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Hello there misscadets!!!
I am in the process of this as we speak again, so hear goes:
1). Demand a dated letter from the collection agency that says you still owe money. Demand (and ensure) that the letter CLEARLY states:
a). the amount of money you owe
b). when the account in question started
c). the account details
i). the lending institutions name, address, city, and phone number, and if possible, a contact name.
ii). the loan in question's number.
d). a payment history or loan statement for the duration of the loan in question, ensuring that the loan number is CLEARLY marked, and that it is indeed the correct loan.
e). who sent the loan to collections.
f). what the collection agency wants from you.
2). When you have this information from the collection agency, gather YOUR proof of payment (do you have cheque stubs? returned cheques from your bank? Bank statements? EVERYTHING. If you have a Paid in Full letter, be damn sure you make a copy and leave the original at home.
3). RUN to your MP, and explain this to them. Show him or her everything you have, and ask for their help.
4). Your MP WILL help you, that is their job. When they get the ball rolling on this (which will be in their office), tell your MP that you are going to go to the media if the situation is not rectified in 30 days (after all, miracles don't happen overnight). And then tell them that you are going to the media anyways in 30 days, one way or the other, to ensure that if it EVER happens to someone else that they know how to help themselves and PROTECT themselves.
5). When your MP has performed this miracle, gather everything up all over again, and call EVERY SINGLE MEDIA OUTLET in your city, from television and radio to every newspaper, including neighbourhood papers, and get this story out. Consumer protection advocates LOVE stories like this.
This is what I did in the past, less the media, and I wish to God I had gone to the media anyways. This time around, I will be going to every news show in the nation.
In my situation, they (Metropolitain Credit) are threatening to take me to court for a loan I paid off in full in August 2005. I said I have a Paid in Full Letter from the CIBC NSLC, in addition to access to the cheque stub that the Bank of Montreal issued to the CIBC NSLC that completely paid off the loan, in addition to a Loan Statement from the CIBC NSLC that CLEARLY shows the loan was paid off. They said I had to send it to them. I asked if they thought I was born last night, that 2 years after the fact it was their responsibility to ensure their facts are straight before they come calling. Metropolitan Credit said it wasn't, and that if I don't send the letter, then they will consider it defaulted and take me to court. I smiled to my TV, laughed, and said I hope their lawyer was as good as mine, because I look forward to seeing them in court on their dime, in addition to the counter suit I plan on launching if they actually do persue this. I'm thinking because of stress, harassment, mental anguish, et al. that I should go for 1 million dollars. Any thoughts anyone?
Anyways, get the word out there sister, and let us know what happens!!! If I can help in any other way, please let me know, ok?
albertagirl
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There is hope! Keep the faith, believe in yourself, and most importantly, when you are threatened, remind yourself that YOU DO HAVE RIGHTS, and that NO ONE can take those away. NEVER AGAIN.
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