Perverted Credit

I saw a blog on the website www.creditandcollectionnews.com and would normally think I cannot believe what I am reading. But considering I know the collection agency business I can believe what I read. I read an article that nationwide credit posted and although quite disturbing because of there lies I am by no means surprized. Here is what Joel wrote in response to an article:

Dear Forbes and Mr. Hawkins, I am a very busy person and have never responded to a published article, but I feel compelled to comment on “How To Outsmart Your Debt Collector.” The attitude of, “What can I get away with, or out of because of a meaningless technicality?” is exactly what our society does not need. As the owner of an 18-year-old collection agency, we are swamped with hyper-technical lawsuits from “ambulance chasing” attorneys and debtors who are searching for a way to get out of paying a legitimately owed debt. The number of these suits has increased dramatically over the past few years, and the merit of these suits are typically laughable with absolutely no damage suffered by the debtor. The primary reason for this is that attorneys have become aware of the fact that a third-party debt collector cannot win when sued. It is simply a matter of how bad you are going to lose. Even if you win in court, you have lost big-time in that it will likely cost you tens of thousands of dollars to prove your case. Let’s see, settle for $4,000 even though you did nothing wrong and the charges against you were completely unreasonable or fabricated, or roll the dice to prove your innocence and spend $30,000 in the process. That is, $30,000 if you win, and by the way, you will have no meaningful chance of recovering any of your costs. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is over 30 years old and largely regulates communication pertaining to debt collecting. Keep in mind, when FDCPA was crafted over 30 years ago, answering machines were not even used, let alone faxing, e-mailing, texting, etc. … The FDCPA is in desperate need of being updated, and many attorneys take advantage of this fact. It is filled with vague language and gray areas that are ripe for misinterpretation, which is just wonderful for low-level plaintiff’s attorneys who are looking to make a quick buck at the expense of those performing an honest and needed service. Most third-party collectors go to great lengths and expense in an effort to comply with the FDCPA. Third-party collectors, at least the vast, vast majority of us, are simply attempting to get someone, the debtor, to make good on his/her legitimate obligation. What’s not good and noble about that? It seems that your article actually encourages bad behavior and “making out” on a trivial technicality. Just because you can get away with something does not make it right. And I doubt you would be so keen on technicalities if someone in your family was the victim of a violent crime and it was found that an arresting officer of the accused perpetrator mishandled two trivial words in reading Miranda rights to the accused. Maybe that headline could read, “How to Outsmart Your Arresting Officer After Committing a Violent Crime.” I give you the benefit of the doubt in that most people do not see things from our perspective; however, your article is disturbing, and it is never “smart” to devoid yourself of your rightful responsibilities. It is simply immoral! Thank you, Joel Lackey
President www.nationalcreditsystems.com

Needless to say I had to respond and here is what I responded with:

Joel,
I also feel very compelled to respond to your blog because you could not be further from the truth. However I am not surprized by your comments as I am very much aware of the training you give your collectors of how to violate consumers rights. I know this because I also used to work for your company. I am the one person that was a collector turned consumer advocate because I know that your tactics are wrong and illegal.

You know very well that your agency does in fact fabricate debt. You also know that your company is infamous for holding “paid” debt” for a few years then contacting the debtor again to get them to repay the same debt. If the awful collection industry was regulated and the attorney generals actually did their job there would be fewer collection agencies arising nationwide.

I do agree however that the FDCPA needs to be written for today’s standards. But prior to this doing any good we have to make the governing agencies do their job. I am in no way saying that people should get out of paying their debt for the most part but I am saying that their needs to be some “ethics” put into this rapacious industry. Debt collectors have rules they are to follow but they in no way do not.

I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt Joel but I cannot. I know what you and your comapny is about and how you work. I know first hand how you knowingly violate consumers rights and collect debt that is in no way legit. What you do and how you train your employees is the immoral part. So if you feel compelled to start making changes then please start by changing the way you run your business!!

Thank you,
Joey www.pervertedcredit.com

Amazing how these rapacious collection think. Let’s break the law and violate consumers rights then blame it on the consumers themselves

I feel the need to recap who I am and why I feel passionate about consumers being violated in the credit industry. It is necessary because depending on who you ask about me I am either good or bad. And this strikes me as funny because there is absolutely no “in the middle” of what people think of me.

            If you ask a consumer who was once my client the majority of them will tell you that they trust me and knew that I was on their side. The reason I say “majority” instead of “al” the clients is because of course the Colorado attorney general told me not to complete the work on the rest of my client’s files; even the ones that paid for the services. I tried getting the Colorado attorney general to allow me to at least complete the files but they absolutely refused to let me. I cannot imagine that these particular clients would think I was on their side; even though I not only was but still am.

            However if you ask any credit company ranging from Citibank, Bank of America, collection agencies or any of the three credit reporting companies they will absolutely say how badly they hate me and give a story; like the Colorado attorney general ken Salazar, laura udis and paul chessin did to make me look as though I was a criminal. But there was one thing the Colorado attorney general either forgot about or did not think I would piece together and that is the DORA report. The DORA report is like a bogus agency that reviews certain government agencies to see of they are doing their job. DORA stands for the Department of Regulatory Agency. The report dated October 15, 2007 states that during the year 2000 to 2001 the Colorado attorney general failed to investigate many of the complaints that were filed because of a “personnel” problem. That personal problem is easy to assume was me. I filed complaints to the Colorado attorney general’s office every time I saw a violation by a collection agency to that client. I must have sent on average of one hundred complaints per month. Only to have laura udis and paul chessin tell me they were not going to investigate. Nothing better than having the Colorado attorney general tell consumers where to go when the agencies they are to regulate break the laws to consumers.

