Collection advice please.

[Mr.Dave]

First, a quick *edit - not so quick* history.

The night of 2 Funky, I locked Ryan's keys in his car. At the end of the night, Ryan asked one of the cops to call BCAA for him. Apparently the cop called their usual towing company, who sent out a man who we'll call Cletus to unlock the car.

Now Cletus was an interesting fellow, in an "I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing" kinda way. He tried for about 20 minutes, jamming all sorts of tools into the door, each time with seemingly less success. At some point I realized that the sunroof was cracked, and that if he could use something to pull back the moonroof cover then he could just pull the lock open from the inside of the car. Apparently Cletus wasn't very fluent in common sense, and he just kept trying to rip the door off. So I asked Ryan to grab me two coat hangers, which I used to get into the car. Problem solved? Naaah.

I showed Cletus my BCAA card, which he stared at blankly for awhile before responding with "cash or visa?" So we got into that, and after some discussion and checking he did determine that they were, in fact, part of this BCAA that I spoke of. Problem solved? Pfffft!

I got a phone call this morning from a lady at the towing company. "Is this David Lyster?" "Yup" "This is a stupid towing company and we have a problem." Apparently some point down the line somebody fucked up. That towing company is only used to cover BCAA's overflow. BCAA wasn't overflowing, so BCAA is refusing to compensate the towing company.

Now this is the neat part. After explaining this to me the woman told me that I had to drive to 232nd st in Maple Ridge to pay the towing company the balance for their "service", and then attempt to get reimbursed through BCAA on my own. Neat. Now I'm not a complete jerk, so I said that I would be willing to go through the process to help them out, if there was any way I could do it without personally coming to their office. "No. You have to come do it in person." "But I'm running a business during those hours and I really can't afford to give up that time." "We all have to work."

I told her that I found it strange that everything -eventually- went through that night, and yet I now have to run around the lower mainland during my working hours to fix this problem. She then stopped talking for a bit before replying, "I'm going to call BCAA back and I'll be talking to you soon."

So now I'm thinking...

Pay them:
-It's only $37 and I will probably be reimbursed
-I really do feel sorry for Cletus

Tell them to pound sand:
-The chick was a snarky, condescending bitch, presumably because the call came through from the cops so I must be some punk kid
-Drive from Coq to MR, pay them, file a "request for possible reimbursement" with BCAA, probably get my money back after who knows how long
-I OPENED THE FUCKING CAR MYSELF!!!!!!

My question: is there any way that numbnuts towing can come after me for the balance? I'm thinking her reason for pushing so hard is because they can't. I'm looking forward to the next phone call. With the way the last one went I wouldn't be surprised at the "I'm gonna fuck you up!" collection method.

[miss.myra]

I'd request a detailed statement of amount owing on account in writing.

Then, even if it does seem silly and does go against almighty 'principal' , you have the right idea in paying off the balance THEN going to the process to dispute it. Why? Because if you don't pay it and go through a lengthy dispute, it may affect your credit for years to come EVEN if the dispute is resolved in your favor.

All in all, if it does seem fishy, you may want to get in contact with the better business bureau.

[Mr.Dave]

Well see that's the thing. One part I forgot to mention was that she is refusing to send me the actualy invoice unless I pay the bill first.

[miss.myra]

make a phonecall to the BBB ASAP !!!

yay abreviations!

[Mr.Dave]

10-4!

Originally Posted by Mr.Dave

Well see that's the thing. One part I forgot to mention was that she is refusing to send me the actualy invoice unless I pay the bill first.

Dave I work in the credit department for a highly regulated company. First off, don't pay for something they can't prove. Second, if it got sent to a collection company, the agency probably wouldn't waste its time looking for you as it is $37 and if you are going to fight that hard for it - they don't want to waste their time.

Also - they don't report to the credit bureau often or for small things. There is a few key companies that do, towing is not one of them.

[mapleleaf4ever]

Tell them to make a Sand Castle first before they go pound it...

[*spacecase*]

send Koa the attack dog after them.

[Mr.Dave]

Negatory. If they made a sand castle I would definitely be the one pounding it.

[mapleleaf4ever]

Well as long as you're pounding their Face into it...

[G-Style]

OK here's the deal. First off this is the tow truck drivers problem not yours. The tow truck driver accepted the BCAA membership as payment for services/non services that were rendered. Now if he got authorization from a dispatcher to accept the card then it's technically that person problem. No matter how you look at it it's not your problem. If the police called BCAA and they were indeed overflowed and sent the other company then it's BCAA's problem. Who knows at the end of the day. Maybe the towing company owes BCAA a chunk of money and that's why BCAA isn't paying them out. At the end of the day you are not legally responsible to pay the towing company a damn thing!

[cinist]

mrc will now kill her for you dave

[BongMan]

Dude you got the shit open yourselfe tell em to eat ya ass with a spoon or send em a envelope with a bag full of ass hair that should do the trick :)

[rawb]

every time you have a smoke break call her up and argue with her a bit. be the bane of her existance.

[soma]

Originally Posted by Mr.Dave

Well see that's the thing. One part I forgot to mention was that she is refusing to send me the actualy invoice unless I pay the bill first.

sorry to hear about your day dave...

I've been working collections for the last 2 years.. avana summed up most that you need to know.

1. you should call them and demand a stament for the balance owed to be sent to your residence.
(if they are not willing to do that you can tell them to go fuck a duck till they can send you a letter)

2. no company will waste their time collecting $37 if the towing company is silly enough to send it to CBV or any other out side collecters. they will surely refuse it.

If they do send you an amount owing document then pay it then write a letter out lining the poor customer service, any lost wages, your frustrations and mental tauma you have suffered in dealing with this petty issue. Then Mail it to your BCAA location (who you are paying for their service). If it was a large sum of money it would be a different story but this way someone will be aware of what has gone on.

best of luck bro and don't sweat it.

[Bitchin]

Daveo, U have to come to 232nd? ummmm.... There's no tow company on 232nd... That's my old street.. it's all houses, schools, Farms and Golden Ears park...
Unless you put down the wrong street... some ones lying to you!

[Mr.Dave]

^ Heh, yeah I probably just put down the wrong street. It's either 22-something or 23-something, either way it's too damn far.

Thanks for all the tips folks. The girl still hasn't called me back, so I'm thinking it might have been a one-time attempt to compensate for their fuckup. Either way what you've all said makes good sense, especially rawb's suggestion. I think I'll stick with the "not my problem" retort unless something big changes.

Cheers