In Prosecutors, Debt Collectors Find a Partner

[zerozero]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/b...ectors-find-a-partner.html?_r=2smid=tw-share&

The letters are sent by the thousands to people across the country who have written bad checks, threatening them with jail if they do not pay up.

They bear the seal and signature of the local district attorney’s office. But there is a catch: the letters are from debt-collection companies, which the prosecutors allow to use their letterhead. In return, the companies try to collect not only the unpaid check, but also high fees from debtors for a class on budgeting and financial responsibility, some of which goes back to the district attorneys’ offices.

 

[zerozero]

previously from your humble narrator:
http://www.the-coli.com/higher-learning/22049-poor-land-jail-companies-add-huge-fees-probation.html

 

[acri1]

previously from your humble narrator:
http://www.the-coli.com/higher-learning/22049-poor-land-jail-companies-add-huge-fees-probation.html

That's a damn shame.


They have something almost as bad in Michigan (and some other states) called Driver's responsibility fees. Basically, if you are found guilty of an qualifying offense (expired plates, no insurance, driving w/suspended license, drunk driving, or too many points) they charge you extra fees (besides the ticket) for two years and suspend your license if you don't pay them. If you're caught driving with your license suspended you get even more fees.

What happened to me was that, I was between jobs in 2008 and didn't have car insurance for a while. Got pulled over, paid the ticket, but since I didn't have insurance I got hit with a $200 Driver's Responsibility fee I had to pay two years in a row. I moved not long after that, and forgot to pay it the second year. They hadn't sent any notification to my new address. Two years later, I get pulled over for something minor (illegal turn I think) and they found that my license was suspended for not paying the fee. So now, in addition to having to take a trip downtown, I had to pay to get my license reinstated and pay ANOTHER $500 Driver's responsibility fee for two years.

 

[Koapa]

That's a damn shame.


They have something almost as bad in Michigan (and some other states) called Driver's responsibility fees. Basically, if you are found guilty of an qualifying offense (expired plates, no insurance, driving w/suspended license, drunk driving, or too many points) they charge you extra fees (besides the ticket) for two years and suspend your license if you don't pay them. If you're caught driving with your license suspended you get even more fees.

What happened to me was that, I was between jobs in 2008 and didn't have car insurance for a while. Got pulled over, paid the ticket, but since I didn't have insurance I got hit with a $200 Driver's Responsibility fee I had to pay two years in a row. I moved not long after that, and forgot to pay it the second year. They hadn't sent any notification to my new address. Two years later, I get pulled over for something minor (illegal turn I think) and they found that my license was suspended for not paying the fee. So now, in addition to having to take a trip downtown, I had to pay to get my license reinstated and pay ANOTHER $500 Driver's responsibility fee for two years.

They have that bullshyt here in Texas. I've paid over $3000 to the state for this shyt.