M.R.S. Associates, need help!

[skeptic88]

My bf was contacted by someone at their office, he called me for advice, and I told him before he agreed to pay any money, that he should have them send paperwork validating everything... who they are collecting for, for what amount, etc... my bf said okay and told them... but at the same time, he gave them his bank info and said that he would wait for their letter, but told them they did not have authorization to pull money out until he got proof. They have since NOT mailed any paperwork and has deducted money from his account. I'm helping him write a letter now, but am worried that they will try to deduct from his account again while we're writing the letter... I also do not know what to write aside from complaining about not receiving any letter stating what he owes and how much and to whom... he also asked if he could seize all payments from his account or get it closed completely, what should he do?? please help!

[StartingOver08]

Close the account right now!

You already know that the CA lies - witness the withdrawal from the account without the letter.

Never, never, never give your bank account information to anyone over the phone - especially a CA. This will be a lesson to your bf. The only way to stop them from taking more money is to close the account. I would move to a different bank too. JMO.

[skeptic88]

Aside from closing his account, which I will advise him to do, what do we do about getting proof that they are who they are and collecting from wherever? How do we go about handling the money they have already withdrawn. I know that he wants to pay it off, but I just want him to be careful while doing it... basically cover his own butt. Shouldn't they have sent him a letter for all this stuff?

[StartingOver08]

The CA is suppose to send a letter within 5 days of first contact.

You bf should have sent a DV to their letter. However, instead he acknowleged the debt by having the CA take money from his account. I don't think you can get the money back, maybe someone on here knows how to do that. I was just trying to keep the CA from taking more unauthorized funds from your bf's account.

[skeptic88]

....

thank you! I just called him to let him know.

[BigJohn]

The CA is suppose to send a letter within 5 days of first contact.

You bf should have sent a DV to their letter. However, instead he acknowleged the debt by having the CA take money from his account. I don't think you can get the money back, maybe someone on here knows how to do that. I was just trying to keep the CA from taking more unauthorized funds from your bf's account.

This is one of the problems with talking to collection agencies, they get you to acknowledge the debt and the collection agencies have a tendancy not to play by the rules.

[skeptic88]

... my bf just dug up info about the account... he said that the accounts does not match the account number on the account in collection.. does that make a difference? He is going to the bank tomorrow to close his account... what should he do with everything else? he said that he talked to someone earlier yesterday when he found out about the deduction from his account... that was on the 28th of feb, and they said they would send him an email and after scanning his spam box he was able to find it subject read "letter" he said the account didn't match up and that the amount was wrong... that they put less than what they agreed on... by like a grand... but says the letter says they will deduct again closer to the end of this month.... i'm so confused... please continue to help... i will let him on her so that he can type it himself... he knows it best anyhow..

[Nicollette]

If your boyfriend doesn't close that account asap, then the CA will continously deduct from the account, possibly causing several nsf fees. This has happened to me in the past with a CA, causing several hundred dollars in fees to the bank. The bank wouldn't close my account until I brought it to a 0 balance, which I couldn't do, so I included that bank in my BK. The lesson I learned from that was "never give a CA any banking info." They will drain your account!!!

[GoingDown]

This is a good example of why it is best to never speak to a debt collector on the phone. They lie and get information from you (such as your checking account information) that they would otherwise not have.

Think how hard it would be for collection agencies to do their jobs and get paid if nobody ever spoke to them on the phone.

P.S.-- I have been called by this collection agency in the past and I quickly sent them a cease and desist letter and never heard from them again.