@mythago: I didn't say live IN a trailer, I said he lives UNDER the trailer.

I just get sick of stupid people who make generalized sweeping statements. I am convinced they are hiding something.

@FLConsumer: Not all stations that start with "W" are east of the Mississippi, and not all stations that start with "K" are west of the Mississippi (one prime exception being KDKA in Pittsburgh, the oldest station on the air); but in the words of Damon Runyon, "That is the way to bet."

@Smashville_is a statue of limitations: Hey, I thought it was something like the Wisconsin Traffic Safety Patrol.

@RichasB: Actually, yes, lots of us are capable of being civilized, especially in a professional context, when money is involved. Maybe you can't. That's your problem, and probably eventually the problem of the police department where you live.

@thelushie: Now, now. I know many fine people who live in trailers and have nothing to do with the "I'm so smrt" OP-blaming cobag crowd.

Wait? What? people paid in restaurants with checks? When?

Upshot, regardless of what I tell the bill collector, I'm told pay the bill and deal with the hospital or they'll ruin my credit. I told them that under the law they couldn't do that. Funny thing is, when you speak very calmly and with authority about the law with bill collectors, they immediately seem to go away.

@RichasB: Also, I never lend money that I can't afford not to get back.

@RichasB: Are you being serious? No, in my world, threatening people is inappropriate and could get you into all sorts of trouble. Of course, I have to deal with alot of people who live in another world but...

@Mr.Duke: Why do people like always crawl out from under their trailer when this sort of these things are posted? Guess what? People fall behind on bills for a myraid (excuse me, I better use a word you know, so let us say variety) of reasons which are out of their control. And with what the job market is right now, alot of people are falling behind.

I have a theory about people like you. You are getting alot of collection calls and haven't paid your own bills, so you get on here, and to attempt to make yourself feel better, you make stupid douchebag statements like you made. Now go crawl back under your trailer.

As for the article: This guy needs to be arrested. What sort of upbringing do you need to think that you have some sort of right to threaten another person. (Never mind, I know the answer to that.)

@sth9669: Sue them. That's a $1000 violation of the FDCPA.

Sue them for each violation. That's what the FDCPA is for.

Try again.

@halcyondays: @LadyTL: Can't afford? You don't need to "afford" one. That is why we have the State Attorney General in very state. Their service is free for situations like this. And if you complain, they have to follow up and trust me, when any business gets a notice from the AG, "halcyondays" is right, they straigthen up really fast.

@thereij: And KDKA in Pittsburg, WKY in OKC, and WWLS in Norman, OK!

He's a Steelers fan, what more did you expect???

WHO DEY!!!!!!!!!!

@halcyondays: Not really, most of them laugh or say that the FDCPA doesn't apply to them. Plus alot of the time they know we can't afford a lawyer.

[www.oregonlive.com]

@Mr.Duke: Yeah. Tell that to the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs in the last 12 months.

I have to wonder why people are surprised by this guy's comments? This is typiical behavior from debt collectors. Until the Fed gets off it's ass and quits worrying about how it can bilk billions of dollars out of Americans with bogus health care reform, and starts actually going after the criminals in the financial sectors of the country, nothing is going to get better.

@doctor_cos: Tampa isn't THAT far from Jacksonville, which in itself is not a major media market. The Jacksonville broadcasters were probably too busy flagellating themselves over the recent Jaguars victories.

@FLConsumer: Keep in mind there are exceptions to this rule. Example: WFAA in Texas is west of the Mississippi yet retains a WXXX call letter sequence due to the age of the station.

@Skaperen: In my observational experience it is effective less often than not and I contend that there are better techniques that are more effective and more consistent.

Deadbeat or not, I've found most people can be motivated and/or convinced to pay without having to expose yourself to risk.

So we won't know just what portion of the cases the people resist as the subject of this story did. But, but digging fully into collection agency records, it might be possible to find out.

Go go gadget FDCPA!

Being an HVAC engineer(partial knuckle dragging mechanic) means I get to fix buildings and go places where there are no elevators or easy ways to get to where I'm going. Hence the desire for physical fitness.

My tool belt weighs about 25 pounds and has suspenders so I look like Bob the Builder on roids. hah

So Mickey is no stranger to ****ing people up.

Report them to your states AG, the FTC and BBB.

"The complainant apparently cashed a worthless check at the check cashing place (breaking the law)"

This is not true. He broke no law. The business model for these check cashing places is to actually encourage you to write them a bad check. They hold it in the hope that in two weeks (or whenever due) that they can cash it for the amount you owe. Taking a check that you know to be worthless when written entitles you to...Not much. You can sue the maker of the check for civil relief for a bad debt ,but you cannot obtain a criminal warrant for the bad check UNLESS there was a fraudulent identity or a closed account etc. I have been a bail bondsman for 11 years and I have NEVER once ever had a check cashing place take a criminal warrant for a check from their customers.They may pursue collection or write it off as a cost of business,but they cannot get you for a bad check They direct you write the bad paper,and that eliminates any means of criminal prosecution.

That's actually a pretty hefty punishment for law enforcement.

