I need a hug!

[Giant Robot]

I am so angry and scared and frustrated that I am making myself sick right now.

I have complained here before about having no money many many times. The first Mrs. Giant Robot left me with much debt and a credit rating in a shambles. I couldn't even get a loan to buy a cup of coffee. I have worked many years paying everybody off, settling all the accounts, and basically scrimping and saving so I could eat and pay rent. As of May, I will have paid off all the debt and I would have been debt free for the first time in God knows how long. Well aside from some recent medical bills but that's another matter.

But no.

I had a Discover card. Don't ever get one. I took a settlement offer from them to the tune of $1400, saving actually $1100. I figured that was over and done with then. No. To me it looks like they sold off that remaining $1100 as bad debt to some other company, who has been hounding me every so often. They are taking up matters in earnest now, saying I owe them $2100 after interest and penalties and shit. And Thursday night I got served with papers saying they are suing me for it. They are saying that Discover had no legal right to settle the account when they did. But if they didn't, why did they only sell of part of the debt? I have sent them several copies of the settlement letter that Discover sent to me. Apparently this all doesn't matter. I may as well have declared bankruptcy to fuck all of them instead of trying to do what I thought would be the right thing and pay everyone something. No. Fuck them all now. I don't know what to do, I don't know if they are just trying to shake me down, I don't know if Discover screwed me to begin with. I am tired of this. Why won't this just all go away!!!

[I Have A Dream]

1. I'm sorry for this disappointing news, GR.

Here's a big hug:

:hug:

[dropkickpa]

2. awww

:hug:

Sounds like they are trying to use scare tactics to me, kind of like balance billing in healthcare (I had a collection agency trying that, somehow they disappeared when my health insurance set their fraud squad on 'em). Have you contacted Discover to see if they are aware of this?

[Giant Robot]

5. I wonder about that too

Whether this is just another scare tactic and they are trying to push me into either settling, or not showing so a summary judgment would be issued against me.

I hadn't thought about calling Discover to see what they have to say. I'm not sure what they could tell me now, as it has been 5 years ago that this all happened. But thank you for your support now. It means a lot.

[dropkickpa]

8. Definitely call

It took 4 years of me being harassed before I finally called my (old) ins company, and they got it dealt with right quick (it even disappeared from my credit reports!!).

*edited to add - it took them threatening to sue and take me to court to call the ins. company. Discover may not be very happy o find out that there is a company pulling this crap, you never know!

[redwitch]

3. I would get a lawyer to look at the matter.

So sorry, you have obviously proven your sincerity and have tried to repair your credit. I find it appalling that credit companies are so predatory. :hug:

[Giant Robot]

4. You know, I would

But by the time the lawyer is done, I am sure I would owe that person more than I am being sued for. Although I might do that anyway just to be spiteful, because you know, I am full of that now. And I used to be such a peaceful person. :(

[BlueIris]

6. Can you at least talk to a lawyer friend?

Or someone you know who is good with money?

[Giant Robot]

7. I know where I can consult with an attorney for free

But that would be the extent of it: a consultation. Hopefully that would give me enough to handle this. I hope.

[philosophie_en_rose]

9. There are free lawyer advice lines in almost every state.

It would be worth contacting a free legal advice line, a nonprofit legal center, or a law school's legal clinic for advice. The university clinic may write a demand letter for you or negotiate on your behalf.

I suspect that Discover can't sell the rights to a debt that Discover isn't entitled to collect. If they sold the collection rights to someone after they settled, it seems that the collection company should go after Discovery and not you.

[LiberalAndProud]

10. One letter from an attorney ...

Around here, that would run $100-$150. If their claim is bogus, I think they might disappear.

Peace of mind is priceless.