Valley Empire Collection

This company has no sympathy for anyone. They garnished my wifes check without us knowing because we were never home to recieve the certified mail, after the 600$ they took out of her check I called and asked what I could do to stop the garnishment, they told me if I paid 1200.00 I could release the garnishment, I had the money saved for this upcoming christmas for our 3 kids, so instead I took care of that, they assured me that it would release the garnishment before our next check that there was plenty of time, today my wifes check was still garnished, so within 3 weeks they have taken 2000.00 from my family. I told them if this happened I wouldnt be able to pay my rent with all the money I was out, and they told me they didnt care, they never told me it was guaranteed. I dont mind taking care of financial mistakes or obligations but when they lie and decieve you that puts your home and children at risk, its really innapropriate.

Review: I made a payment arrangement to be paid on a monthly basis of $75.00/month until this is paid up. My agent assigned to this account was not available to take my payment over the phone on 3/17/2015 so I was put through to another agent. I now see that this did not happen as a Process server visited me yesterday to give me a judgment on this. This business has done this 3x to me and I have had enough. I work in customer service and when you take someone's bank info, you need to process the payment or this is considered FRAUD. Please help me with this. I cannot have this keep happening with this company as I have paid on my accounts no problem. But this is a very wrong process that they have.Desired Settlement: I need this judgment reversed and my payment arrangement reinstated.

Business

Response:

I have reviewed Ms. [redacted] account. On February 11, 2015 Ms. [redacted] contacted our office and spoke with one of our collectors by the name of [redacted]. She set up monthly payment arrangements of $75.00 per month, due the 15th of every month. The notes state her arrangement was to start February 16, 2015, as the 15th was a Sunday so she would have to make her payment the following business day. We are not set up for automatic withdrawal, so she did not give any payment information at this time. She told the collector she would call in on the 16th and to make her payment over the phone. No payment was made on February 16th, 2015. The collector attempted to contact Ms. [redacted] at [redacted] on February 17th at 11:01 am and again on February 23rd at 6:38pm. Our office does not leave voicemail due to disclosure purposes. Ms. [redacted] was in default on her arrangement so we filed a lawsuit on March 18, 2015, 30 days after her payment due date. I have reviewed all the notes and I do not see where she ever contacted our office between February 11, 2015 and March 18, 2015. Before receiving this complaint on March 23, 2015, Ms.. [redacted] sent our office an email stating her issue with us filing the lawsuit and that she had called our office on March 17th and made a payment. I attempted to contact her again at [redacted] to try to resolve this issue, but I did not get an answer. I need additional information from her if she believes she spoke to someone in our office on March 17th, 2015 so I can look into this and try to resolve the issue. As far as my detailed notes on her file, there was no payment processed, nor was there any payment information given.Ms. [redacted] is welcome to contact me directly at [redacted].Thank you,[redacted]General Manager

Review: I recently pulled my credit and found a judgement against me from Peterson Enterprises Inc. (aka Valley Empire Collections). My credit report shows this judgement at a balance of $535. I'd never heard anything about this judgement that shows it was from 2008.

I called the collection agency to resolve the judgement. The collector proceeded to tell me the judgement was a total of $1,900+ and that I had multiple accounts in collection with them. I told him I wanted to address the judgement first and asked about settling the account, to which he replied I could not settle this account I had to pay this in full or I could settle all accounts which totaled somewhere around $3400 (I don't remember the exact amount here). He said he would get with someone else to see what I could settle it for. (The next day I called back and I was told they would settle all accounts for $3200.)

He also told me that because Texas had "closed borders" and I reside in Texas that they could not contact me in any way. Not even to send a reciept. So there was no way he could send me a letter validating and itemizing my debts owed to them, a reciept for any payments made or a letter proving I have paid the debt and they no longer hold a judgement against me. He wanted me to give him an address somewhere in Washington he could mail correspondence to. In the second phone call when I inquired again about the "closed borders" he tried to tell me that no out of state agency could collect from Texas, which I told him was not true, I've recently worked with out of state agencies without a problem. He finally said it was a licensing issue, and that this company is not licensed to collect in Texas. He again insisted the only way they could communicate was an address in Washington state.Desired Settlement: I need written documentation of all accounts they hold for each creditor, broken down by the original amount owed and any fees and/or interest they are trying to collect. I need the service dates for these accounts and their assignment dates with the collection agency. I also want to know if they are collecting for the creditor or if they have purchased these accounts outright. I want them to work with me individually on each account, not lump them all together and try to collect on everything at once, starting with this judgement account. I do not wish to involve a third party by using an address in Washington state of someone I still keep in touch with there.

