Collection Agency Kramer and Associates New Jersey
Date: Mon, 08/09/2010 - 09:12
Collection Agency Kramer and Associates New Jersey
Steve Martin (yeh right) called me and informed me that my credit card debt of 1000 dollars is up for review to be turned over to a NC attorney to sue me.
Said he would garnish my wages, take my income tax refund, and lien my home. Well There is no income, will be no income tax refund, and the house lacks one payment of being in foreclosure.
I told him I have no income other than UE (but still attached to my job), behind on every bill, and basically struggling to make it.
So in a round about way I told him to sue and get in line behind the other 2 judgments.
My question will be is Kramer and Associates a new name for an old strong armed collection agency or are they a bunch of smoke blowers?
Their website gives limited information although it does say they have the highest collection rate in their field which hidden in the website is about 15% to 35% (big spread).
I cannot find any information on them other than the BBB lists them with an F and they are not memebers.
"Said he would garnish my wages" He cant in N.C. even if he sues
"Said he would garnish my wages" He cant in N.C. even if he sues, wins and gets a friendly judge that wants to try and lean on you. NC doesnt allow garnishment for this type of debt.
"take my income tax refund" he most likely cant but not 100% sure as some states seem to allow the state tax refund to be intercepted in some circumstances. If he means federal tax then no he cant. My understanding is the IRS basically ignores these types of things from creditors and state/local judges even as they are not under their jurisdiction.
"and lien my home" He can but its a subordinate lien so not like he will get anything anyway if you get foreclosed on. Bank (first lien gets home back as its security. Second lien goes bye bye.
"have no income other than UE". I dont know what UE is unless you mean Unemployment? If so he cant take that either. Its federally exempt from levy from this type of thing BUT having said all this I would never keep money in a bank while I am in a defensive mode with these types of sharks. Get the money sent in a check and just cash it, or get a prepaid card you can deposit into for a little more security. Often funds are levied that are in a bank without regard to source and you have to then to claim them back by showing they are exempt. Big hassle. Avoid it if you can.
Theres always a possibility that they will sue but I think it highly unlikely for this small a balance.
My experience with Kramer and Associates
Several Years ago, I was cheated by a company that sold me a printer. They turned my (unjustified) unpaid balance over to Kramer and Associates. Because I determined that payment would be less burdensome, albeit unjustified, than fighting them, I negotiated a partial payment with Kramer. (Which I paid as promised.)
The Kramer representative assured me that once I had made the final payment, that they would report the "debt" as being paid in full. Needless to say, they didn't do as they promised; they just lied to get me to pay. Currently, I am being denied a refinance loan because the "debt" is still on my records.
Did you get the settlement agreement in writing?? If not, you a
Did you get the settlement agreement in writing?? If not, you are out of luck....you will have nothing to fight back with. Pay off the rest of the account and do your refi.
