HHM/Anyone--advice on American Gen Finance?

[Martha13]

Hi--I'm sorry if I'm a bit of a broken record on this subject but seeing the recent posts about Best Buy makes me want to ask again. (honestly, other than the impending foreclosure on my home, this is the one topic driving me nuts). We are post discharge by close to 3 months, we had furniture around $2300 thru American Furniture financed thru their company. We had a 6 mo deferral of payments w/no interest, then paid on it for close to a year, paid over $1000, but still had balance around $2100 (gotta love those interest charges). We indicated the current value as $500 secured on our C7 filing, with the balance being unsecured, and the atty noted that our intent was to surrender, but he assured us that wouldn't happen in reality as they never want old furniture. We wanted to keep the furniture, and figured we'd wait and see what happens. They sent us a reaff agreement for the full amount of $2100, which we did not sign (a scary moment happened, however, when the clerk from out atty's office ALMOST sent them a signed reaff--she had mixed up the pages between a car we were actually reaffirning--yikes)

Fast forward to now, we are receiving almost daily calls from a company called Global Services with a "pick up order" for the furniture. They sent one little letter saying they haven't been able to reach us. They are in a completely different state from us--Ohio vs CA. We have not answered their calls at all, nor spoken with them. Who ARE these people and why on earth would a company in OH be calling us in CA to supposedly come get this now 2 year old couch and chair? Are they middle-men calling to try to negotiate a payment or do you suppose Am Finance seriously is paying these people to come get furniture in CA??? Sorry so long but this is making me nuts.

[banca rotta]

Since you don't know who they are let them come over and in your house only with the sheriff. They maybe the real thing but if the original creditor doesn't communicate with you I would not allow them in my home. They cannot force their way in either. They need the sheriff.

They could just be liquidators that bought the debt and the furniture. Business is pretty good for them these days.

[jktrading]

From what I've read and understand, just ignore them and they'll go away. What's to say you didn't sell the items anyway? If you don't have the items, let them file a lawsuit and explain why they didn't object to your discharge.

99.9% chance they won't pursue this over used furniture that may be worth a few hundred dollars. They would have to spend thousands to get it back. Not going to happen. I vote to completely ignore them.

[Martha13]

Geez.............what a persistant bunch this GS is....one would think they'd give up like JKtrading said, right??

Got another call, but we did notice in this message that they referenced that they'd also called our attorney's office ! To which I'd like to normally respond: SOOOOOOOOOOO????? We are discharged. Like it matters. But, the interesting thing is they said "we contacted BOB SMITH ATTY'S office"...the only problem is, we only had BOB SMITH ATTY when we first filed, then 1/2 way thru the thing, we suddenly had MR. JOHN DOE, atty--same firm--because--well, we never found out why...in fact, we found out quite by accident, and John Doe is who showed for the 341. My point is that if they are just referring to Bob Smith, they are likely blowing smoke, right? They don't even know the firm name, or who our eventual atty was. Not to mention, why don't they try work #'s, cell #'s, which would have all been given on the original credit app w/AM Furn....................PLEASE, someone, make these people go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[liz417]

I would say they are "blowing smoke", call their bluff...tell them to come pick it up!!!! They don't want old furniture, they want you to REAFFIRM!!!! As you know, DON'T!!!! If they persist, see if they are willing to negotiate for $100...

Good Luck!

[BassBoy]

I would believe if this was legitimate, you would be receiving something more formal about picking up the items, like a certified letter from the creditor (the store or the lender). I'd answer the call and see where it goes.

After about 6 mo's or so, if the items are not requested to be returned, you're usually in the clear that they don't want the stuff.

[Martha13]

Thanks BassBoy...that's kind of what my husband thought, why haven't we received something in writing from the original lender, or even anything more formal than a "hey we tried to call you but couldn't reach you" letter from these GS people *sigh* I know I should just talk to them and see what it is they want, but I'm a chicken. Husband isn't though, so maybe next time, if he's here and they call, he can just pick up and get it over with. The problem is, as if the last several months of annoying phone calls from our own creditors wasn't enough (they've all stopped of course, other than these guys...) but we happened to get a tel# assigned to us 2 yrs ago that apparently belonged to someone who had credit problems of their own, and we get weekly calls for THEM so we've gotten in the habit of just screening calls thru the ans machine and never picking up.

[BassBoy]

.......we happened to get a tel# assigned to us 2 yrs ago that apparently belonged to someone who had credit problems of their own, and we get weekly calls for THEM so we've gotten in the habit of just screening calls thru the ans machine and never picking up.

Oh gosh, what a nightmare that had to be.

Don't be afraid to go toe-to-toe with these people. IMHO, some of them will tuck their tails between their legs quicker than a timid dog. They aren't these big bad-a$$e$ that will come to your home and have a WWE Samckdown on your lawn (LOL!). They're just people, like you and I and everyone else on this forum. Tell them to give you their best shot!

[Martha13]

Hey BassBoy--can I forward the calls to you to handle? hahahaha... Actually, it's kind of funny, the woman who keeps leaving the messages (and trust me, it's always the same gal) sounds like somebody's grandma. And she's becoming increasingly annoyed with us, as we can tell by her tone I am also curious what on earth our atty would even DO if she seriously has contacted them..we're history in his book, I'm sure, discharged since Oct. I know he sent the original creditor a letter saying we were surrendering the stuff, and to contact us after discharge if they wanted, so he's washed his hands of that/us. And the atty's name she uses when she calls is NOT the atty who sent her that letter...

And oh mygoshyes--the other person's calls are the biggest pain in the behind. We had some calls for a while coming from Cash One, I think it was..and they became really nasty----and a little funny--saying things like "your brother won't get away with this!" and "we need to hear from your attorney TODAY!!" I finally grabbed the phone one late night (they would always call very early, and very late, like on Sunday eves when you'd just think it was a legit call) and said stop calling here, you've got the wrong #...dunno if they believed me or not, but haven't heard from them in a while...but we continue to get calls from Visa companies, banks, and recorded messages in a language I don't even understand...

[BassBoy]

Hey BassBoy--can I forward the calls to you to handle? hahahaha.....

ROTFL! You don't how many times I've dealt with morons like this and I've put them in their place. My wife gave me some strange looks when she hears what I've said to people. SHe's even given me a whack after I've said something. I've told them, "Bring it on," and "Be at my door step tomorrow." Nothing ever happened. They're a bunch of gutless yellow bellies. LOL!

But seriously, see what the calls are all about so you and your husband can put this to rest.

[liz417]

...my wife gave me some strange looks when she hears what i've said to people. She's even given me a whack after i've said something...

lol!!