I agree!!!!  Pay all my bills and never miss payments.  Some people have to accept the fact that SCAM & SCUM work together hand in hand.  I never answer a phone number that I don't recognize, and neither should others.  Google the phone number, and see whats really calling you.  After I see its a scam, i block the number and they never call again.

I pay my bills never been late with any of them have not paid interest in 20 yrs so don't tell me I don't pay my bills you jerk. i get this phone call every night, but never answer it cause i have caller ID and if I don't know who it is I never answer. So jerk don't assume people don't pay their bills. Because when you ASSUME you make an A** out of U & ME

Called my work when told not to and won't even except the fact that my accounnt is paid to the original place. Also insists on my bank information.

Extremely rude debt collector called and when I offered him money he said it wasn't enough and started asking me questions about personal things.  I hung up on him.

Thanks so much for the information.  I DID file a complaint agaist them a little short of a month ago with the FTC.  I was trying to make payment arrangements and the lady was still harrassing me!

There are a few things you all need to understand
1.) if a number is calling you repeatedly from a debt collector and you are not the person they are trying to reach but you do not answer they have no way of knowing you are not that person, and if you tell them you are not that person you must say NEVER CALL ME AGAIN because then they legally must stop calling you if you do not say that they will continue to call for that person because that number was given to them at some point as a way to reach the person who owes the debt
2.) If you are the person they are asking for then you do owe the debt they are not the ones you owe you were referred to them by the hospital, dr office or what ever the bill might be for so that they can collect the money if you have insurance the debt is probably whatever your insurance did not cover
3.) There are specific rules as to what they can and cannot say (look up FDCPA HIPPA laws) if you are not the spouse, parent of a minor, power of attorney, or an authorized person they cannot disclose ANY information aside from their name to you i mean would you want someone telling someone else all of your business? i dont think so
4.) It is nothing personal YOU are the one who didnt pay your bills it is no one elses fault but your own nobody cares the reason why if you are there then there is no question you owe the money

as for the rudeness there is no excuse for that no matter what the circumstance but its likely you were rude or demanding information youre not entitled to

Moral of the story pay your bills if you dont have the money make arrangements to do so instead of hiding and hoping it will go away. People dont take responsability for their own actions and thats how you end up in this situation.

Have the same problem,but they are calling me from a different number, the number I have is 810-244-3319. They called hung up and when I called back no one answers.

i HAVE PERFECT CREDIT NO CREDIT CARDS DONT OWE ANYONE SO U
YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT BEING HOUNDED BY DEBT COLLECTERS i DONT KNOW WHY THEY CALL MY NUMBER HAVE HAD THE SAME  TELEPHONE  NUMBER FOR 50 YEARS

Wow, all you bill collectors posting here two years ago are what's wrong with the collection business.

You condescending egomaniacs keep telling us to pay our bills and quit whining.  Apparently your reading and comprehension skills are non-existent.

Did you even notice how many of us are explaining that we are being contacted by collection agencies for BILLS WE DON'T OWE?  Some of these are for bills that are mistakenly attributed to us due to a mix up.  Some are for bills already paid but are sent to collection anyway.  And there are other similar problems.

Some collection agencies are in the habit of double charging, and they know it.  I was making payments on my husband's recent surgery and had the bill paid down to about half, when the provider sent the whole thing to collection.  

Now the the collection agency wants the full amount paid to them, and the medical provider is still sending monthly bills for the remaining half that I've been making payments on.  I'm not going to be bullied into paying twice for one procedure.  Either the collection people get paid or the provider gets paid, but I'm not paying both of them for one bill.

You collectors just want to charge twice for the same bill and you know it, yet you come on here and are rude and judgemental over financial issues you can't even understand.

And anyone who wants to see some crazy collection fraud, look up Marine One in Texas.  I bought a boat last year and the dealership suggested financing through their preferred lender.  I put $8,000 down and have the monthly payments for the loan automatically taken from my bank account by Marine One.

Marine One chose the date of the first billing (EFT withdrawal) and which day of each month they would be taking the payment from my account.  Before the first payment was due, I started receiving collection notices.  I called to explain that the payments weren't late, since it was their company who determined the schedule for when the payments would be made, and all parties signed off on that agreement.

