It seems with the useless forms a govt help for dealing with collection agencies that maybe recruiting some of the suicide bombers in Iraq might be the answer.I mean they want to blow themselves up so why not do something useful when they do it.

jaidensmum
Welcome and good to know.

Raymond you flea bitten varment... they might blow you into smithereenies... :)

Micky Mouse? I was thinking more of Yosemite Sam. I dunno about the $1000 fine thing. I'm only aware of Manitoba and The Yukon having a 300% false collection penalty for agencies and debt buyers. Mark Silverthorn concurs in his book, although I think he's in error with respect to its enforcement in Manitoba.

I don't know where you live but consumer protection laws are not enforced by and large in Ontario under Brian Pitkin. Probably, it's similar in other provinces. Generally, you have to sue the collection agency in court to get results. Silverthorn talks about laying criminal harassment charges through the local police or via a JP but that's all rubbish.

Unfortunately, these companies try and blackmail you by putting false info on your credit reports as well through deluging them with hard inquiries. And if you seek proof of the account details by demanding a copy of the file they have on you through PIPEDA, you can pretty well expect the agency stonewall you (even the major banks do that) and the Ottawa Privacy Commissioner to respond with form letters. What else would you expect from government pencil pushers?

Best if they call, simply call the ombudsman, Lorie Roberts back each time and tell them to F*** Off. I know it's rude, but it's either that or you can pay Mark Silverthorn $300 for each cease and desisit letter. It won't be any more effective - and they know Silverthorn's not going to appear in court for you either. Ask Silverthorn how many court cases he's handled for harassment, if you call him. Make him give you an exact number.

Ray

If you read the laws set out for the collection agencies, if I'm not mistaken, they cannot harass family member nor discuss your matters with them UNLESS you authorize a specific person (3rd party) - this must be done in writing only. I'm going to assume that this is not the case. Perhaps it would be best to read up on the laws for these companies, PLUS contact Consumer Affairs. Know your rights & the laws FIRST. I would strongly suggest calling this company MJR and trying to settle this.

My husband is dealing with stat-bar, and mistaken identity or even false accounts with Aktive Kapital right now. He's gotten our MPP's office involved to help him. After months of dealing with these people he finally got some useful information today; one acct is over 11yrs old - last activity (payment of $90.00) was in 1997, the other acct has no information at all. That one is with TD Canada Trust - who has NO RECORD AT ALL of my husband ever doing business with them up till this year when he took some car/bike insurance out. Sadly, my husband has a very common name (first & last).
Also, one lady discussed all of the account information with me just because I'm his common-law. My husband did NOT write a letter of permission to discuss anything with me.

My husband has done A LOT of reading up on this and he said that it states for EACH account of false information, the agency must pay a "fine" of $1000.00. I do believe that that is only in the event that it goes to court though. Also, if you tell these people to STOP calling - ONLY correspond through mail, they HAVE to oblige by that or it is considered harassment. You must speak with them first.

Activ Kapital is one mickey mouse company. I called the Ombudsman Ontario place earlier this week, and the lady there told me that this company is no longer registered as a 3rd party collection, which means they no longer collect on behalf of a client. They are purchasing the accounts and collection on behalf of themselves. AND because they are not 3rd party, basically the rules don't apply to them, HOWEVER they do HAVE to abide by certain rules and regulations.

You have to be careful with these companies. My husband has been fighting with them over a few accounts for a few years now. One was wiped off his credit report because of lack of information (all they had was a first/last name). My husband has demanded to see his signature on these two accounts he's fighting now to prove they are his and they told him the only way they'd produce that is if it went to court (does this signify that they DO have his signature on some sort of contract??). He said, "then take me to court because you will NOT win!!" He was told to send them an affidavit stating these accounts are not his. Why he has not, I don't know but he's still fighting with them and they are ruining his credit score which he has fought for very hard to get back up to par.

Anyone else deal with this company and or any company with a similar situation??

Hi Nameuser,

I've never had a student loan or any other financial instrument that had my parent's phone number, name, etc. My surname is not uncommon, just a regular old Irish name. :)

I'll try your advice on Monday. Is there a particular format one should use with the "cease and desist" letter? I can certainly draft something on my own, but was wondering if there was anything out of the ordinary that should be included. I'll call them from a payphone - not to worry about that.

Thanks again,

JB

As the economy continues to slide, collection agencies, especially in Canada, are making a special year end push to cash in on the bonanza of debt misfortune and layoffs. Those unfortunate enough to be in collections can expect an intense period of histrionics, false threats, name calling, insults, high pressure, lies and second mortgage refinance demands @20% so owners can meet lucrative Christmas bonuses and mortgage kickback targets.

Expect the thugs and bottom feeders at George Krieser's Total Credit Recovery, Gobal Credit and Collections/Natale Law Offices, Activ Kapital (aka collection agency Kapital) and ARO to be stepping up the telephone terrorism campaign in all provinces (except Manitoba) to celebrate this Yuletide season. Big Christmas bonuses and performance reviews are on the line, and so they're going after the money in a frenzy anyway they can get it.

Forget about government protection laws; they are virtually meaningless- hardly worth the paper they're printed on. It's every person for himself.

Ray

Jazzy,

I can't comment on your specific situation - primarily because I don't know if Jason Rice has been contacting my family? What I can tell you is that he's been after me for some time now and from what I've seen, he suffers from drastic mood swings. Some of the msg's he leaves are polite and well worded, while other msg's are militant and demanding - almost as if out of desparation.

As you've probably noticed, he also warehouses a bunch of "human-tools" to wardial people on his behalf. I say it as such because those grade 3 drop-out's always indicate that they are calling ON BEHALF of Jason, and not via their own accord. Seems like a Mickey-mouse shop to me.

Good luck with your quest to stick it to 'em.

O.C.

Just wondering if you have a student loan by any chance?? That's the most likely account an agency will call parents houses for.

If not, then maybe an uncommon last name and your parents are listed or your parents phone number/address is on your credit from years ago and the agency went after that.

Just block your number and call MJR to find out what its about. Make sure you get the fax number. Call whoever the creditor is and tell them to have the agency stop calling your parents. Fax a cease and desist letter to the agency telling them who you spoke with and that they aren't to call your parents. CC the fax to ministry in your province if you wish.

As I alluded to in my first post on another thread, my immediate family is struggling with some financial issues and we're now being harassed by a few collection agencies.

An agency called MJR has been calling my parents house and harassing them for my home phone number. I'm not sure how they obtained my parents number as I've never had a credit card when I was living at home and was a student and never had them as a co-signor on anything I've done financially. Plus, I left home a very very long time ago which makes this even more bizarre.

Tonight, they call my parents place and are harassing my mother for my telephone number, which she refused to release. She doesn't know who these people are and my number is private and unlisted so she won't give it to anyone period, how much more a total stranger on the phone claiming he's calling to "help her son". She asks what he wants to help with and why he's calling, to which he says he's bound by the Privacy Act. He then infoms her that he is a "Co-ordinator" and that he wants to help her son because a civil suit is being brought against him. She then challenges him and says well then you broke the law by telling me his private business and by saying there's a civil suit against him.

From reading the forum, this seems to be a practice some of these agencies use - giving false information about a civil suit. I've not been informed of any civil suit. I'm 99% sure it's bogus but I want to stop this harassment of my parents because they're annoyed and frustrated and this guy won't leave them alone.

Any suggestions on how to tackle this one? I have some thoughts, but I'd like to hear from some of you veterans.

Thanks again,

JB