@doctor_cos: Hint: when you have to darkly hint at nonexistent facts in order to support your "the OP must have done something wrong" trolling, you fail.

But to pretend you were actually asking a question, there is no provision of the FDCPA that says "But if the alleged debtor cusses you out, all of the preceding provisions no longer apply."

Not really sure who the victim is here.

real men admit their mistakes and pay their debt.. indeed.

Federal court records show Swafford "Mickey," also filed for personal Bankruptcy in March of 2009, claiming $717,000 in total debt, including $13,000 owed on a Home Depot credit card. He listed having $40 in his checking account and $5 in his savings account. Court documents also say Swafford had $421,655 in assets, and may have lost money on various investment properties during the nation's crash in housing prices.

It still should be much easier to figure out and do so.

Maybe with the publicity they'll put the bracelets on him, but then the judge is basically going to guy community service. And the judge will be ticked to be bothered with such a case.

Just throwing in some legal context...

"Of course, we don't get to hear what led up to that."

Yes, people who write bad checks money deserve to be cursed out and told "I will find your sister, your daughter, whoever this Ms. Debra Gordon is. I will find her, and I will find you, and I will f--- you up."

That is what you're saying, right? Or what exactly are you trying to say?

@MaBelle: Where am I bashing the commenter? Why on earth is this thread so long?

@Chumas: "Imminent" is the key to that statute. Imminent, in the legal sense, usually means that the threatened act can be carried out without any significant delay. A guy shouting threats at you from across the street is creating an imminent fear of harm. Phoning from a house a few doors down is possibly imminent. A message on an answering machine isn't close enough in time, unfortunately.

ROTFLMAO

@Smashville_is a statue of limitations: bash the commenter day, eh? I don't mouse over links either. I live in the world of KXXX stations and always have, and nowhere does the blurb reference a locale for the story or its origin. Contextually there was nothing to grab that said "TV or radio station East of the Mississippi." And since Consumerist is acting like a news aggregator a lot these days, qualifying the sources of their links SHOULD be a part of their standard blurb.

@amberlink: The context of the sentence should be a pretty definitive clue.

"WTSP obtained the messages, some of the worst debt collector recordings I've ever heard, and you can listen to them here."

Hey, I "read" the article with my eyes, NOT my mouse. So, since the link wasn't obviously underlined, how, without first passing my mouse over the words, am I supposed to know it's a link? I can't help it if fancy-schmancy .css stuff makes the said stuff less usable. And, I'm sticking with that.

Couldn't you just take the elevator?

Florida Assault and Battery Laws - Definitions
The following are the legal definitions according to Florida criminal laws.

Assault is defined as "an intentional threat by word, or act that seeks to physically harm another, coupled with an apparent ability to do so, which creates a well-founded fear in such other person that such violence is imminent."

Assault is a second degree misdemeanor, which has a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. FL Criminal Statute §784.011

[www.myfloridadefenselawyer.com]

On a sidenote, after telling the man that and he encounters the thug in a public place with which the thug accosts the individual, the individual is not under legal directive to retreat and can shoot the thug under the FL "Make My Day" law.

Beating diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, with the added bonus I can carry my tool belt up 10 stories of stairs and not get winded.

@srh: Sounds predictable -- not sure about reasonable. Bad cop takes a job at a check cashing store and someone cheats him out of money, what do we expect?

These guys make me feel like the crying indian. I've been in the business almost ten years, and have run collection departments for very high profile clients. I have never (NEVER) had to get anywhere near the line in order to be successful. These tactics that get the press are completely inneffective. Was the complaintant scared in to paying? No he wasn't. He was motivated to sue, so clearly the collector failed. Whatever it takes to run these thugs out of the business has my full support.

@apd09: They think just because they won 2 superbowls in 3 years, they the shi...wait! You're a pats fan!!

Please educate people about their rights so that they can fight back if they are in this situation.

@Bluth_Cornballer: What, did he have a hair injury? Or, was it his head (and/or shoulders)?

/just kidding

@lpranal: He's going to be angrier once he gets fired. Do you want to sleep much?

@amberlink: When you get big enough you don't need a neck anymore. Your traps just morph straight from your ears to your shoulders; it's actually considered a good thing and a rite of passage in some huge-guy circles

@Blitzgal: What about the stereotypical "To Kill a Mockingbird" example?

@amberlink: I think they kind of expected you to know it, considering the context and the link.

Okay, sarcasm off. Are you serious? Are you really saying that ignoring the law is "reasonable"?

Meet the next American Private Police Force recruit. AKA Blackwater AKA Xe

@amberlink:
WTSP are the call letters of the News channel.

And why is a Jacksonville story on a Tampa TV (WTSP is channel 10) website?

@Trai_Dep: Right...the tape cuts out before he finishes...it's followed by "the elevator of the Eiffel Tower...if you're into that kind of thing...then we'll share some champagne, eat truffles, get a couples massage...and take a bubble bath..."

He did say "You have a good day".

@Vanilla5: The fact that he's an ex-cop who kneed a handcuffed prisoner in the face and all he got was fired?