J 20 - MANCHESTER HERALD, Sat., Qct, 23, 1982 BUSINESS Tax districts Prague: Money In defense under review isn't an issue of fingers ... page 9 ... page 11 How to fight bock at unfair debt collectors • a* 5 remove some of the sillier provisions of the present law twisted to create an impression of giant reform, when in that bar even innocent deceptions to find people who The procedures for collecting debts play a vital role in fact only a baby step has been taken. This scam has been have skipped to avoid paying legitimate bills, and whicp our market economy. They permit merchants to sell in executed successfully so often that it has become the expectation of payment; they help to keep the routine (like enacting an exciting and expensive bar threats even to do what the creditor is entitled to do* Your But in the meantime, both state and local regulation wheels of commerce turning (smoothly or jerkily). If program and then allocating no funds at all to carry it Manchester, Conn. can move in to fill the gap - resulting in the pyramiding they are fair as well as effective, they also allow con­ I Money's out — a common phenomenon). Partly sunny, sumers to fight back if and when we are cheated, of regulatory costs and burdens on legitimate business. Monday, Oct. 25, 1982 thereby keeping the marketplace clean and swindling Worth •SIGNING T H E LAW to loud acclaim makes great If state or local rules copy the substance of the ultra- cool Tuesday under control. headlines; the subsequent non-implementation is buried stringent (if ultra-limited) federal law, the result coulfl Single copy 25c But like any institution, the debt collection system Sylvia Porter quietly and decently. be overkill. It would make it easier for deadbeats ^ — See page 2 needs updating from time to time to keep pace with our Even in limbo, though, you can still try to fight back if avoid payment and harder to collect small debts by anrl|p0tpr Ipralb changing standards. unfairly treated. To be specific: threats of suit. The federal provisions are a handy In colonial days, debt was akin to crime or sin. You 1) If you don’t owe the money, make a billing error model for miniscule coverage. could rot in jail until your bills were paid. Even after order to get a tough bill through Congress, our complaint about the error, do it in writing by registered Is this important? You bet it is! that was no longer so, collecting debts was a rough af­ legislators had to limit the law's scope. And the federal mail and demand an inquiry. IE TH O SE W H O owe money do not pay and if their fair and collectors could move over a wide range in pur­ law is tough. It bans any deception at all, even if the 2) If you receive shoddy goods, write to the company bills cannot be collected, you and I make up for it — Massacre probe suit of a nonpaying deadbeat, ft was easy to countenance deception is harmless, such as a call: ‘T m one of Jim’s demanding action and if you don’t get it and are willing while even business giants go into bankruptcy or o**t M a bit of deception and “ coercion" on the theory that “ it old Army buddies, where can I find him?” There is, in to risk your credit rating (and if you can afford a business altogether. On the other hand, if companies takes one to catch one." A collector could, among other fact, a “ privileged sanctuary” for small debts that don’t lawyer), fight the claim in court. that engage in fraud or deception can nevertheleffi Walesa methods: justify a suit. No one can even threaten to sue, so the • 3) Complain to federal, state and local agencies. (In collect from consumers, this kind of behavior is • Pretend that those seeking to make you pay were rest of us pay some of those bills in the form of higher this era of the New Federalism, local and state agencies government agents. may be more responsive than federal agencies, which rewarded. -■■k prices. Creditors can use the most unfair and harshest collec­ • Post “ For .Sale" signs in front of your house. 1 would think a law so obviously ridiculous that it are set on deregulation as a main goal) • Make midnight phone calls. 