collection action from a deceased person
Complaint
Child to deceased being told to pay
Country: United States
We received the call tonight from an unknown 800 number calling at 830 pm EST. I let it go to machine but they left no message. One minute later a second number belonging to a deceased parent rang. It was the same number from the first call. I answered and there was the sound of a person at the other end but there was no answer so I hung up.
This is NRA in Harrisburg, PA. They have called for the last four months. The first time they called,I informed them of my parents death, they refused to give the information of who the debt is to, said plainly they need to have the debt paid and and demand both proof of death certificate and to know who is the executor of the estate. When I informed them there is no estate or will, they now call my number and then the old number.
They have at times called several times a day and a week. I have told them to cease calling. They have openly plainly in the call said they will not and the debt needs to be paid. When my tone became angered, I was asked if I was threatening them. My parents paid cash for everything.
This is NRA in Harrisburg, PA. They have called for the last four months. The first time they called,I informed them of my parents death, they refused to give the information of who the debt is to, said plainly they need to have the debt paid and and demand both proof of death certificate and to know who is the executor of the estate. When I informed them there is no estate or will, they now call my number and then the old number.
They have at times called several times a day and a week. I have told them to cease calling. They have openly plainly in the call said they will not and the debt needs to be paid. When my tone became angered, I was asked if I was threatening them. My parents paid cash for everything.
Comments
You have told them to cease calling, yet they have deliberately refused to do so, which is both abusive and deceptive, implying that you have no legal right to demand they cease calling when you do.. Calling both your parent's old number, and your own number, shows they are skip-tracing relatives, and that they are calling both numbers in an attempt to intimidate you.
You have not only told them to cease calling, but you have told them there is no will or estate, so their continued calls to YOU claiming they "need to have the debt paid" is deceptive as it implies that YOU owe someone else's alleged debt and have some legal obligation to pay it. Since your parents paid cash for everything, it's likely they never even owed this alleged "debt".
Furthermore, it doesn't sound like they have sent you, ( or even addressed to your parent, or your parent's estate), any FDCPA "g" letter notifying the alleged debtor of the alleged debt and of their right to dispute it.. They are evading any disclosure of the alleged claim, even as they engage in harassment and abuse by phone.
NRA Group has numerous consumer complaints reporting attempts to collect old, often out of statute, and, sometimes fraudulent, "music club accounts", like old Columbia House or BMG Music accounts. They and several similar collection agencies reportedly shakedown consumers supposedly for old "music club termination fees" through credit damage over trivial, often OOS "accounts" some of which originate with fraudulent music club order cramming (sometimes called "negative option marketing") or "accounting errors".
In other cases they have reportedly attempted shakedowns from people who never even had any music club account, Apparently, they make heavy use of "skip-tracing" (often apparently sloppy or erroneous), while sending deceptive responses to validation requests that withhold account information (like a billing address) that might prove some "account" was being collected from the wrong person.
Since you already know your parents paid cash for everything, and it's unlikely they even had any "music club account" which is major part of this company's business,, it's likely they just "skip-traced" by name and confused your deceased parent with someone else, just as they often confuse other older people with the kids and 20 somethings that commonly have music club memberships.
They also show up in complaints for medical collections, although you could probably determine if there are legitimate medical bills outstanding through checking with health care providers. As with any medical bill, make sure the alleged account is legitimate, that insurance and Medicare payments have been accounted for including adjustments, and again, you have no obligation to pay someone else's debt.
"I was asked if I was threatening them"
That's a scripted response used by debt collectors to control the conversation and ignore your assertion of your FDCPA rights, basically a tactic designed to psychologically belittle and intimidate you. Similar belittling and intimidating responses show up in other complaints against this company, suggesting this is part of their training. You have every right to be suspicious of a suspect collection call, with no information disclosed, just as you have every right to demand that they cease calling.
If they continue to harass you after you tell them to cease, you may choose to sue them for violating FDCPA. You can find a consumer attorney in your state through www.naca.net
Send your letter to:
Steven C. Kusic, Chief Executive Officer
-or-
Ashley A. Chille, Esq., Ethics Contact
NRA Group, LLC
2491 Paxton St
Harrisburg, PA 17111-1036
Phone: (717) 540-7636