I am trying to resolve this debt and have found them impossible to work with. I would like to settle this account for a fair amount, not the highly inflated $1,900 they are asking. I then will need a reciept showing the account paid and a letter on their letterhead showing the judgment has been settled and they no longer hold a judgement against me.

Business

Response:

I have reviewed Ms. [redacted]'s complaint. We are not a collection agency licensed in Texas so under state law we cannot contact Ms. [redacted] by phone or mail. Ms. [redacted] can contact our office to make payments, or mail in her payments. Unfortunately we cannot mail her receipts. She can request an authorization number at the time she makes a payment over the phone, and/or use her bank statements for payment confirmation. Once the debts have been paid in full our office will update the credit reporting agencies on our monthly report. I have also gave a copy of this complaint to our attorney to review. Thank you,[redacted]General Manager

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received, your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Revdex.com,

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

The issues I brought forward were not addressed. Under the FDCPA I have the right to be given a debt validation letter. The discrepancy is too great between what my credit report says and what they are saying I owe ($535 on the credit report whereas they are saying $1954). Not to mention they obtained their judgement against me by default as I was never sent a summons to appear. They are giving their reason for not not providing a debt validation letter, or any other information I requested, as they are not licensed to collect in Texas.

According to VEC my wife and I have an account with them for a $24 dollar bill and now its over $1000 and my wife and I divorced 2 yrs ago and the bill was from 2014. My ex wife lives in Washington state and I live in Kansas and they said that we were served in april of 2015 but I never received any paperwork and I've lived in Kansas since November of 2014 and now they are garnishing my wife's wages for about 75% of her paycheck how is that legal

Recently I had a couple of interactions with VEC and was appalled and dismayed at how I was treated as a paying customer trying to do the right thing. The customer service representative was extremely rude, inept and ill prepared to perform his job duties. He spoke over me and even raised his voice. I was simply asking for the reason why my bill had jumped an additional $80.

I went into the Valley location to obtain my receipt, which they couldn't provide and realized they write people's credit card numbers down on paper and leave them in easily accessible locations throughout the office.

The receptionist was dressed as if she were going to a night club or summer party with her [redacted] pouring out of her top. I was completely offended that these were the people who were handling my payment of nearly $500. Let alone they had misplaced my credit card information, which again, is written on a piece of paper.

I am completely dissatisfied with VEC, their employees and the service which I received this week. Being yelled at, lied to and then having them misplace my personal, sensitive information is extremely disheartening. [redacted] needs to take a look at moving their business elsewhere as this one is far below par.

If our business needs to hire a collection agency in the future we would not hire this company, having experienced its ethics and customer service first hand.

The first communication received from this company was a fax showing 4 parking tickets that were 8 years old from the City of Spokane. I had moved twice during the time the parking tickets were billed and my mail was bounced back to the city in 2007, early 2008. Then out of the blue, 8 years later, this fax shows up.

When I called Valley Empire the same day they advised the total I owed was $433. The fax did not contain an invoice showing the detail of how 4 parking tickets becomes $433, nor was I provided a due date of the amount owed, in writing or verbally. I offered to pay $60 to start and they told me my check would be mailed back.

Seven days later they had their attorney file a wage garnishment suit. Now they are advising there is nothing I can do other than pay the new $630 bill via wage garnishment or pay them direct for the $630 balance (which includes a new $200 charge for their attorneys fees, filing fees, etc).

There is nothing Valley Empire will do to resolve this if I file a complaint on Revdex.com since I 'have' the more expensive option of appealing in court. This would cost me more than paying the $630 in time off work, attorney, etc. However, my goal of a review is that other individuals with similar experiences will share how this company handles their business so perhaps these practices change in the future.

I called to make full payments on three medical bills that I was unaware were even in collections. I got attitude right from the start of the phone call. I was then told there were 7 accounts not three. I asked why they didn't show up on the 3 credit reports my financial advisor had run the previous day, and he said I don't know, but you owe it. So unprofessional and rude! I said I just wanted to pay whatever was in my name so I had nothing with their company. I paid almost $800, $300 over what I was aware of, and was treated like sm, when I was paying it off and doing the right thing. This company needs some serious help in the customer service area. I called three other places and paid off any debt owed to them, and they were all friendly and thanked me for my payment. Valley empire is awful. Not everyone who has something in collections are sm or irresponsible, and to be treated as such when you are making the effort to fix the accrued debt, is highly offensive.

