107 replies to this topic

[dimeracer]

The one in the Raley's center is closed permanently. Doesn't seem like there was much notice. Went to return some DVDs and they were packing everything up and moving it out.

Welp, I received a letter in the mail today from West Bay Acquisitions, LLC saying that they are the "authorized agent for the legal successor to Hollywood Video". It looked like junk mail and I almost tossed it without opening it. They are telling me that I owe $43 for five movies rented from Feb 2009 through December 2009 (February 2009?? really??). It doesn't say whether the titles were returned late, or not returned at all, just that the associated rental dates "contributed to the debt".

I think we still have possession of one video that we rented in December of that year. We attempted to return right after they suddenly closed their doors. If I can find it, I think I'll mail it to them COD with a letter.

[dimeracer]

Welp, I received a letter in the mail today from West Bay Acquisitions, LLC saying that they are the "authorized agent for the legal successor to Hollywood Video". It looked like junk mail and I almost tossed it without opening it. They are telling me that I owe $43 for five movies rented from Feb 2009 through December 2009 (February 2009?? really??). It doesn't say whether the titles were returned late, or not returned at all, just that the associated rental dates "contributed to the debt".

I think we still have possession of one video that we rented in December of that year. We attempted to return right after they suddenly closed their doors. If I can find it, I think I'll mail it to them COD with a letter.

similar complaints

[ducky]

Welp, I received a letter in the mail today from West Bay Acquisitions, LLC saying that they are the "authorized agent for the legal successor to Hollywood Video". It looked like junk mail and I almost tossed it without opening it. They are telling me that I owe $43 for five movies rented from Feb 2009 through December 2009 (February 2009?? really??). It doesn't say whether the titles were returned late, or not returned at all, just that the associated rental dates "contributed to the debt".

I think we still have possession of one video that we rented in December of that year. We attempted to return right after they suddenly closed their doors. If I can find it, I think I'll mail it to them COD with a letter.

You might have been on to something with the "junk mail" thought. I wonder if this West Bay Acquisitions is even legit. I sure wouldn't send a cent. Isnt' there some statute of limitations if they haven't tried to collect on a debt for more than two years?

[dimeracer]

I'm not sure about that, but the link that I attached shows many others with the same exact scenario, and with stories of blemished credit ratings as a result. What to do?

[ducky]

I'm not sure about that, but the link that I attached shows many others with the same exact scenario, and with stories of blemished credit ratings as a result. What to do?

Just looked it up and it looks to me like it is four years if you have a written agreement and two years if you have an oral agreement. I'd definitely ask for proof of the debt and ask them to furnish you with a copy of your written agreement. If they can't, they might be out of luck. (Not legal advice, just what I would personally do)

It is pretty disturbing how they can ruin someone's credit without proof. I would think the Attorney General and, possibly, Call Kurtis might be interested in their practices.

[ducky]

Read some more articles. Another company called NCS was doing the same thing. Here was the advice on consumeraffairs.com. Hope it helps.

"Know your rights
Melanie, a consumer in Brooklyn, N.Y., had the same experience but found a way to fight back. When she received the written notice from CCS, she read the fine print, learning she had 30 days to contact them in writing to dispute the claim.

She also went to the Federal Trade Commission website where she said she learned how to respond.
"Send them (the collection agency) a letter asking for details about the alleged debt - things like store location, dates, times, titles of DVD's allegedly turned in late or not returned," she said. "It is their job to prove you owe them money, not the other way around. Also, refer to the Fair Debt collection Practices Act and say that you would not like to be contacted again except with the information you requested and only by mail to an address you can specify. If they cannot produce sufficient proof you owe money with written records then you do not have to pay them and they cannot report you to a credit company. There are laws to protect you against these things. Please take the time to look at the above site. Make sure you send the letter via certified mail and get a receipt proving the agency received your letter."

[Devdave]

While he may have rights under this act Ducky - it also sounds like he is guilty under his own admission...still has their property in his posession.

"I think we still have possession of one video that we rented in December of that year."


I'd try to return their rightful property...

[ducky]

While he may have rights under this act Ducky - it also sounds like he is guilty under his own admission...still has their property in his posession.

"I think we still have possession of one video that we rented in December of that year."


I'd try to return their rightful property...

I agree their video should be returned. I would still want to get things in writing as to what exactly the charge was for since they were listing a range of dates and also to make sure the return is documented.

[dimeracer]

Returning the video is one issue, and I had no desire to keep it other than not wanting to drive an hour to return it. That was not the understanding when I rented it days earlier before they suddenly closed their doors. Regarding the other supposed late/ unreturned items from months earlier, I will write them asking for proof. Thanks for your input.

[ducky]

Returning the video is one issue, and I had no desire to keep it other than not wanting to drive an hour to return it. That was not the understanding when I rented it days earlier before they suddenly closed their doors. Regarding the other supposed late/ unreturned items from months earlier, I will write them asking for proof. Thanks for your input.

How much are you going to charge them for maintaining and storing their abandoned property?

[Redone]

Hollywood used to make you sign the reciept at Checkout.

No signature = you don't owe.

[camay2327]

Just looked it up and it looks to me like it is four years if you have a written agreement and two years if you have an oral agreement. I'd definitely ask for proof of the debt and ask them to furnish you with a copy of your written agreement. If they can't, they might be out of luck. (Not legal advice, just what I would personally do)

It is pretty disturbing how they can ruin someone's credit without proof. I would think the Attorney General and, possibly, Call Kurtis might be interested in their practices.

I think that calling Kurtis would be a great idea you folks that have received this letter.

My daughter had an account with them and I think we did too.. Hope we don't get the same letter.

[proudmama]

We just received a letter that we owe $80 for Curious George and Mulan from April 2009. Eeek! I don't even remember renting these movies. Not that we didn't rent them, but I'm sure we would've retuned them, because that's what you do when you RENTed movies. They are certainly no longer in our possession.

What a hassle!

[SacKen]

Can they affect your credit? I don't recall providing an SSN when opening an account. That was 15 years ago, so maybe I did and just don't remember. Otherwise, they can't do anything but try to scare you into paying.

Remember Columbia House, that catalog music company that would give you 20 CDs (tapes when I used them, LOL) for a penny if you bought 3 more within a couple years? They would do this if you failed to buy your additional three. I had a friend in high school that failed to buy his final tape. Columbia House sold the debt to a third party who sent threatening letters every few months for a couple of years with really vague statements that made you think that your credit was at risk but never went so far as actually making that false claim. Things like, "Failure to pay will ruin your good name and will affect your ability to get credit with Columbia House in the future." We often had a good laugh at how silly some of the threats were as they danced around their lack of legal authority in trying to collect $14.

(I tell this story as an example of how these collection agencies often work regarding your credit history and am not trying to get into some discussion about other potential legal issues such as breach of contract or the morality of not paying the $14.)

[ducky]

If any of you get a "blast from the past" billing from Universal Fidelity (working on behalf of the bankruptcy trustee for Hollywood Video) and you know you don't owe it, contact Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston, South Texas, 1333 West Loop South, Suite 1200, Houston, TX, 77027. You can also find them online and file a complaint that way, as over 1,700 other people have. Ask for written documentation of the debt. Universal Fidelity will claim the only info they have is a movie title and a date (usually sometime in 2009), but keep insisting on proof of the debt and that Universal contact their client (The First Lien Term Lenders Liquidating Trust) instead of asking you to do it. I'd also ask for a written confirmation that they acknowledge you owe nothing in case it comes up in the future. They are not allowed to place anything on your credit report for these billings.