About three years ago I had a credit card and only used it occasionally. One month when I paid it off in full on the due date, as I did each month I received a bill for late fees about a week later. Naturally, this was wrong since I always paid it in full on the due date. I called Haband and I only did business using this card. They advised me this particular bank always posts payments a few days after the due date thereby allowing them late fees and interest. This upset me and I called this bank and informed them I was not paying their late fees or penalties as I had paid on time and had proof of such. This of course did not phase them as this behavior was part of their normal business practices.
I did not hear from them for a few months and then the late notices and feed began to come. My response was I wrote on them the bill was paid in full and I had cut up the card.
Still, they continued their bad business practice. for a few more years. Now, here we are in 2022 and they sold the bill to a debt collection company who are debt collection lawyers. Now the bill is over six thousand dollars! That's right! All late fees, penalties, and interest. They ran this bill up and sold it.
That is so insane, This same bank a few years ago sent me a card for victoria's secret. I sent it back cut in half with an explanation that I was in my seventies and securely past the age of sharing Victorias's or anyone else's secrets! Do these companies ever check to see who they are soliciting?
The debt collection agency proceeded to file in court for payment. Now The only actual charge listed was for the Ulta Beauty store for six hundred and some odd dollars. If this was legitimate it may not be so funny. I am seventy-six years old and I can assure you even a few years ago a truck full of beauty products would not have done me any good! I had no reason to shop in this store then, now, or ever! What a hoax. For goodness sake at least pick a store I might really use!
So interestingly enough The summons said to attend by teleconference, which I did and that was an even bigger laugh.
They had about thirty or so persons on this teleconference and the moderator instructed you to mute your phone and then unmute it when your name was called and say "here" then once again mute your phone. If you did not do this it would be an automatic Default judgment against you. These are fairly clear instructions for an educated person or someone who is familiar with all the features of a cell phone. But, what about immigrants or uneducated persons? Or disabled individuals? I listened as so many individuals had their names called and after about five seconds of silence a voice would yell out: "Judgement" and the moderator would move on to the next name. I heard several people finally unmute their phones and say "present" but it was too late they were moving down the list. I just thought,
"wow" This is an experience of how "A
American Justice " really works! Wonder how much kickback that debt collection company pays that Moderator?
At this point in time, I have until June first at which time there will be a continued "hearing" such as this one. The Moderator made it clear we have this time between "hearings" to settle, and pay. make payment arrangements, file Bankruptcy, or contest the charged amount. I am thinking hard that as a senior citizen I am just hiring a lawyer to tell them to cease and desist. Because they cannot garnish retirement.