Legal options for an annoying situation? - Page 3

The Man Mulcahey · #21 10-08-2007, 04:45 PM

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So i move into a fraternity house after i transfer schools (the semester has already started). I notice a sign up sheet on the door to the dining hall for tee-shirts. After asking someone about it, i am told that if you like the design of a teeshirt that is posted, sign your name on the sheet and you will get billed later on, and the shirt is delivered to the house.

Over the course of a year i sign up for about $50 worth of teeshirts. Note that i never signed a contract, or signed up for an account, or put my signiture on any piece of paper besides a single piece of paper with a blank grid on it to put your name in.

Upon returning home to my permanent address in New Jersey (i go to school in Alabama), i notice a bill from "greek resources" the company or organization that handles financing for greek life. They claim i owe them $350.

Naturally i am confused and after further research, i find out that the charges include the $50 worth of stuff i signed up for and received, about $75 worth of tshirts i either did not sign up for, or that i signed up for and never got.

The remainder of the balance is from "finance charges" which i was explained are monthly charges i received because of not paying my bill.

Now my problem with this is, and correct me if i am out of line on this one, is that i never gave them my address in newjersey to send a bill to. i never signed anything agreeing to those finance charges if i didnt pay. i would have gladly paid the the tshirts upfront with cash if thats how the system worked, but all i was told is put my name on this basically blank sheet of paper under the design of the shirt, i get the shirt in a few weeks, i get a bill later.

I call up greek resources and they explain that i owe them the money, and that if i pay them $300 or so they will take off $50 of finance charges (that still leaves me paying $300 for $50 worth of items).

They said if i dont pay they will send it to a collection agency and it hits my credit. What steps can i take to making them convince a district or small claims judge that i owe them money for items i did not sign up for, and items that i did sign up for that i never received. I just have a hard time believing that any court would make me pay for something i never got.

Rant over

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i liked the Rant Over part the best. cliff notes please?

stabn · #22 10-08-2007, 04:58 PM

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pretty sure you're [censored] cause even if you sue your credit is going to take a big hit no matter what. Call them and try to get a rational person on the phone admit what you, say you neer received the stuf fyou never ordered. Be nice and hope for the best.

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? with no proof that he owes 300 sounds pretty easy to dispute with credit reporting agencies.

bravos1 · #23 10-08-2007, 05:02 PM

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Btw, dont ignore this.

My credit rating is probably shot for life because i ignored debts when i was younger and they went up to court level before i scrounged up the cash to pay them off.

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BTW, your credit is never shot for life. Pay your bills and keep in good credit standing. It may take 2-7+ years, but it will come around.

RollTideTyler · #24 10-08-2007, 05:43 PM

they say they will have records of my signing up for shirts...which they will. i did sign up for about $80 worth of shirts over the course of a year. however i only received $50 worth, and it will be interesting to see what signitures they produce for the shirts i know i didnt sign up for.

I think the main thing here is that these people are use to people backing down and just paying the money. after i get some more important things taken care of this week, im going to pay a visit to their offices and demand to speak to the highest supervisor on staff at the moment and let them know how serious i am, without acting like a lunatic.

Then we will see where it goes from there.

Twistofsin · #25 10-08-2007, 06:56 PM

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they say they will have records of my signing up for shirts...which they will. i did sign up for about $80 worth of shirts over the course of a year. however i only received $50 worth, and it will be interesting to see what signitures they produce for the shirts i know i didnt sign up for.

I think the main thing here is that these people are use to people backing down and just paying the money. after i get some more important things taken care of this week, im going to pay a visit to their offices and demand to speak to the highest supervisor on staff at the moment and let them know how serious i am, without acting like a lunatic.

Then we will see where it goes from there.

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Pay them what you believe you owe by check.

When it hits your credit report dispute it.

If the company can't provide sufficient enough documentation to show the debt is valid within 30 days it will be removed from your report. From your story it doesn't sound like they will be able to do that.

hosstito · #26 10-08-2007, 07:17 PM

jeeze fraternities are even gayer than i thought

prodonkey · #27 10-08-2007, 07:22 PM

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they say they will have records of my signing up for shirts...which they will. i did sign up for about $80 worth of shirts over the course of a year. however i only received $50 worth, and it will be interesting to see what signitures they produce for the shirts i know i didnt sign up for.

I think the main thing here is that these people are use to people backing down and just paying the money. after i get some more important things taken care of this week, im going to pay a visit to their offices and demand to speak to the highest supervisor on staff at the moment and let them know how serious i am, without acting like a lunatic.

Then we will see where it goes from there.

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So you admit signing up for $50 of t-shirts.. why didn't u pay for those?

ImFromInternet · #28 10-08-2007, 09:38 PM

Unless they can produce an actual contract you are clear. Best course of action would be to mail them a certified/return receipt letter with a $50 check explaining that you have paid for everything that you ordered and that if they ding your credit you will sue them. Anyone with a brain would back down, but if they do hit your credit then you can sue them and collect damages- won't be difficult if they can't produce a contract.

RollTideTyler · #29 10-09-2007, 01:05 AM

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Unless they can produce an actual contract you are clear. Best course of action would be to mail them a certified/return receipt letter with a $50 check explaining that you have paid for everything that you ordered and that if they ding your credit you will sue them. Anyone with a brain would back down, but if they do hit your credit then you can sue them and collect damages- won't be difficult if they can't produce a contract.

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yea i like this idea.

and to the poster 2 above asking why i didnt pay the 50 that i owe. i never saw a bill for just $50. the only bill i saw was for way over what i actually owe. i tried to explain to them that i want to pay my debt but feel i only owe 50. Until now i didnt feel like giving them 50 bucks, only to have them say "hey thanks, now give us the other 300 now please or we will send it to a collection agency"

DrewDevil · #30 10-09-2007, 01:07 AM

I would send the letter, but not the check. Sending them any more money might act as a "ratification" of the contract, when you might want to argue later that no contract ever existed.

Send the letter saying that you do not owe them anything and that you will sue them under the FRCA if they ding your credit.