ComplaintsforCollection Bureau of Walla Walla, Inc. (CBWW)

• Initial Complaint

  12/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  10 year old medical debt that collection company ncmi bought yet have another collection company walla walla collecting for them. Walla walla is difficult and unwilling to work work me or help at all. Have a judgement for this debt, walla walla filed garnishment against me over 2 years ago which I got them to drop because of lack of communication after not even knowing they were collecting for ncmi as I hadn't been getting any correspondence for several years about debt after moving back to ******. Then suddenly they sent letter threatening legal action which I thought collection companies weren't allowed to do. I ignored it because I didn't even know they were collecting for ncmi as I wasn't informed all those years. They filed garnishment. Was dropped, didn't hear anything again for almost 2 years. 10 year **** on judgement was coming up, thought I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. Then coincidentally before 10 year ****, I get paperwork via regular mail with judgement extension filed and granted and another garnishment shortly after. I contacted them via email, explained things and my situation about how I cannot afford a garnishment being on a single income and supporting two people/rent and that I would end up losing apt. Vice president responded telling me to call another person yet she is vice president. I deal with anxiety and panicked trying to call. After consulting with online lawyer, sent payment plan proposal and initial payment offer via certified mail and fax. Didn't hear anything until I emailed. After having to ask when I would hear back about my offer, was simply told "we won't stop garnishment". No offer back/offer to work something out, no sympathy nothing at all. My message back asking why they were unwilling to work with me/help went un answered, 2 emails to president got no replies either. Almost $700 being taken a month from my hard earned money, already struggling. Half amount owed is all interest! All over surgery I had to have!

  Business response

  12/28/2023

  Hi *****

  I appreciate the time you took to share your concerns with us, and I understand your difficulties. I want to express my sincere apologies for any stress or anxiety this situation has caused you.

  I want to clarify the background of your case. NCMI transferred the judgment to our office in February 2021 to pursue collection on their behalf in the ***************. Since no payment had been received for over two years since the account was placed with our company, we followed the necessary legal procedures, including filing an extension of judgment with the court, as per state law.

  I understand that receiving a garnishment notice can be distressing, especially when it is unexpected. Please note that the garnishment was initiated due to the lack of payment over the two years. Our policy is not to dismiss a garnishment once it has been sent out, which was done before your email in October, and it is valid for 90 days per ****** State law.

  I appreciate your proactive approach to reaching out and explaining your situation. I understand your financial challenges, and I want to assure you that we are here to assist. Given your circumstances, we are willing to work with you and set up a payment schedule. After the garnishment period concludes, we can offer a payment plan of $300.00 per month, a significant reduction from the current $682.00 per month from the garnishment,to help you manage the outstanding debt.
  I encourage you to contact our office two weeks before the end of the garnishment period so we can discuss the specifics of setting up a payment schedule. We are committed to assisting you during these challenging times and aim to find a fair and reasonable resolution for both parties.

  Thank you, and I look forward to a positive resolution.

  ***********************
  Vice President
  *************************************************************
  ************

  Customer response

  01/12/2024

  It is frustrating because when I was messaging walla walla directly about setting up payment or making a one time payment and sent in writing by mail too they did not respond with an agreement or an amount they would accept and didn't have much empathy. Just said we wont drop garnishment. Only when I file an actual complaint did they make an offer and make it seem like they understood and cared when I didn't get any of that beforehand. My messages to president ***** which I found his info online went completely un answered. By the end of January, over $2000 will have been taken from my paychecks towards amount. That's almost half of original balance of $4,000 something. The rest after that is ALL  interest and fees tacked on from judgment. No offer reduce that amount added on. Get punished for having a medical procedure done that was absolutely needed and after the fact insurance decided not to cover what they said and get stuck with huge bill that cannot afford at all, then get punished more by having collections come after you forever with judgement and $4000 in interest and fees added on top of it. Honestly I'm never going to have any medical procedure done again and would rather just suffer than potentially get stuck with bill that can't be paid and all this which is sad. When NCMI bought this from hospital to collect on, they obviously only paid an amount for it based on original balance of $4,000 something before judgement. I've done my research, collection companies pay very little when buying debt. So I'm betting my $***** you'll be receiving that has been taken is already more than what was paid for the debt and the rest would just be all profit for collection company at the hands of someone struggling to get by as is. I've already had to pay my rent late twice and skip paying bills and behind on a lot of bills now. I've had to take money out of my retirement funds which I didn't have much in anyway so this whole this thing has screwed me over. It would be a bit different is it was credit card debt or something that was more my fault but the fact it's a medical bill makes it worse and more sad. As stated before, after I moved from WA I didn't not hear from ncmi after several years went by living in same spot so I thought they had just dropped it since I hadn't heard anything and I wasn't even thinking about it anymore. I was not hiding, my address would of been easily found. Then suddenly after all these years go by I get like one letter from walla walla not even explaining they were collecting on behalf of ncmi so was confusing before getting garnishment which as mentioned I got dropped because of lack of communication for years and not understanding walla was collecting for ncmi directly as it wasn't explained (I am told now that you don't drop garnishments but did before the first time). Then don't hear anything again for almost 2 years so  wasnt thinking about it again as i have enough things going on in life. Was never given a warning or heads up that a judgement extension would or could be filed which I didn't even know was possible. Lack of communication all these years I've been in ****** has been a big thing. Yes $300 offer is much better than the most $700 being taken from check but still more than I can afford being on a single income making under $40,000 a year for 2 people and paying all the bills and rent. I absolutely struggle to get by just by itself without any extra payments. I really wish since receiving $*****, almost half the amount of original debt ( and original amount is the only amount ncmi would of been purchasing from hospital, since rest of amount was all added on AFTER they filed judgemnt) that you would just accept that and not continue with garnishment and coming after me for everything all for as much profit as possible. I have read stories and was told from online lawyer I consulted that many times collection places will accept partial amount or half the original balance etc and be done with it and move on. I'm sure ncmi has already made a profit off the $***** that will be received. It would be so much less stressful and depressing to not have to deal with this anymore, I'm already stressed every day as is dealing with work, stressing about money, dealing with pain every day. I had to start taking anxiety/depression medication after garnishment filed and not getting help as it just put me to the **** I ask one time to please reconsider not continuing the garnishment after it ends this month and accepting the ***** received which is still a lot for a collection to get that bought the debt for probably small amount and be done with it. If you absolutely refuse to help in that way then I need a bit lower payment than $300 (I literally don't have extra money laying around, have to go into any savings and retirement which shouldn't have to do) and reduce the amount owed like knocking off the exorbitant amount of interest balance or a good part. Sorry to say I don't know how people work for collection companies honestly and feel good at the end of the day. I'm crying right now typing this long message.

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