UCB- United Collection Bureau Scared me, threatened me, told me they couldn't find me and I am to appear in court July 3, said they were going after my home, and called my job. Toledo Ohio

This is a continuation of the letter I read #238313 and noticed it was the same company, but more trouble.

Not an hour ago, I get a phone call at work by a man named Chris Vail, saying he was looking for a gentleman, at my place of employment and that he is suppose to appear in court July 3 because of non payment to Citibank. I explained that the man does not work here and has not in 2 years. I did not tell him who I was, but I explained that he was an older man and he was collecting social security. He proceeded, not knowing my name or who I am, telling me that he is to appear in court and that he is to call him immediately. I explained that I was a friend and I would give him the message when I see him. He continued to tell me how he is going to loose his house and the name of his mortgage company. I asked him if he got the papers. He also went on that the reason he did not receive any papers is because when they were sent to his home, they were refused and returned. Now, he is living at that address for 25 years and anyone can figure out which bank is his mortgage. He left the impression that he was calling as an attorney but spoke too much to believe this. The man he was trying to reach is older with a history of heart attacks and a triple bypass plus.

I explained that I was aware that he was using an agency to help pay off the loans because he could not make payments. He in turned explained that Citibank will not work with agencies and that he has to call him and get the dates for court or else he would loose his home for not showing up in court. (again without knowing me). He did not tell me the name of the company, but he left a phone number and an extension. I called the number and got a recording answering UCB. I googled UCB and landed up here.

Where does he get the right to impersonate an attorney or someone to do with the courts? I know Citibank works with agencies and none of this makes any sense.

Well, first of all he was looking for my husband and called my job. We are working with an agency who I thought was doing a great job thus far. We can not make the payments and even if they took the house, it would not pay the debts owed. So, you have an idea what we owe to everyone including the credit card that is also the mortgage company.

I will call the agency and I know they will tell me they will take care of it. But should I take the chance. What do I do?

Before I called the agency in the first place I had another Credit card (HSBC) turned over to an attorney name Slamowitz and Cohen who made court date and told me if I contact them immediately we could work thing out. No collection agency. Right to the attorney.They actually handed us papers. (All over the internet you hear terrible things about these people).

Anyway, I thought I would write a letter rather than talking on the phone at the time. I wrote to them explaining how a credit card company promised I could pay $140.00 per month at 9% until the loan was paid, and after 8 months they seemed to forget our agreement. But I would be happy to send them the money, as agreed, as I was sending the Credit card company, even though they insisted that I owed them more each month, and if they would agree to this, cash the check if not, return it. They cashed the check and all the checks afterwards, but never called or wrote to me. I had an accident and was out of work for 8 weeks, after I had two operations and was out of work for sometime previous to the accident, my husband has been unemployed then he was sick and then laid off so we had trouble paying any of our bills. That is when I fell behind and contacted this credit card agency.

They told me they would take care of everything. Anyway, I had faith in them as the calls from the cards stopped. I also forwarded all my calls and cell number calls back to the number that was calling all day long. So every time they called me they would get themselves instead of me or my recordings.

I received letters offering me 70% off the bill, not to work with any agencies and that they will both work with agencies. I called them and they told them to trust them and they will take care of everything and see where I stand. Now I don't know where to go. I gave them temporary power of attorney and I wonder if I made a mistake.

Do these agencies really work? They told me they come down as much as 50% - 75% and then they put their markup on that amount. They told me in advance how much I will be paying monthly based on what I owe, but it is 3 months and they only settled on one small (non credit card) account.

Where do people like us go? What happens if we go to court? I don't want to loose my house. It is all I have. It is all I own. My car is 19 years old. it is 1989 and my husbands car has a lot of mileage and is 6 years old. We are raising our grandchildren and are afraid of every call and every stranger that comes around. The truth is I can't take it anymore. Any suggestions or advise?

Jean
Peekskill,, New York
U.S.A.