UCB Collection Agency & Mr. Pierre Head Of Collection Dept. UNITED BUREAU, UNITED CREDIT BUREAU, UCB UN LICENSED, RUDE AND HARRASSING Ft. Lauderdale Florida

United Credit Bureau is definitely out of control. But there's a simple way to make them stop calling your wife's workplace. Here's the deal- a collection agency may NOT call your place of employment and put your your job in jeopardy. That behavior is against the law if you communicate that to them. Once you do they may not call there again, and if they do, they are subject to federal charges. So, the next time they call, advise them that they are calling a business line, and that they may not call it again. Also advise them that you have retained a lawyer, and should they call again you will file both charges and a civil suit against the company, the acting manager, and the person making the call. I guarantee that they will not call there again.

Justin,
Right off the bat...you are dealing with a company that is engaging in illegal behavior. While it is legal for a bill collector to contact you at work to leave a message to return a phone call...it is against federal law for a collection agency to discuss your debt with a third party...It is also illegal to imply that legal action is going to take place when this is not the case.

It is likely that this collection agency bought your debt at a substantial discount...i.e. an original debt of $10,000 might be purchased for around $500....so collecting even $1,000 would mean a substantial profit...that's why they are so aggressive...they want to get a large payment fast from you.

Harassing you wife's boss at work is bad and could even jeopardize your wife's job...this is not acceptable. I would send a letter via Registered Mail with return receipt stating something to the effect that the collection agency has violated federal law by discussing a debt with a third-party and that the collection agency is to cease all communication with your wife at work.

General advise:
If you do eventually pay this collection agency: Don't give them one penny until you receive a WRITTEN agreement stating an exact amount that will be accepted for payment and that they will accept this as payment as full...if you don't do this...they (or another) collector can again come after you for the same debt.

Also, NEVER, NEVER, Ever pay a collection agency by giving them your bank transit and checking account number or debit card...doing this is an open invitation to raid your checking account.

Also, I'd document everything and I'd keep all communication with this firm in writing....

On 7/5/07 I received a call from my wife stating her boss received a harassing call from a creditor, named Jennifer at Ext. 6853. The rep stated she was trying to contact my wife in regards to an outstanding credit card debt that need to be paid or this delinquent debit will become a civil matter. Jennifer was rude and had no regard for our privacy when specking with my wife's boss. My wife's boss has stated in the past to my wife that she has received rude Simi-threatening calls from this company in the past. This Company has called many times in the past and has been told every time not to contact the office anymore to get in contact with my wife.

After receiving the call from my wife I called Jennifer and spent 20 min. trying to exp. That since I was out of work we could not afford to make the payment required by Citibank but we could make half the payment to show good faith. Jennifer began to tell me that if we did not either pay the entire amount today or pay the amount required by Citibank, they would take civil action against us and suggested we get a lawyer. Jennifer then abruptly put me on hold. A Mr. Pierre picked up the phone and began to try to overpower me over the phone forcefully telling me that they were going to do whatever they had to do to get this money. He suggested we get a loan or we ask a family member to lend us this money because if we don't pay them by 7/29/07 they would garnish my wifes paychecks and would take as much as they wanted to in order to satisfy Citibank.

As Mr. Pierre continued to rant his voice became louder and he became more rude, arrogant and threatening towards me. I stopped him and told him not to contact my wife's company and he said they will do whatever they want to do if they need to contact us and I told Mr. Pierre that I was feeling threatened and disrespected and did not appreciate the words he was using and they way he was talking to me, but before I could finish what I was saying he hung the phone up on me.