Questionable Bill Collection Techniques (continued)

Hi,
In my last blog, I referred to a few questionable techniques employed by a small percentage of bill collectors. Some additional ones to be aware of are:
1) Bill collectors will often use the term "garnishee wages" as leverage to get a debtor to pay on an account. They often speak as though garnishment of wages will happen overnight. In reality, wages are only subject to garnishment after judgment has been rendered which takes 45-60 days minimum in most states.
2) Another form of leverage used by bill collectors is to mention highly inflated attorney fees that the debtor will be responsible for if a small balance isn't paid in full. For example, a debtor owes a bill of $400.00. The collector calls the debtor and tells him or her that the client is prepared to sue and the attorney fees will be $1,400.00-$1,500.00 to coerce the debtor into paying the bill. In reality, chances are the client will not sue for such a small balance. In addition, the attorney fees would not be as excessive as the collector claims, IE., four times the amount of the bill!
3) Another common form of leverage used is when a collector tells a debtor that a lien will quickly be placed on his or her house. Once again, in most instances, and for most debts, the only way a lien can only be placed on a house is after judgment is rendered and the judgment is registered in the county in which the property is located.
These are just a few more examples of inappropriate collection techniques that are highly illegal, and, if encountered repeatedly, should be documented and reported to the State Attorney General.
Until later,
Alan