Merchants Credit Association Unscruptulous. Unethical & Fraudulent Collection Agency Tactics Redmond, Washington

2 years ago I owed Valley Medical $600 that wasn't covered by insurance. I was making regular consecutive payments to Valley Med on this account, and was current on it. Out of the blue, they sent my account to Merchants Credit Association for collection. I was dumbfounded. This firm operates with the worst scum-bag collection tactics you'll likely encounter in a "civilized" world. They do not operate professionally--to them, everyone is a dumpster-class-low-life-debtor & is treated accordingly. They'll use scare tactics, threats, cattle prods, belligerent rudeness, relentless phone calls at all hours--anything goes. On their days off, I'm pretty sure these employees torture small defenseless animals to maintain an edge on their ruthlessness--because a normal, sane, individual just couldn't spew poison every day at work they way they do, without eventually making themselves terminally ill.

I begin sending my payments to them instead of Valley Med, and they continued to call repeatedly anyway, and threaten me with "legal" action if I didn't make the payment in FULL, TODAY---just give them a credit card number. Word to the wise, you cannot obtain a legal judgment against a party who is making payments, and once a payment has been accepted by the likes of Merchants Credit Assn, they have accepted those terms of debt resolution--so they have no "case" against you. Everything else they threaten you with is just that, a "threat". Their harrassment continued---so I checked my credit history only to find out that they had reported my small outstanding debt as a Charge-Off!! I then made no further payments, as they had already damaged my credit rating--and by their own admission had dismissed my debt as a "charge off". Finally their phone calls stopped after no one answered for months.

What was so riduculous was that Valley General was GETTING their money--on time & on schedule, and they resorted to this nasty collection agency with no provocation. Apparently they do this routinely, so beware. 

So here's the current update on this sleaze-ball outfit: today the phone calls started again from Merchants Credit Association, about the same 2 yr old bill, that they have already trashed my credit over. Do not let these people scare you with legal threats. If they did actually take you to court, (which they are not going to bother with), all you would need to do is produce evidence that you were making good faith attempts to satisfy the debt you owe. Document what you have done if you feel threatened by them. They are not entitled to trumped up "penalities & interest".

This outfit is as scummy as it gets--but they probably terrify enough people into complying with their ridiculous demands--which is why the hospitals are so quick to turn over accounts to them. Don't let them bully you--quit answering the phone, use your caller ID--and don't fall for the phony "summons" gig. And regardless of WHAT you do to try to cooperate with them, remember this: they automatically trash you to the credit bureaus, whether you pay the debt partially, in full, or not at all. I guarantee you that you can take that piece of advice to the bank-- because they did it to me.

So keep that in mind if you are worried they will hurt your credit rating if you don't comply with their demands--the moment your account is turned over to them, trashing you,-is a done-deal.