People who can't pay their bills have lawyers?

[Misanthropical]

Last night, I was so ready to ask how someone who can't pay a $40 bill can afford a lawyer.

We hear this so often that I just tell them to do whatever they want to do, since we have never heard back from any of these suppose lawyers.

We operate strictly within the law, so good luck with finding a lawyer to take your case.

One man called in just to tell us he was going to sue. We hadn't called him at all according to our records, he has only gotten letters asking for payment and stating that it will be turned over to us if payment is not sent.

I'm still waiting to hear from the attorney of the man who was going to sue me personally for not being sympathetic enough to his plight.

To me, it's just an empty threat that they hope will scare us enough to not call them again. It doesn't scare us at all, but they still try.

I have also noticed that is never the people with the big bills that threaten legal action, it seems to be only those who owe a small amount.

[blas]

I would just chalk it up to the usual "Lawyer! Blargle blargle!". It's an empty threat. Obviously someone who can't afford a small bill cannot afford an attorney.

[PepperElf]

it's the new warcry of those who are offended at being held responsible for their actions. that and being offended enough to add in "suffering" sums

(sadly even some kids do it now cos they're copying their parents)

[CancelMyService]

I hear that a lot from people who were disconnected due to non payment, it's always "How dare you" this and "I'm going to call a lawyer" that.........I even told one person who was being especially douchebaggy that a lawyer will just tell you that you should have paid the bill.

One of the newer people on the team not only was threatened with being sued, but the guy told him he would have him fired AND make sure he never gets another job. All because my co-worker wasn't telling him what he wanted to hear.

[earl colby pottinger]

Facts

The few times I have been threaten I has stated the facts.

Without a lawyer the basic costs to fill a lawsuit is about $100.00

With a lawyer the above still applies but now you are being billed for the lawyers time. And while lawyers bill by the hour many have a two hour min. charge at $100-200 per hour.

Once you take me to court, the judge will likely dismiss the case, none of the above is refundable.

If you do get court time the lawyer fees will start adding up, no public defender helps you sue unless they see real injustice - this is not one of those cases.

I on the other-hand because I am being sue probably can get public defender help.

Plus I have documented all our interactions and will present them to the judge.

No-one has taken me to court so far.

[allniter]

At my company, the moment someone brings up the word lawyer, we say this:

"Since you have stated you will be contacting an attorney over this matter, I can no longer continue with this call. At this point, you must have your lawyer contact our corporate lawyers to discuss this matter. This call has been recorded and will be forwarded to them for use in any court proceedings that may follow."

At this point in the call, most people immediately start blabbering about how they don't want to take it as far as court - which is bullshit. They put on the brakes so fast you'd think their airbag would deploy. And it's all because there's no way in hell they'll get someone to look into their "case" or to even find a way to pay for it. These people whine about $50, there's no way they can afford legal representation when the cheapest lawyer bills at 3x that amount to start with.

And they'd be contacting our corporate lawyers. No single attorney would be willing to go up against them on their own. The nightmare would be too much to handle.

So many have threatened, so many are idiots.

[Sov]

I've used the line, "Our lawyers are bigger than your lawyer" on a few before. It gets a laugh from other employees around you, and just pisses the Cretin off even more. I cap it off with the "If that's the case, I'll refer you to our legal department. This conversation is over." line and walk away.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Wow, never get another job again! That's power!!

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I'ma call my lawyer!!

OK, Well, then I'll speak to you again when he refers your bill to us for collection. Have a nice day!

[Bright_Star]

You yell "I'm gonna get a lawyer" & too many people think that retail is supposed to tuck their tails bwtween their legs & cower in fear. Don't they know that retail also has lawyers & they can put up when it needs to be done?

[Reyneth]

Have him/her send in a letter of representation and have a nice day.

Repeat until they hang up - and then I laugh my arse off at their chances of winning anything when they just confirmed that they were driving without insurance (the reason I was talking to them), which is illegal in their state. Yup, that one will go far.

Even if they get a attny, the judge will say something like this...."You don't think you were at fault in this accident? Why isn't your insurance company arguing liability if they don't think you were at fault? Oh? You don't have insurance? Dismissed, and you have just lost your license and earned a couple of hundred dollars in fees!"

Ok, maybe not quite that nice, but it won't ever turn out the way they think it will!

[prb]

I hear that a lot from people who were disconnected due to non payment, it's always "How dare you" this and "I'm going to call a lawyer" that.........I even told one person who was being especially douchebaggy that a lawyer will just tell you that you should have paid the bill.

Slightly over a year ago, our natural gas was disconnected. The company never sent us the bill, but added on disconnection fee, re-connection fee and collection fees. So many times, even if the customer has the money but the company is wrong, they won't pay.

Of course, we paid, sued for the fees, and won.

[powerboy]

The couple of times, when they have threaten us with a lawyer. I just tell them that "Since they have signed a legal binding contract, that we are within the Self Storage Law of California to yada yada yada

[CancelMyService]

Slightly over a year ago, our natural gas was disconnected. The company never sent us the bill, but added on disconnection fee, re-connection fee and collection fees. So many times, even if the customer has the money but the company is wrong, they won't pay.

Of course, we paid, sued for the fees, and won.

That of course is a different matter, if there's an error on the part of the company that changes things quite a bit.

The people who let their bill pile up and up, then call in threatening lawsuits because they got disconnected are the ones who get laughed at.