Blockbuster Video ripoff Albuquerque continuing saga of the Block Buster late fees! Pay your late fees or they will ruin your credit! New Mexico

If you do not pay CPA the information will go on your credit report. I'm a Store Manger with the company, and I get people in my store every week paying on old fees that they have not paid and go to refinance or buy a house and this has kept them from buying a home, or getting a lower interest rate, then, they come in and take care of their obligations. I think it's pretty sad that people think they can run up fees with a company and then not pay them because they are unable to follow the rules and policies in which they agreed to follow. Especially with the new policies. It's not a rip-off, its not a scam, and its been in place now for almost 2 years.

It says the end of late fees, not the end of due dates, not there will be no fees charged, it is merely stating the daily late fee charge is no longer in enffect. It is the consumers responsibility to know return polices and fees, I ask at every store that I shop in if I have never been there before.

Patrick,

After reading your response, I called 3 different people.

1. My old district manager
2. A district manager that I knew from another district.
3. A close friend and my old area manager

They all stated the same thing, the ammount has nothing to do to it, and this should not be on Gary's credit report.

On top of this, I called CPA which verified that information.

Gary -- I think you should pay your late fee because it's the noble thing to do. Plus, there appears to be some doubt on the credit reporting. I would check your credit report, but according to credit report standards (I work for a credit company now) a fee charged to an account where there is no billing cycle is not based on credit. Therefore there would be no reporting. I do not agree, nor disagree with Patrick (not gilbert, the other one), but you may just want to pay it just in case.

Gary,

You need to get this paid up. My friends in Boise and Gilbert are incorrect.

As a former District Manager for Blockbuster in New Mexico for over 5 years (franchise is Serendipity), if you are sent a "collection Letter" for any amount over $10.00, it will be turned over to collections and will be reported on your credit report if it is not paid. If the amount was $9.99 or less, then my fellow BBV friends are correct, you have nothing to worry about and Blockbuster will just write-off the balance.

The letter from the Credit Protection Agency is the first step to collections. If you ignore their letter (again, only if the amount is over $10), then it will be reported on your credit report.

Again, my friend from Boise (who worked for the same owners under a different franchise name) is incorrect, so please be careful. Having this reported on your credit for 7 years is not worth it for $12.01.

Give Steve Bernstein (the VP and the son of the owner) a call and tell him how you feel.

Gary,

You need to get this paid up. My friends in Boise and Gilbert are incorrect.

As a former District Manager for Blockbuster in New Mexico for over 5 years (franchise is Serendipity), if you are sent a "collection Letter" for any amount over $10.00, it will be turned over to collections and will be reported on your credit report if it is not paid. If the amount was $9.99 or less, then my fellow BBV friends are correct, you have nothing to worry about and Blockbuster will just write-off the balance.

The letter from the Credit Protection Agency is the first step to collections. If you ignore their letter (again, only if the amount is over $10), then it will be reported on your credit report.

Again, my friend from Boise (who worked for the same owners under a different franchise name) is incorrect, so please be careful. Having this reported on your credit for 7 years is not worth it for $12.01.

Give Steve Bernstein (the VP and the son of the owner) a call and tell him how you feel.

Gary,

You need to get this paid up. My friends in Boise and Gilbert are incorrect.

As a former District Manager for Blockbuster in New Mexico for over 5 years (franchise is Serendipity), if you are sent a "collection Letter" for any amount over $10.00, it will be turned over to collections and will be reported on your credit report if it is not paid. If the amount was $9.99 or less, then my fellow BBV friends are correct, you have nothing to worry about and Blockbuster will just write-off the balance.

The letter from the Credit Protection Agency is the first step to collections. If you ignore their letter (again, only if the amount is over $10), then it will be reported on your credit report.

Again, my friend from Boise (who worked for the same owners under a different franchise name) is incorrect, so please be careful. Having this reported on your credit for 7 years is not worth it for $12.01.

Give Steve Bernstein (the VP and the son of the owner) a call and tell him how you feel.

Thanks Patrick. Like the title says, if your really wanting to know if you have been reported, just get a free credit report. I work collections for the largest financial organization on this planet now, and I can assure you, CPA is nothing. Do a little research yourself and you will see.

I was a store manager for several years, and this was one of the biggest confusions. I don't think I ever had a single week where someone didn't call in, furious that we had sent them to collections. The "collections notice" you have, I have seen many, many times. Hope this settles it, I don't have much more I could say.

Gary,

I will chime in here and back up what J has said. This wil not be reported on your credit report. It can't be. It is not a true debt by the definition of the FDCPA.

As J said, this is a cleverly disguised threat. The idea is to make you think it might gone on your credit report. Lots of collection agencies use this tactic.

I am a former store manager, so I know how this is. However, it does not mean I agree with the practice.

You will note
Credit Protection Association, L.P.
"A Nationwide Collection Company"

So it seems as though this will be reported on my credit rating.

Ok, I'll make this quick and answer in a "list" fashion to be better understood.

1. The Albuquerque stores are part of a franchise with doesn't participate in the "end of late fees" promotion.

2. Many people want to know "well how should I know" Well, this is a good argument, but for the owners of the franchise it's very difficult. They can't print up signs saying "yes, we do indeed still have late fees" Either way, it's bad publicity. If they go with the corporate "end of fees" program, they lose tons of money because it is a flawed program. Give people the ability to be late and well, society is going to take advantage of it, thus ruining what could have been a good deal.

3. Dont fret over the collection notice. If you answer the simple question "what does CPA stand for" (credit protection agency) you'll notice there is no mention of collections in there title. The franchise doesn't want to print up all there own late fee notices (this process would cost thousands due to all the late customers) so they use this agency to send out notices for them. It is an attempt to collect a debt, but it's not going to effect your credit anymore than a dirty napkin. Simply a reminder.

4. Pay or don't pay-- your credit will be fine. If you really want to have the fee removed, call the district manager. His/Her number should be printed on the board that has the prices listed.

Hope this helps!

--J

Ok, I'll make this quick and answer in a "list" fashion to be better understood.

1. The Albuquerque stores are part of a franchise with doesn't participate in the "end of late fees" promotion.

2. Many people want to know "well how should I know" Well, this is a good argument, but for the owners of the franchise it's very difficult. They can't print up signs saying "yes, we do indeed still have late fees" Either way, it's bad publicity. If they go with the corporate "end of fees" program, they lose tons of money because it is a flawed program. Give people the ability to be late and well, society is going to take advantage of it, thus ruining what could have been a good deal.

3. Dont fret over the collection notice. If you answer the simple question "what does CPA stand for" (credit protection agency) you'll notice there is no mention of collections in there title. The franchise doesn't want to print up all there own late fee notices (this process would cost thousands due to all the late customers) so they use this agency to send out notices for them. It is an attempt to collect a debt, but it's not going to effect your credit anymore than a dirty napkin. Simply a reminder.

4. Pay or don't pay-- your credit will be fine. If you really want to have the fee removed, call the district manager. His/Her number should be printed on the board that has the prices listed.

Hope this helps!

--J