4) In a case affecting a lot of people seriously, FTC ac­ tion techniques to get their dollars. We, the consumer^ Sharon allows you to use whatever harsh methods you want to and the entire honest business community suffer — and • Telephone your friends and neighbors. collect a debt but not to hire someone else to do it cries tion or minimal prosecution under the mail fraud 2 the most decent of professional debt collectors suffer nixed • Phone your employer, thus causing you trouble at out for amendment. But nothing has been done. statute administered by postal inspectors and the your job. regional U.S. Attorney’s office is a distinct possibility. with us. What a tortured piece of legal machinery! How ACTUAEEY, PROEES.SIONAE debt collectors • Repeatedly phone you at your place of work. The mail fraud section is the heavy artillery in the did it come into existence? How has it been so discreetly must have the highest standards in order to protect their hidden from us for so long? When can we do something • Use abusive language. federal arsenal. livelihood — but federal law discriminates precisely • Threaten all kinds of drastic action not legally 5) Keep copies of all papers you send or receive. about this? against this group. If unfair or deceptive methods are admits allowed. Never send originals to the authorities. Keep copies of (Save money as you organize your budget with Sylvia offer used by creditors, the Federal Trade Commission can envelopes as proof of use of the mails — important if Porter’s Financial Almanac for 1983— a functional and BY TH E I,ATE 1970s, laws were on the books for­ attack them under its general powers to attack such mail fraud can be claimed. Be persistent. informative desk calendar/handbook featuring Porter s bidding most of these practices in many states. There practices, hut not under the Debt Collection Practices best budgeting tips and money-saving advice Send $8.95 A 5 also was a federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Act. State laws may be invoked depending on the A CHANGE IN THE crazy quilt of laws governing plus $1 for mailing and handling to Financial Almanac in WARSAW, Poland (UPI) - The that applied to professional debt collections — but NOT specific state’s provisions. collection practices is likely to come first at the state care of the Manchester Herald, 4400 Johnson Drive, wife of jailed Solidarity leader Lech to creditors collecting their own debts. Where does all this leave you and me, the consumers? and local level. But will new state and local laws apply Fairway. Kan. 66205. Make checks payable to Universal Walesa said today guards forced her delays While the creditors themselves were frequently in­ In limbo. to creditors as well as collection agencies? Press Svndicate.) to undress and searched her from volved in the most flagrant abuses of debt collection, in As is so frequently the ca.se, the legal system has been A logical change at the federal level would be to "tiptoe to the top” after a recent visit with her husband who she says turned down a chance for freedoin. Jeffrey Heller camps an "underground city” of Roman Catholic Primate Jozef United Press International PLO weapons, fighters and headquarters. Glemp arrived in Rome today for Israeli . Defense Minister Ariel Sharon said he found out about the Public Records talks with Pope John Paul II and Sharon, in the first public session of massacre on the eve of Rosh said he was a “ little more an investigation into the massacre Hashana Friday night, a full 24 pessimistic” about the situation in y M /C /r of Palestinians in west Beirut, said and Trust Co. (Wickham Roofing and Sheet Metal for 153-155 Main V- hours after the massacre started. Warranty deeds Samuel Pearson, property Poland now than when he last met today he failed to act immediately Park , trustee), 3.95 acres Manchester Corp. for fence He said he did not tell Begin of Robert Joseph Bazzano on Tolland Turnpike. Ihc., property at 276 Hart­ with the pope in July. V,. after the slaughter began or to ad­ on West Middle Turnpike and for refurbishings at 155 what he learned that night, but did and Marie R. Bazzano to ford Road, $476,86. Glemp said he was planning to vise Prime Minister Menachem for limited access Main St., $12,000. try to call on Saturday afternoon. June Porter, property at 44 Judgment lien stay in Rome a week. Begin. highway. Building permits To Paul Rothman for 14-g "They told me he was in the syn­ Willard Road, $68,000. Lawrence A. Fiano “ But if the situation in Poland Sharon, architect of the June 6 in­ State Department of To Bill Tunsky for Frank John Bonino for siding .at agogue,” Sharon said. Emplovee Transfer against Laura Molava, becomes more tense, I will leave vasion of Lebanon, testified for 90 Transoortation against Cimino for siding at 29 137 S, Main St., $6,000. Aides have said Begin learned of Corporation to Anthony G. property at Tanner St. earlier,” Glemp told reporters on minutes before a threeman panel Thomas J.