be. That's why no one should ever talk to you. They don't have to.

Whoever gave you the "actual information" about a $300.00 min. payment for an amount over $1000.00 was misinformed or lying to you. I would love to hear the legal logic to that one. This is just another one of the many lies you guys tell yourselves and anyone who will believe you. Good try anyway.

As far as I'm concerned, you're being overpaid if anyone sends you even a dollar.

No legal advice this time?

Explain to me Tom how collection agencies have set up offices within a prison? A very thorough criminal record check has to be done in order to work in a debt collection agency first. Someone I know got turned down for the job becuase he had DUI 8 years ago.

Collection agencies must be great if they are getting work for homeless people. What a wonderful group of companies, helping people with a job that really need it.

In terms of them lying by giving a false name, that is not illegal. There is not 1 state which says a debt collector can not give an alias name. There are 4 states that do require all aliases to be registered.

I guess Tom would call me the good cop. Tiffany, you were not treated well in this situation, not going to argue that. I try and treat every "debtor" I speak to, with respect. It is not always easy. IF you are dealing with a 3rd party agency though, they don't have to provide customer service. They are not trying to keep you as a customer. However, every person deserves to be treated with respect.

Finally a piece of actual information, not just opinion. When trying to set up a payment arrangement, I am told that if the balance is over $1000, the first payment needs to be at least $300. Not to say that they won't accept less though, but people need to be realistic. If you say that you want to take care of the debt, and it is $2000 for example, and you say that you will pay $5.00, they probably will scoff at it. If you send them the check though, the will cash it.

No legal advice this time?

Explain to me Tom how collection agencies have set up offices within a prison? A very thorough criminal record check has to be done in order to work in a debt collection agency first. Someone I know got turned down for the job becuase he had DUI 8 years ago.

Collection agencies must be great if they are getting work for homeless people. What a wonderful group of companies, helping people with a job that really need it.

In terms of them lying by giving a false name, that is not illegal. There is not 1 state which says a debt collector can not give an alias name. There are 4 states that do require all aliases to be registered.

I guess Tom would call me the good cop. Tiffany, you were not treated well in this situation, not going to argue that. I try and treat every "debtor" I speak to, with respect. It is not always easy. IF you are dealing with a 3rd party agency though, they don't have to provide customer service. They are not trying to keep you as a customer. However, every person deserves to be treated with respect.

Finally a piece of actual information, not just opinion. When trying to set up a payment arrangement, I am told that if the balance is over $1000, the first payment needs to be at least $300. Not to say that they won't accept less though, but people need to be realistic. If you say that you want to take care of the debt, and it is $2000 for example, and you say that you will pay $5.00, they probably will scoff at it. If you send them the check though, the will cash it.

About the people who call you from collection agencies.

Collection agencies rent out a large wharehouse and they fill it with over 100 people who get paid minimum wage to call and threaten you.The only qualification is:can you sound mean and scary?

They even recruit homeless people who work for food.They just ask,can you yell and scream at people?Ok,lets go get a sandwich and give you a phone.

They will even set up a call center at a jail or a prison.Of course,criminals will know how to threaten you.

Virtually every name someone tells you is a lie.

Almost everything they tell you is a lie or part of a game.

One of their favorite games is "Good Cop/Bad Cop"

That's when the first person is mean,angry and abusive.They threaten,bully and coerce.And then once they think you're really afraid,they have the nice,friendly helpful person call and act surprised that you were treated so rudely.They will apologize and offer to help you.You're relieved to finally get someone who will listen to you.

They practice these little games all day and they have gotten very good at it.They even take turns playing mean or nice.

They record the calls and when they play them back,they laugh at what they have done to someone.
They laugh at how angry or scared they made someone.

They think it's funny.

When an employee shows up for work they are told what roll they will be playing.

"Ok Linda,today you will be mean Mrs.Johnson and Sally,you will be nice Mrs.Smith"

For anyone who wants to talk to them on the phone, this is what you will get.
Lies,threats,tricks and games that they find hilarious.

Is this what you want? Is this what you deserve?

Of course not.So,why put up with it?

Here are the most important rules.

1)NEVER talk to anyone from a collection agency on the phone.
2)NEVER admit to anything.
3)Debt Collectors never deserve to be paid anything.
4)You never owe anything to a debt collector.
5)Never pay them anything.
6)Tell them,in writing,that you do not owe them anything.
7)Tell them,in writing,to cease all communications with you.

Tiffany,
I think you should log-on to ftc.gov. Customer rights under the fair debt collection. Your protected and you may want to file with the federal trade commission and BBB.