            Nonetheless; the whole lawsuit took a toll on me hard and although I knew I did nothing wrong it was hard for me to accept. I later found the judge that granted the lawsuit in um; shall we say in bed with cheesin and udis. I never had my chance to be heard but that is ok. Just when the Colorado attorney general thought they would be getting rid of a thorn in their side I AM BACK. I am stronger and smarter and I will fight for consumers rights. Today’s credit industry is absolutely awful and I cannot sit back and continue watching consumers be told to bend over. Ken Salazar – you never should have made senate. You are truly one awful politician who runs an illegal office. People will learn about you because I will tell them. Colorado will in fact find out about your ties with the collection agency industry and you will have a lot to answer. The truth always comes out in the end.

My name is Joey and I was a consumer advocate for several years for consumers whose rights were violated by creditors such as banks; credit card issuers, collection agencies, the credit reporting agencies and even the Colorado attorney general. I ran Credit Corrections out of Wheat Ridge, Colorado for several years but was shut done by the Colorado attorney general because I was doing the work the attorney general is paid for by our taxes but unfortunately – the Colorado attorney general does not do their job.

For example; the Colorado attorney general is supposed to “govern” third party collection agencies. Third party collection agencies are the companies that “original” creditors send unpaid accounts to attempt to collect debt. The third party collection agencies are who the Colorado attorney general is to govern; but in fact they do not. The Colorado attorney general’s office goes after businesses or people who actually care about the consumers and the consumer’s rights, the little people. The reason for this is simple; money. When Salazar was in office Salazar had two motives for not going after violating collection agencies. One; Salazar was endorsing Colorado small businesses. If Salazar actually did his job and defended consumer’s rights over half of the Colorado collection agencies would have been shut done according to law. Second; Salazar had a few family members (nieces and nephews) working as third party collectors that were/are some of the worst violators. If Salazar did his job and defended consumer’s – then his third party collector “family” members would be out of a job.

Many years ago the Colorado attorney general shut my business down. As I stated I was a consumer advocate for consumers whose rights were violated by creditors; collection agencies, etc. I cleaned up my client’s credit report by working each account individually directly through each creditor. If the creditor violated my consumer’s rights – I had the debt alleviated – if there were no violations – my client was told to settle the account. There was absolutely NO scam in my business; Credit Corrections. Scam companies do not offer 100% money back guarantee and work 80 hour weeks. Laura Udis and Paul Chessin from the Colorado attorney general’s office (both of which are habitual liars by the way) reviewed my files and both had stated to me; “Oh ya – you (Joey) definitely do the work, there is no question about that”, as each client file showed the proof of the work that was done. This investigation literally sat on hold from the Colorado attorney general’s office until the Colorado attorney general received a notice from the law firm that was representing me stating I no longer had representation due to lack of funds. The day after the Colorado attorney general’s office received this notice the attorney general called me and told me to go into their office to sign some papers. I went down to the Colorado attorney general’s office and was told by Laura Udis and Paul Chessin if I did not sign an AOD (Assurance of Discontinuance) and pay them (the Colorado attorney general) $10,000 then I would go to jail. I was alone and no longer had legal representation and being a single mother of three girls this scared me. I was reluctant to sign but obviously did not want to go to jail.

Of course the $10,000 was not paid as I was no longer able to sign any clients. The next time that I heard anything on this was on the following Christmas Eve when I received a phone call from a former client telling me I was in the newspaper. Wow – now I had a judgment (apparently I was served but how this was possible when I was in the hospital for several months at the alleged time of service is beyond me). The Colorado attorney general and collection agencies go hand in hand do they not. Let us use every possible “illegal” means of making someone look bad or to collect a debt. I do not know who Ken Lane is but apparently he knows me. Ken Lane released an article stating Credit Corrections was a scam and that I even told people to get new social security numbers. Um – no; I do not think so Ken. Where did Ken Lane get his information; oh ya – Paul Chessin and Laura Udis; the honest people that work at the Colorado attorney general’s office. The people that actually do their job and go after third party collection agencies that violate consumer’s rights…. NOT. On top of the outrages lies the Colorado attorney general stated about me – the Colorado attorney general even got a judgment for things that Laura Udis and Paul Chessin said where in place; cancellation notices, surety bond EVERYTHING except 1 thing that I will still admit to today; I was not a 501-cs non-profit organization. This is something that Udis never stated I had to do when I called her and asked her what I needed to do to open Credit Corrections and stay legal. Something else that “scam” companies do when they open a business; call the Colorado attorney general to see what needs to be done to stay legal.

After I got out of the hospital I received a notice in the mail from Lexis Nexis regarding this alleged lawsuit so I filed for an extension showing proof of the hospitalization but for some reason; the judge turned it down. Is this judge in bed with the Colorado attorney general? Who knew?

Everything the Colorado attorney general did to me took its toll and it has been a long hard road, but I am back and going nowhere. I will fight for consumers in the credit industry and not even the Colorado attorney general will stop me. I did try a few years ago to sue the Colorado attorney general for failing to do their job and “screwing” consumers sort-to-speak. Unfortunately the case was closed because I am not an attorney.

Currently I am in the midst of completing my bachelor’s degree and had just sent in my applications for law school. The violations I have seen done by creditors to consumers gave me my passion to go to law school and try and make a difference in our corrupt credit system.

I am also finishing my book teaching consumers everything they need to know about credit and what their rights are. Every day people do not know how to read law or where to look and this book will lay everything out in an easy to understand “how to defend your credit rights”. I will do everything it takes to teach consumers what creditor, collection agencies, and attorney general’s do not want consumers to know.