Comments on: Two bills, one collection agency — and zero options http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/two-bills-one-collection-agency-and-zero-options/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nicole http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/two-bills-one-collection-agency-and-zero-options/comment-page-1/#comment-28817 Nicole Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:47:30 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5303#comment-28817 Re: Jay's comment that the collection agency broke the law when it contacted the place of employment. That is not true. The law is if you make it clear to the collection agency that contacting you at your place of employment could jeopardize your job, and that they are no longer to attempt to contact you at that number and then they continue to call you at your place of employment then that is breaking the law. Basically it is harassment that is specifically described in the fair debt collection act. You have to say no before it is considered illegal. Re: Jay’s comment that the collection agency broke the law when it contacted the place of employment.

That is not true. The law is if you make it clear to the collection agency that contacting you at your place of employment could jeopardize your job, and that they are no longer to attempt to contact you at that number and then they continue to call you at your place of employment then that is breaking the law. Basically it is harassment that is specifically described in the fair debt collection act. You have to say no before it is considered illegal.

]]> By: Jay Wynhoff http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/two-bills-one-collection-agency-and-zero-options/comment-page-1/#comment-18465 Jay Wynhoff Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:18:41 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5303#comment-18465 The collection agency broke the law when they called your place of employment. The collection agency broke the law when they called your place of employment.

]]> By: Eric Rosenberg http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/two-bills-one-collection-agency-and-zero-options/comment-page-1/#comment-15374 Eric Rosenberg Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:33:47 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5303#comment-15374 That person's mistake was disputing the charge with their credit card company before first contacting Travelocity and NCL. Always give the merchant the chance to refund the erroneous charge first! They'll see the extra charge, see the extra booking, and all the files will be closed properly. If you get the credit card company involved first, then the merchant only sees that you refused to pay an agreed-upon fee and will generally take action immediately to force you to pay. Disputing via your credit card makes it much harder for the merchant to figure out what's going on because it's sometimes a process and department completely separate from reservations. Of course, if the merchant is recalcitrant and refuses to believe you (or their computers don't show the charge), then it's time to dispute the charge with your credit card. That person’s mistake was disputing the charge with their credit card company before first contacting Travelocity and NCL. Always give the merchant the chance to refund the erroneous charge first! They’ll see the extra charge, see the extra booking, and all the files will be closed properly.

If you get the credit card company involved first, then the merchant only sees that you refused to pay an agreed-upon fee and will generally take action immediately to force you to pay. Disputing via your credit card makes it much harder for the merchant to figure out what’s going on because it’s sometimes a process and department completely separate from reservations.

Of course, if the merchant is recalcitrant and refuses to believe you (or their computers don’t show the charge), then it’s time to dispute the charge with your credit card.

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