Collection Agents - Not Nice

Although I personally have impeccable credit, a friend of mine does not. I decided to get him out of a tight spot by paying off his debt to a collection agency. I spoke to them on his behalf and we agreed on terms. The female collection agent assigned to my friend's account faxed me the terms of settlement which said that 1/10th of the settlement amount needed to be received today and the balance needed to be received within 5 days.

On the phone the agent said that she wanted me to give her a (2) check numbers and my checking account information so that she could draw the funds per the settlement agreement. She wished for 1/10th of the funds to be withdrawn from my account immediately and the remaining 9/10ths she would withdraw 5 days later.

I spoke to my personal banker and she informed to absolutely NOT give anyone - especially a collection agency my account information. The bank cannot setup a finite and specific withdrawal schedule. Once you have given them the account information they can access your account at will and you will be powerless to control it.

With this information I called the collection agency back and spoke to a different representative. I asked for their Western Union transfer information. He gave it to me. I decided to send the full amount at once instead of as two payments, just so that we wouldn't have to deal with these people a moment longer. Later on, I found out from my friend that after his assigned representative found out that the payments were going to be sent Western Union instead of having access to my personal bank account information she threatened that she was not going to accept the payments and that she was going to sue as well as having my friend picked up by the police.

I understand if a person has no intention of paying their debt and they are deadbeats. There doesn't need to be a lot of sympathy for the habitual credit abuser. However, there are times when people find themselves in the unexpected position where they are trying to make payments as best they can and are trying to work with their creditors.

Being a collection agent may be financially rewarding. However, often the work entails preying on the already struggling, financially challenged, who cannot afford legal advice. Agents use strong arm tactics with threats and intimidation of those who cannot defend themselves. It's a place I'm glad I only have had to visit from the outside.