I had a speeding ticket from three years ago in collections with this company. I wasn't able to pay it due to my financial situation at the time. When I was finally able to pay it off, the customer service rep was helpful. I made a payment over the phone, and she provided everything I needed to get my license reinstated the same day. They never pressured me when I wasn't able to pay off the debt. I simply told them my circumstances and kept in touch up until I was able to pay it off.

Collection Agency has no right to hold any restrictions on driving records? This Agency Valley Empire Collections in Spokane Valley claim all fibres MUST be paid in FULL to release driving records?? I think this is a SCAM

Review: After repeated calls to my cell phone from Valley Empire Collections--many of which were occurring at obnoxious times and frequencies, I sent mail correspondence to Valley Empire Collections asking for a detailed explanation of my debt owed along with a request to halt phone calls to my personal cell.

After a couple of weeks, I received their reply in my mailbox. The debt provided to me consisted of pages of medical bills to a "[redacted]"....NOT me. I again sent mail correspondance pointing out that I was not Mr. [redacted] and that if I actually had debt needing collection at their agency, I needed their statement.

I heard nothing back until March 5, when I was delivered with a summons to a lawsuit over a delinquent bill owed to [redacted] Utilities for less than $200.00.

I still have the correspondence erroneously sent to me by Valley EmpireDesired Settlement: After contacting [redacted], I have learned that I neglected to pay a deposit required of me during my time at [redacted]. I would like to pay the principle amount of this bill up front immediately. Because the error of providing me with what I actually owed, when I formally requested such in order to pay any open account I had, was at the fault of Valley Empire, I should be excused from having to pay the over $300 in additional fees of taking this to court. Should you have provided me with the correct information at the time of my request, I would have paid immediately. Please waive all additional fees and I will immediately pay the principle.

Business

Response:

I have reviewed Mr. [redacted]'s complaint. A letter has been sent to Mr. [redacted] to resolve his dispute amicably. We are willing to accept his settlement offer to pay the principal amount assigned by the original creditor. If Mr. [redacted] has any questions he can contact me directly. Thank you, [redacted]General ManagerValley Empire Collection###-###-####

Review: I am getting bills and calls from Valley Empire Collections. The bills do not look legit to me and seem incorrect. I called the doctors office that they say the bill oraginated from. I also called the hospital associated with the doctors office as well, the doctors office does not have any records of me and the hospital has seen me but did not send me to collections. Also I asked what collection company they use and neither office uses or has heard of this company. I read online reviews and saw reveiws saying they are a scam. please help! this is somehow on my credit report and I want to get it off. Thank you, [redacted]Desired Settlement: I would like this off my credit report and the harrassment to stop.

Business

Response:

[redacted],

In response to [redacted] complaint #[redacted]. The account we are collecting on is for Columbia Imaging Group, PS account #[redacted], date of service October 16, 2007. The account was assigned to our office on October 29, 2008 in the amount of $213.78. We have mailed the supporting document to Ms. [redacted]s as requested. The original creditor does not show records of the patient because the account has been written off to collections. The total balance due and owing in our office is $324.03.

Thank you,

Valley Empire Collection

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 9572699, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

Revdex.com,

Review: I have received 2 phone calls within 5 minutes on 02/23/2015 at 4:35, and 4:41 pm from ###-###-#### (caller id says private number) I did not answer, and 2 beeping messages were left on my answering machine. I live alone, and owe absolutely no one ANY money. That number comes back to Valley Empire Collection

###-###-####Desired Settlement: I would also like an apology. If they contact me again I am going to contact the Washington State Attourney General and file a complaint.

Business

Response:

Re: Complaint ID [redacted]I have reviewed the complaint made by [redacted]. I do not see that Mr. [redacted] is in our system. I have cross referenced the phone number that was called ###-###-#### and nothing is coming up. Most likely this phone number was listed as a possible contact for a consumer. I apologize for the inconvenience. If Mr. [redacted] happens to receive any additional calls from our office, he can contract me directly. [redacted]General ManagerValley Empire Collection###-###-####

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business' response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

Revdex.com,

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,