I've called their office many times trying to clear this up.  I've been told that I was sent a collection notice in error and to ignore it.  Another time I was told that I was behind on my payments and had to send in another full payment to get caught up.  Every time I call, they are full of contradictory excuses.  

For 16 months now, Marine One has been withdrawing their payment on time, but I still get 2 to 3 collection notices every month.  Last month, they began calling my husband at work to collect a debt that has never been late!

Thankfully, my husband signed up for legal services through his employer.  I'm sending all the documents about this bogus collection to the lawyer next week.  I'm terrified to even look at my credit report.  If these cheats are reporting late payments (that aren't really late), my credit score is going to be trashed and it will take forever to clear up the mistakes.

In Michigan, spouses are not necessarily responsible for each other's debts.  Authorized users are not responsible credit cards unless they have actually agreed to open the card.  Many debt collectors will try to convince authorized users to pay the entire bill for a card that they never agreed to open.  In some cases, those collectors will also illegally pull credit reports for the authorized users when the actual debtor cannot pay or goes bankrupt.

Practices like those can violate both the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

If there is a violation of the FDCPA you can get up to $1,000 in statutory damages.  If there is a violation of the FCRA, you can obtain up $1,000 plus damages for the invasion of your privacy, and punitive damages.

Lyngklip & Associates sues abusive collectors.  www.sue4abuse.com

THIS IS NOT A SCAM. THIS A LEGITIMATE COMPANY ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT LEGITIMATE DEBT. SO GO AHEAD AND SENT A LETTER TO FOX 2, THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT AND LAUGH AT YOU!

Merchants & Medical Credit Corporation "Bill Collectors"  Caller ID says Michigan Call.  Location Flint, Michigan

You posted all the information like it was not already public, congrats your so smart!!!   If you paid your bills, people would not call you end of story.  You say your sick, or don't have the money well the bill is still due. To the lady who said its a gym, wow speechless.  Just to clear things up it is perfectly legal to call your work, your family, your friends, and your neighbors, it is called skip-tracing.  They call your work on purpose.  If people had normal names they'd probably say it correctly.  Collectors are not rude if you take care of your obligations, most all of you that think they are rude probably give them every excuse to not pay your bill so then they get firm (not rude).  It's no scam they have all your info it's called verifying information to make sure it is correct.

Apparently this company is a piece of work even if they have the WRONG NUMBER.  I don't have any debt collectors calling me but I certainly feel bad for whomever gets calls from these people.

See, I was trying to do something nice, by letting them know they'd called for "David" at a wrong number.  The automated message that was left on my voicemail asked me to do so, and I politely obliged.

Well... had I known how I'd be spoken to by the agent who answered ()male, said his name was Paul Murphy) I'd never have done them the favor.  He basically called me a liar, claimed I was someone's mother, and told me to step up to the plate, be honest, and pay my offspring's bill.


???

He wouldn't even hear the fact that I was doing them a favor by reporting the mistake.  Could not fathom that they'd actually had a wrong number and I was being honest.


Is this how bill collectors are allowed to speak to people?
I'm looking into filing a complaint- wherEVER I have to file it.

Our jobs are to collect money plain and simple.  I know it seems heartless they way we treat people but our jobs are to help get as much money for our clients as quickly as possible.  When you go to the hospital they don't give you one stitch a month for the next 4 years.  When you go to a car dealership they don't give you one piece of the car for the next 28 months.  When you don't pay your bill it goes to collections.  The agency that gets the debt is trying to get the money as quickly as the services provided were given.  Complaining that collectors are rude because they wanted me to pay my bill all at once.  Oh my the horror.  You have a bill and they want you to pay it...  what a concept.  When you tell a collector your sob story it might help if you're not watching your cable television while talking on your cell phone.  It also helps not to say I will pay you when I get back from vacation.  Probably don't want to say your unemployed when you really aren't.  Our jobs are to find out your financial situation and do what is best for our client.  If you lie and say your not working and can only pay $10 per month and a collector finds out that is a lie.  Then it's in the best interest of the client to sue.  Be up front, honest and patient.  Collections is not customer service and all they are trying to do is collect a debt owed.  One last tidbit for all the insurance should have paid comments.  It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure your insurance company paid.  NO ONE ELSES, everyone read that.  YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.  Doctors submit bills as a courtesy.  So when you say, insurance should have paid I am not paying.  All that does it gets you sued.  Be an adult and make some calls do a little work and find out what the problem is.

