Ok, here's the deal. I was at ExpressJet for 38 months. I left at the begining of 02/08. Just yesterday April 20 I receive a call from a Collection Agency telling me I owe ExpressJet Airlines $377 for "unreturned uniforms". Naturally I told them they have to prove I owe the debt, so I am waiting for that to arrive in the mail.
But how can a company NEVER send me any kind of invoice, bill, or letter stating that I owe money and just sell my info to a collection agency? I know I don't owe them SQUAT, but now I have to fight this to prove it. And it's not just me. They are going after 1500 people for over $500,000 they claim they are owed. Not one person ever received ANY info that they owe ANYTHING!!!!
Do I call the BBB, FTC, or anyone for that matter? This is simply unacceptable. I called the company, but they wont deal with me because "all the info has been transfered to the collection agency". I'm so angry about this I don't know what to do.
Has anyone had a situation similar to this? Any suggestions?
I wouldn't pay unless you have something in writing you signed that says you owe them. You might have to get a lawyer to defend it, but you should be ok. Since it's so many of you maybe you can go together as a class of defendants perhaps, not sure if that is possible?
For $399, your biggest concern here is not the money or the principle of the thing...it is your credit rating. This day and age a single unresolved delinquency can make you ineligible for a home or auto loan.
First off, find out if they have reported this to the credit agency. If not, I'd pay them before they do.
If they have already reported it, they will legally not be able to remove it from your credit report unless it was placed there in error. If the company made a mistake charging you or possibly if they did not notify you before sending it to collections, that would be grounds for getting it removed.
As annoying as it is, they have a lot of leverage over your future borrowing ability on this. That may be why they waited so long...in Feb 2008 nobody would have cared about this small of a debt, but now they have you over a barrel.
For $399, your biggest concern here is not the money or the principle of the thing...it is your credit rating. This day and age a single unresolved delinquency can make you ineligible for a home or auto loan.
First off, find out if they have reported this to the credit agency. If not, I'd pay them before they do.
If they have already reported it, they will legally not be able to remove it from your credit report unless it was placed there in error. If the company made a mistake charging you or possibly if they did not notify you before sending it to collections, that would be grounds for getting it removed.
As annoying as it is, they have a lot of leverage over your future borrowing ability on this. That may be why they waited so long...in Feb 2008 nobody would have cared about this small of a debt, but now they have you over a barrel.
But I don't OWE them! They payroll deducted my uniforms. And I find it hard to believe that it took them 52 months to discover they didn't deduct it from my check. That's right, I bought the uniforms in new hire training and they apparently found that they didn't charge me until 52 months later. Smells fishy to me.
Call both ALPA legal and your furlough committee/MEC about it. It's not a small ordeal for just 1 error, but 1500 pilots is a whole new ballgame. You paid your dues, use the resource.
This is within jurisdiction of your local small claims court, and while a lawyer may be of assistance they are barred from appearing in court in your defense:
File a complaint in your local small claims court, and serve the collection agency with notice of a suit. They will be compelled to appear in court with EVIDENCE of your debt, as well as you will be compelled to provide EVIDENCE that you have paid all debts for your uniforms.
I think this is probably "payroll deduct" uniform fees that the company failed to pass on to the employee. You'll need your paystubs showing deductions for uniforms and should be able to walk away.
In your complaint, be sure to file for court costs, administrative fees, and travel. If you make a copy, fax, or phone call keep detailed reciepts of all expenses involved in fighting this. I'm waiting for my phone call as well... but remember thinking some items were never charged to me. This is low down, dirty crap however as I've been gone over a year.
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