There are basically two types of individuals who end up working at collection agencies -- people who are recent to the country and have no other options and people who get enjoyment out of trying to bully others usually because they are unhappy in their own life and powerless. Anyone else who tries it doesn't last very long.

As much as I think what collection agencies do is immoral and wrong the employment is commission based -- both for the company and for the employee who is calling. Being an as***le is more effective than treating people with respect. To make enough money to make the job almost worth doing you need to be rude and abusive.

A good strategy is to not let them upset you -- especially if you know that they have no power. I'd be very nice but just not interested in talking about the debt. If they are upsetting you then they know you want this to stop so if they just annoy you enough you might pay to make it stop. If you don't get upset, annoyed, and show complete indifference with a hint of mocking they realize they are wasting their time and will stop calling.

This shows that collection agencies are getting desperate for money or the bill collectors fear they might lose their job if they don't bring in the money. I would also put the heat on the creditor you owe the money to because the collection agency is working on their behalf. I had a situation like this with a collection agency and when the creditor found out the calls stopped and I received a letter of apology and also the debt was settled for 10%.

oh I am...they are already in trouble cause the guy I'm seeing is sending a letter from his lawyer today as they called and harrassed and also looked up his credit and had no means...they knew about his house, his credit cards EVERYTHING even his ex girlfriends name....they are obviously desperate now.

They won't sue you. They can't win so a waste of $150 plus the cost of filing for them.

Still you need to be aware just in case they do. A collection agency can try to sue on a state barred debt hoping the individual will not respond and then they can move for a default judgment. That can be reversed but it is a pain to fix.

What they are doing is illegal. I would document everything.

I think they wanted to see if pay roll will just garnish my wages without going to court?? Human Resources contacting me and said they wont do that without a court order but than of course Contact resource services contacted me agian I think they thought I would cave after the fight last night but I didnt and so they said they will take me to court than and the court date will be as soon as tomorrow? I knew that part wasnt true but was curious on how soon they can be. By that time I will have everything put in order once I get all my stuff from Equifax and Trans Union. Ha ha ha they even said they are going to contact my landlord... what the hell is he going to do? Im assuming that they are just trying to scare me.... since this debt is past 6 years now. I said that to them and they argued the fact stating I knew about the debt....I of course said ya I knew about it when you called me.....I told them to make sure they bring in last nights recording too to the court and the other ones where she's harrassing my co workers and brief confidentiality...she hung up on me and said see you court!

"Tptplayer this is the web site that Dave Pitkin e mailed me back with Ive sent in a complaint already but havent heard anything, even put in a complaint to the better business bureau. http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/Pages/Complaint_Steps_to_File.aspx "

That is the proper channel but I find it is a waste of time.

Consumer Protection and Brian Pitkin are actually in the same building and Brian's job is to deal with issues that don't get resolved via Consumer Protection.

Going the Consumer Protection route takes months. Further, Consumer Protection has no power. They can only mediate but both Equifax and collection agencies can just ignore them. The only power that Consumer Protection has is that it can send the file to Mr Pitkin. This is what collection agencies count on. They know they can screw your credit for 6+ months and that most people will quit because the process is so slow.

Ontario
Brian Pitkin, CD
Registrar of Collection Agencies
5775 Yonge Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, ON M7A 2E5
Fax: (416) 326-8665
e-mail: brian.pitkin@ontario.ca

Freeland Manchester
Compliance Officer
Office of the Ontario Registrar of Collection Agencies
5775 Yonge Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, ON M7A 2E5
Fax: (416) 326-8665
freeland.manchester@ontario.ca

TptPlayer : It takes a few days and maybe even a week or more. I called him December 30th and then e-mailed him with the details. I followed up the first week of January and he told me he had a few e-mails to get to before mine. On the 13th he e-mailed me to say he had started and Equifax shows that he contacted them on the 14th.

705Jenns

No.

To sue you they first have to file a Statement of Claim and then serve you.

You then have either 20 or 40 days to respond depending on how you were served.

Once you respond they are notified and in most jurisdictions a meeting to try to mediate the issue is scheduled. This can be a few weeks to a few months into the future depending on where you live and how bust the local court is.

After that you go to court. That again can be a few weeks to months into the future.

Why are they contacting your HR department. That is illegal.

That this **** seems to go on non-stop is really pissing me off. I'm a hard nose when it comes to people paying their debts but the behavior of collection agencies is just appalling and I can't believe this goes on and no one has really made it much more public. Where is the Toronto Star on this? I mean they love any lefty / poverty issue -- Do they cover how horrible the credit system is for people who end up messing up?

Tptplayer this is the web site that Dave Pitkin e mailed me back with Ive sent in a complaint already but havent heard anything, even put in a complaint to the better business bureau. http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/Pages/Complaint_Steps_to_File.aspx

They contact my work human resources and said they can do court day as soon as tomorrow is this true?