People are posting comments about "Just pay your bills"... what about the people who simply can't right now?  I was working and going to school last year-I had to back out of school for a while for work and then I was laid off.  The school sent my loans right to this collection company.. I got 1 phone call and when I answered I got drilled and hounded with questions.  They said I owe them almost $2000 and It had to be paid THAT day- they told me to go to my banks and call my credit cards and see if I could get a loan.  I'm supposed to be collecting unemployment but with some school issues they were withholding my checks- so i was bringing in no money at the time.  I couldn't get a loan- through banks or family.. I was so upset and crying on the phone.  I told them I would absolutely pay them off because I do know I owe.  They were not willing to work with me at all.  I kept in contact with them and I finally got it to where I could pay $100 a month.  I don't know why they couldn't have told me this upfront- it's like they wanted to get me upset first.  I told them that I could give them a prepaid check for $100 I told them the date they could cash it and it was verified over the phone.  Well when I checked my bank account it was cashed right away.  It cause all sorts of problems with my banking.  When I called to find out what was going on they told me they cashed it on the day they should have, and I never gave them a post dated check.  I KNOW I didn't give them that day.  I clearly remember telling them when it could be cashed and we verified it several times.  I was so mad that I was lied to and they tried to tell me I never gave them a post dated check.  They couldn't have waited FIVE days to cash the check??

A couple weeks later I was getting more calls but I don't like to answer "unavailable" calls.  They left a message and I called back right away.  A man was trying to get a payment from me- I told him I had nothing right now but I would next week... He said I could give a post dated check- I told him no way because of what happened last time- then this lady chimed in who was obviously listening in on our conversation and told me even if I gave them a post dated check- it doesn't matter when they cash it because the money belongs to them.  Right I get it's your money... but I asked not to cash it because I didn't have money in my account... They lie like crazy.  She threatened me with court this and that... I understand it's got to be an awful job to collect money from people- and they probably have to deal with a lot of angry people... But I didn't say I didn't owe money- I didn't say I wasn't going to pay them.  I was trying to get them to work with me so I COULD pay them.  If they aren't willing to work with me- how can I be willing to work with them?

If you haven't received a bill (for any reason) you still owe the debt.

This company is not a "scam", they have been in business for almost 50 years.  They do not "buy" debt like a lot of companies do nowadays.

Before you all get sue happy, it would be helpful to be familiar w/the laws. ----Debt Collectors (dc) are allowed to call you at work.  Unless you or your boss explicitly state "do not call me/him/her at work anymore".
---How do you think dc's get all your contact phone numbers?  Our client gives us all your info.  They want the money that they are entitled to.  I'm sure if any of you owned a business you would want a company to recover it
for you.
---DC's are NOT ALLOWED to tell a 3rd party why they are calling.  This is for your protection.  The debt can only be discussed w/a spouse or the parent (if the kid is under 18).  So if you want to know why they are trying to get ahold of you sister, they're not allowed to tell you.
---Contrary to popular belief - dc's get more from being firm, not nicey-nicey.  This is an established fact.  Being firm does not mean yelling at you, calling you a deadbeat, swearing at you etc. However, dc's will come accross as meaning business and you really need to take care of this debt now.
---My personal favorite "as long as I send them $10/month they can't do anything".  Uh - WRONG!  There may not be further collection activity but a lot of times there is. (Try paying $20 a month on your car note and see if you get to keep your car).  
---I'm sure you are all aware debt collectors do not use their real names.  So trying to find someone by the name you are given will not get you anywhere. (There is only one state that does not allow fake names.  It's Idaho or something around there.)

