Your Arts N' Crafts

Jameel from Connecticut -

They've got tons and tons of craft kits and just today I went there and bought a lot of ornament kits that were on clearance. I scored on them!! Most were clearanced down to $1 to $2.

Comment #1 John from Libertyville, Illinois -

I was harassed by Michael's once years ago. Their collection agency called up and demanded I make good on some bad checks. I had my 15 yr old step son talk to them and they accused him of writing bad checks too. They continued to call and harass us. (I had never even been in a Michael's store).

They were just so sure that because I answered the phone I was guilty of writing them bad checks. I finally made complaints against the collection agency with the licensing departments.

The *REAL* problem was that someone with my phone number, but a different area code had apparently written some bad checks. Since they didn't have an area code they used the area code of the store (same as mine) instead of the customers actual area code.

In the end the store send a gift certificate for $25. Needless to say I never used it.

Comment #2 Cross-Stitch from Stitching -

That must have been a VERY long time ago and I'm surprised you weren't able to clear it up faster than that. That proof is very easy to come up with. And you boycott an entire chain because of it? I get collections calls at my house all the time for the person who had the phone number before me. I calmly always call the collector back to let them know that the person they're searching for isn't here. Collectors are only doing a job.

Comment #3 John from Libertyville, Illinois -

"only doing their job". No they were operating far outside the bounds of the laws that regular collection agencies ... even if they were calling the correct person.

There is absolutely no excuse for their harassment of anyone. The collection business is a farse in that they far too often (and in this case) simply harass people rather than take them to court if they won't pay up.

It is not my job to come up with proof for anything. The way it started is they left a message on my answering machine and when I called them they demanded to know my name and when I refused that they asked the last 4 digits of my phone number and from that there was weeks of obnoxious phone calls.

If the collectors were doing their job they would call and ask if it would be taken care of. If the answer was no, or the person didn't follow through they can go to Court. Anything beyond that is simply harassment and unnecessary.

Comment #4 Goldie from on top of Ol' Smokey! -

I love Michaels! I love that store better than Joanne Fabrics! I can always find what I need there and I love the classes they offer too. I sorry you had such a bad experience with them John from Libertyville.

Comment #5 Jameel from Connecticut -

I'm sorry you had such a problem John. I've always received wonderful customer service from the Michael's that I frequent. I do agree...Michael's is much better than Joanne Fabric although sometimes Joanne's has nicer Christmas decor.

Comment #6 Cross-Stitch from Stitching -

John, I'm sorry to sound argumentative, but everything you said is EXACTLY what the guilty party would say to a collector. It costs less money to call a person who owes than to take him to court. That's why collectors call. There is nothing illegal about it. If you want a collector to stop calling you have to PUT IT IN WRITING. If you're going to put it in writing, then just give them the proof that you're not the person who owes the debt. If a collector calls you after you've requested that he only contact you through the mail, then you have legal recourse.

I'm sorry you had a hard time, but don't blame the store because of the collection department. The one does not do the other's job.

Comment #7 John from Libertyville, Illinois -

Except when they keep calling (right person or wrong) they don't collect anything, so what's the point?

It's illegal for them to call the wrong person as they are disclosing details of the debt to a 3rd party. It is not my obligation to correct their mistakes. Additionally, you only have to tell them orally not to call you and they are obligated not to. Yes, if you put it in writing you have proof they were told.

However, the fact that one would feel the need to put it in writing indicated the complete disrespect collectors in general have for their clients, debtors, the law and others.

I put it in writing to the licensing agencies in Illinois and Iowa (where the agency was located) and that still took way too long to get them to go away.

Look what they did for their client in this case... 8 or more yeas later I wouldn't walk into one of their establishments, much less purchase anything.

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