Bullied By Debt Collectors
Consumer reporter with featured “Get Jesse” report in Poulsbo Washington ran a story on one debt collector’s abusive collection attempts against a a Poulsbo Mom. The consumer in her story could have ended up paying on a debt that was outside of the statute of limitations in her state, but instead, chose to research her rights and fight back rather than just paying up. The collector threatened that she would be taken to court and implied in his phone calls that this legal action was already in process though though the debt was too old according to state law, for any legal action to be filed.
POULSBO, Wash. – It was a call that felt like a sucker punch to the gut of Dominique Springer. “I was in a panic. I was crying. My kids were asking me what was wrong. It was terrible,” she said. “I kept saying to myself in my head ‘Don’t give him any information, but he was being verbally abusive.”
It was a debt collector from a company called Graham Noble and Associates in New York, demanding a $1,500 payment for a 9-year-old credit card bill that Dominique says was opened in her name by her ex-husband years ago.
“He just started saying there’s a court order in Kitsap County for you and if you don’t pay this debt we’ll trace it to you, we’ll find you,” she said.
Dominique was caught off guard, and she broke down and decided to pay up, but stopped short and put a hold on the payment.
Chuck Harwood, with the Federal Trade Commission, says there are rules for debt collectors that consumers don’t always know about, but they should.
“For a lot of debt in Washington State the statute of limitations is six years, which means after six years, it’s not possible to file an action in state court to claim it,” said Harwood.
“They can’t engage in what we call abusive practices. They can’t threaten, they can’t make misrepresentations in an attempt to collect the debt.”
We called the collection agency, Graham Noble and Associates, about Dominque and they said it was all a mistake, a computer error was to blame for the calls. Then they admitted there was no court order, and they won’t be bothering Dominique any more.
That’s good news to Dominique, who almost started paying on that old debt even when she didn’t have to.
If you’re not sure about old debts, check your credit report and it will tell you how long the debt will be on your report.
We’re not telling people not to pay their bills, but don’t get bullied around by questionable collectors.
Jesse Jones, Consumer reporter, King5.com
Your rights under Fair Debt Collection Law
