BC really that hard up for money?

Delphinus · #1 07-21-2009, 05:10 PM

Typical collections agency bullying. We had the same thing happen to us when we were victims of identity theft. I guess from their perspective, EVERYONE says "you have the wrong person" or whatever. They can only be called off by the people who hired them.

It's still unpleasant though. Calls at 2am and borderline abusive in nature ("do you get off on stiffing people?" etc.) Jerks.

Talk to ICBC again and insist that they look into the collection agency calling you and that they be notified of this ASAP. If the calls persist, quite frankly, I think I would call the police and report this as harrassment.

The whole thing sounds fishy to me. I'd almost be calling a lawyer (traffic lawyer or whatever) to ask for advice. Even if the tickets were legit (which I gather they are not, this sounds like a system glitch??), if they are from 1991 there's no way anyone can talk about them and have any validity at this point. Is the issuing officer even still on active duty? 18 years is a long time. If the guy was in his 30's or 40's at the time, for all we know he could be retired. I don't see how anything from that far back can be legitimately processed.

Good luck!!

michika · #2 07-21-2009, 05:52 PM

There seems to be a rash of these types of things going around.

I went to renew my license in April and was told that I had an unpaid $450 speeding ticket from 1996 and was required to pay before I could renew. I was 12 years old at the time, plus it was the summer my leg was in an ankle to thigh brace.

I had to go and get my passport, birth certificate, and a witness to sign forms at the registry for them to fix their rather grevious error. It took them 3 weeks to get it fixed before I could renew my license. They acted like I was the one in the wrong.

fkshiu · #3 07-21-2009, 05:54 PM

I would suggest that you CAREFULLY read section 264 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

StirCrazy · #4 07-22-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Typical collections agency bullying. We had the same thing happen to us when we were victims of identity theft. I guess from their perspective, EVERYONE says "you have the wrong person" or whatever. They can only be called off by the people who hired them.

It's still unpleasant though. Calls at 2am and borderline abusive in nature ("do you get off on stiffing people?" etc.) Jerks.

it doesn't matter what they feel they are not allowed to harase, threten and such. The Business Practices & Consumer Protection Act was passed in BC for this exact reason. and every provence has there own set of rules.

Steve

mark · #5 07-22-2009, 05:07 AM

talked to ICBC again this afternoon and they said I had zero balance with them and that meant zero owed to the collection agency. They said they had already informed the CA of this but they would do so again but for awhile just don't answer calls if I don't recognize the number (???).

Asked again for a statement and once I get that, I'll be checking checking my credit record.

But to the start of this, I might concede one ticket, but the others, specially the one without the license, seems wrong.

Would like to point out ICBC to whole time have been very curtious, not like the Agency who obviously never heard of the Business Practices & Consumer Protection Act (thanks for the links btw).

Delphinus · #6 07-22-2009, 07:34 AM

Stevem I didn't say they were justified, I totally agree that the harrassment is wrong. I just said it was typical, and that I sympathized because it happened to me too a few years ago. This is why I suggested calling a lawyer or the police if it continues, one shouldn't have to put up with that especially when it's clearly referring to something illegitimate in the first place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

it doesn't matter what they feel they are not allowed to harase, threten and such. The Business Practices & Consumer Protection Act was passed in BC for this exact reason. and every provence has there own set of rules.

Steve

StirCrazy · #7 07-22-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Stevem I didn't say they were justified, I totally agree that the harrassment is wrong. I just said it was typical, and that I sympathized because it happened to me too a few years ago. This is why I suggested calling a lawyer or the police if it continues, one shouldn't have to put up with that especially when it's clearly referring to something illegitimate in the first place.

yup I agree.. and the problem is too many people think they can just walk all over you and don't know they have rights. I had a go around with a Dentist's office, and one a few years back with a fitness company that went out of buisness befor I could finnish paying for my membership. aparently they were choked that I felt if they went out of buisness 1 month after they signed me up then I didn't have to make any more payments other than the first. (that was an interesting one)

Steve

Delphinus · #8 07-22-2009, 05:05 PM

Wow man .. I guess it takes all kinds !! That's unreal.

BlueAbyss · #9 07-22-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

aparently they were choked that I felt if they went out of buisness 1 month after they signed me up then I didn't have to make any more payments other than the first. (that was an interesting one)

OMG, I'd flip out. My last semblance of calm and decency would fly out the window. Bad things would happen

Zoaelite · #10 07-22-2009, 08:40 PM

A contract is a contract, funny how when the consumer breaks the contract we are billed out of the ying yang. On the same note if the provider breaks the contract the consumer is usually the one that still pays out of the ying yang... Great world we live in.