HOW-TO-FIND-CONSUMER-JUSTICE

FEELING DOWN AND OUT

Here’s a heads up for all of those people who are struggling to meet bills, pay rent and eat. If the struggle becomes impossible and you have, nasty bill collectors calling you every time you turn around I want you to remember it’s not hopeless. There is help for you! One resource I found while roaming the internet is a man by the name of Bud Hibbs. This man spends his time fighting renegade collection agencies, banks and credit card companies. Budd advocates bankruptcy as a last resort, and discourages debt management companies altogether. He is professionally versed in this area and has been assisting consumers through his web site for 12 years.

This is my gift to you, bookmark the page, use it if needed, and pass it along…Spend time reading his web site. You will find so much information concerning your rights, who the bad guys are and how to handle them. Be sure you copy this Cease and Desist letter it may come in handy. I hope you never have to use it but if you do it will help you keep the vultures at bay.

COLLECTION CALLS FROM INDIA

Most collection agencies have started outsourcing their call centers to India where they pay $3.00 to $12.00 per hour depending on the person’s education level. All of their accounts contain personal information including social security numbers. Think about the potential risk factor here. There is no protection in India, or any foreign country against Identity Theft. So here’s my suggestion, write your congressional representative and DEMAND the exclusion of all personal information and social security numbers on accounts being sent outside the United States. After all, protecting us is part of our representative’s job.

Remember, when you answer your phone the collection agent on the other end is trained to be nasty as hell and most of them excel in that respect. Don’t be afraid instead, stand your ground and back them off. Armed with knowledge, you can hold your own against the nastiest of individuals. Keep in mind that some agents are so ruthless (Budd calls them bottom feeders) they will try to collect on a bill that is past the statute of limitations. Each state sets their own SOL so be sure to check the guidelines for your state.

Tip: Credit Cards are ALWAYS considered open accounts. This was established under the Truth-in-Lending Act: See TITLE 15 > CHAPTER 41 > SUBCHAPTER I > Part A > § 1602.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.~~Gandhi