So I just got a notice from a debt collector saying I owe $300 for a parking ticket I don’t even remember getting. It was originally $150 but now it’s doubled since it’s in collections. The problem is the license plate they have on file isn’t mine anymore. I disputed it, but I have a bad feeling I’m going to be stuck paying.
If I do have to pay, I want to make it as annoying as possible for them. Any legal ways to make this a headache for them without adding extra fees for myself?
If it’s in collections, they didn’t pay $150 for that debt. If you do end up paying, make sure you haggle them down as much as possible.
Keep disputing it, never answer their calls, and file complaints with as many state agencies as you can. If you can find out who owns the debt collection company, add their name to the complaints. Make it as annoying for them as possible.
You could send them 300 separate $1 payments… or even smaller ones. I bet processing that many tiny payments would cost them more than what they’d make.
(For legal reasons, this is a joke 
)
Jules said:
You could send them 300 separate $1 payments… or even smaller ones. I bet processing that many tiny payments would cost them more than what they’d make.
(For legal reasons, this is a joke )
Or bring in $300 worth of pennies in a bag and make them count every single one.
Jules said:
You could send them 300 separate $1 payments… or even smaller ones. I bet processing that many tiny payments would cost them more than what they’d make.
(For legal reasons, this is a joke )
A lot of collection agencies charge a fee per transaction. You’d either have to send 300 separate checks or pay 300 processing fees.
@Wren
Good point. 300 separate checks might be even more annoying for them though. If you’re really committed to being petty…
Jules said:
You could send them 300 separate $1 payments… or even smaller ones. I bet processing that many tiny payments would cost them more than what they’d make.
(For legal reasons, this is a joke )
Or just pay them $1 at a time in pennies 
Jules said:
You could send them 300 separate $1 payments… or even smaller ones. I bet processing that many tiny payments would cost them more than what they’d make.
(For legal reasons, this is a joke )
I love the ‘for legal reasons, this is a joke’ disclaimer
When you say ‘not mine anymore,’ do you mean it used to be yours? Did you sell or junk the car? If so, do you have proof of when you got rid of it?
Morgan said:
When you say ‘not mine anymore,’ do you mean it used to be yours? Did you sell or junk the car? If so, do you have proof of when you got rid of it?
Sounds like they’re trying to claim they don’t owe it just because they don’t have the car anymore. But if the ticket was from when they owned it, they’re still responsible.
@Jai
Or they sold the car but didn’t take the plates off, and the new owner racked up the ticket. If that’s the case, it might be harder to fight.
Are you sure this is even legit? If you don’t pay a real ticket, it usually goes to the police or city, not a random debt collector. I’d check with your local court system before doing anything.
Rai said:
Are you sure this is even legit? If you don’t pay a real ticket, it usually goes to the police or city, not a random debt collector. I’d check with your local court system before doing anything.
That depends on where they got the ticket. Some places do send unpaid tickets to collections after a certain time. If it’s from a private lot, it could just be a company trying to scare them into paying.
@Rio
If it’s a real ticket, there should be a record of it in the city or county system. If it’s not, I wouldn’t pay a dime.
Rai said:
@Rio
If it’s a real ticket, there should be a record of it in the city or county system. If it’s not, I wouldn’t pay a dime.
Good point. If the debt collector can’t prove it’s valid, they don’t have a case.
Rai said:
@Rio
If it’s a real ticket, there should be a record of it in the city or county system. If it’s not, I wouldn’t pay a dime.
Yeah, and if it’s from a private parking lot, they might not even have a legal way to enforce it. I’d demand proof before paying anything.
Are you sure this isn’t a scam? There are a ton of fake collection notices going around. Check your credit report—if it’s not listed there, I’d ignore it.
Instead of making it difficult for them, just pay the fine and move on.
Keep messing around and it’ll be $450 next time. Might be better to just take care of it now.