Question:
I have had an experience with Allied Interstate Inc. that I would like
to share with you. I had one of those phone calls on my answering
machine saying that I needed to call this number as soon as possible
on a personal matter. I called, a man said that my son (which is grown
and does not live at home)had an account with Sears that he was trying
to collect for Sears. This account could be settled for $380. that
day, thus keeping my son out of court. I at first said no, I do not
pay his bills, the man kept on, said I should just listen to him, said
he was helping me by calling. Well, I listened, called him back and
told him that I would settle for $300, that was my limit. He (Mark)
said that he would settle for $300. for Sears. He wanted my credit
card number that day to put this amount on. I gave my number to him
in good faith that he was telling the truth and the $300. would be
charged to me and that Sears was going to settle this account. I
thought I would help my son out this one time. I called my credit
card company to see about the charge, Allied Interstate had charged my
account for $380.71! When I tried to call Allied Interstate back, the
first day they wouldn't answer, kept putting me on hold. So, I
thought, my phone number is showing up and they are not going to take
my call. The next day I phoned again, this time doing *67 before
dialing the number (my number wouldn't show up that way), they
answsered immediately!!! I asked to speak to a manager, man came to
the phone, I asked him for the Sears account number that I had paid
for, he told me that I could talk to Sears all day, it wouldn't
matter, Sears had sold that account! Therefore all the stuff about
Sears that this Mark had told me, was Not true! I told this manager
(?) that they had charged my credit card the wrong amount and that
this was fraud on my credit card. I told him that Mark had agreed to
take $300. to settle this account. This so called manager got very
irate with me, saying that my son laid in the bed all day and didn't
work and didn't pay his bills and so forth about my son!! This man
does not know any of the circumstances of my son or anything about
him. I told this man that my son had nothing to do with this, the
transaction was between Allied and myself, he would not listen to me,
he became so irate, I had to finally hang up! My credit card company
phoned these people, with me on the line, and talked to a man (which I
am sure is the same man that was so rude to me, but he said he
wasn't!) about this matter, the man said that the paperwork had
$380.71 to settle, that I could do whatever I wanted to, they would
not refund any of the monies. Although he went on to say that I might
be telling the truth but that is not what his paperwork said!! My
credit card company refunded me $80.71, since my agreement had been to
pay only $300., this was done for my benefit since I have had this
card for several years. This is credit card fraud, as far as I am
concerned! Sears story was all untrue, they weren't even involved
anymore. The company got my monies and snookered me!! I have filed a
complaint with the state of Ohio. So, BEWARE of Allied Interstate
Inc. and don't bother to call back any messages like the one I
received, they are crooks! I don't know if all collection agencies
operate this way or not, I don't usually have any dealings with them.
I will not give up on this, I have reported this to the BBB and
several other places. If anyone out there knows of some specific
organization that I need to report this to, please let me know. I am
going to give Allied Interstate Inc. all the free publicity I can!!
Since I was lied to so much, I feel now, I should be refunded all the
monies I paid them. This transaction was all a hoax for Allied to get
monies, Sears wasn't even involved, they were done with this account.
After all, I paid this to go to Sears, not some dishonest
organization, getting their monies by this type of behavior. These
people must feel really big when they beat people up over the phone
like they did me! I am not finished with this matter! I will take it
as far as I can. The public needs to know how these people collect
their monies. I want this to be public knowledge.
Answer:
Q: I have had an experience with Allied Interstate Inc. that I would like
to share with you. I had one of those phone calls on my answering
machine saying that I needed to call this number as soon as possible
on a personal matter. I called, a man said that my son (which is grown
and does not live at home)had an account with Sears that he was trying
to collect for Sears. This account could be settled for $380. that
day, thus keeping my son out of court. I at first said no, I do not
pay his bills,
A: Three mistakes. First, never talk to a bill collector. Second, never pay a
bill you do not owe. Third, never pay a bill for a relative. I guess I
should add a fourth here . . . never pay a bill that a relative doesn't owe.