Lastly, as someone stated above, DC's are giving you a chance to take care of your obligation BEFORE you get sued or other action is taken.

we recieved a call from this place, they asked for me i wasnt home so they told my husband that we owed a pretty large amount to a local hospital. when my husband said that we hadnt recieved anything in the mail they ask for a mailing address when my husband told her she said thats not what i have. she gave him an account number and said to have me call her. when i saw this message i called the hospital and they checked all of my family members names and said that there were no charges or evidence that we were there on the dates the lady gave us. so she called them to ask what it was for they told her that there was no such number. i called back and the guy who answered ask me all kind of info like social and address ect. i told him i didnt want to give any thing out, i would like to speak to the lady who called.(the whole time he was typing in the back ground) , dont give them info make sure they give it to you. he then connected me to her and she never picked up and they hung up on me. she must of know it was me and knew the hospital lady just talked to her. watch out sounds like a big scam to me...........

some of you are posting the most ridiculous thing's i have ever read.  if you guys would simply pay your bills you wouldn't get the phone calls.  though the majority of debt collectors come off as cold hearted and hateful they are there for a purpose.  do you not realize how much money they bring back to the economy?  your everyday prices would be so much more expensive than what they are now.  as for commission... yes, they do get a certain % but ONLY after they collect so much, so those of you who think collectors are making money off every call they make are completely wrong.  again, if people would make sure they had the funds to pay for their bills there would be no problem.  grow up and be responsible..  you received a service, so pay for it.

an adam called me looking for my brother, didnt say he knew him but was freindly enough to seem so. wouldnt tell me why he called said a personal matter was at hand and needed to discuse buiness with him.= bill collector.
i asked he what biz i will let him know, he wouldnt said that he couldnt was a federal law and he needed to respect my brother. wtf.

They called me today and when i asked who was calling a man named "Paul Murphy" said that he was returning my call and he acted like he knew me. He wouldnt tell me why he was calling so i ended the call and he called back again but i did not answer.

and we dont make commission on what we bring in...seriously, get your facts straight.

and we don't say what we're calling for to third party people to save face for you...seriously, when you're dodging your bill and we happen to talk to you grandma (because you gave us the number or the place that you're trying to rip off did), do you really want us telling her you're in collections? I'd think you'd appreciate that we're respecting your privacy

I just wanted to say where yes, there have been a lot of bill collectors that are harassing, mmcc is not one. They may call you at more than one number more than once a day, butthey are not calling the same number over and over again unless you tell them to call back..the system won't let them, nice try you bunchof complainers. Yes I work there, and yes I'm actually in collections for a few bills myself, so I do understand what its like. And for those of you who shun what we do, yes its a job and if it helps be support my little girl then it helps me sleep at night. What people fail to understand is thatits not all medical, some of the bills are shopping bills. so you had the money to go shopping, but not pay for it? I mean really. And whether we're mean to you or not, people always snap at the idea that we're calling them. Seriously, you owe the money, you have to pay. nothing is free...None of us would have jobs if everything way free. And stop lying, we get lied to on a regular basis. Everything from 'i don't live here anymore' even as far as people saying someone has died when they haven't...how morbid?Grow up...
Yes I agree, some places do go above and beyond to intimidate you, I am not condoning this act...but i'm telling you, a lot ofthe accusations are being blown out of proportion because everyone wants to sue someone...or is embarrassed that they owe money.  Be honest, pay what you can, or at the very least, quit yelling at us, we are doing our jobs and we didnt' put you into collections, you did...

call, never leaves message

rude asking a lot of questions

Getting calls at work from 810-244-4253  They won't leave a message

They called the house today and was asking for my sister, mom answered told them she was not home and then proceeded to get rude saying how can you not know when your daughter gets home and called my mom a rude lady.  

I understand if you don't pay your bills you are going to get called.  On the other hand do the bill collectors have to be insulting and rude to the person not paying their bill/s and also their family members?  I think that is not right.  

I was upset so I called the place back at 810-239-3030 and asked for the guy who identified himself on the phone to my mother, how convenient he was not available 10 min. after calling my house.  I talked to his supervisor said she'll get to the bottom of it.  She also asked if the number had been googled, evidently she wasn't sure how we got the number to call them back.  

I understand bills must be paid, but being rude to those and their family members and not identifying yourself when you call, what do you expect.  Pretending to be somebody and misleading and lying to those won't get you very far.

Her name is Crystal!!!!! I finally got that bit of information out of her.  She is the rudest person I have ever encountered, and I don't know why she is calling. Everytime I pick up the phone she ends up hanging up on me. She refuses to leave a message and is atrocious. We need to find a way to stop her.  She keeps calling and everytime I tell her that the person she requests to talk to is not here (which is true) so she hangs up.  Today I said I would like to know where she is calling from, and she refused to answer.  Now, she may or may not be a bill collector, but I sure am not going to be cooperative if she will not tell me who she represents.  We need to shut her down.