Credit card issuer Capital One Bank and four other companies were sued by West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw for unfair and deceptive practices and bad business conduct. The complaint was filed this week in West Virginia’s Circuit Court and it claims that Capital One hooked consumers into repayment plans by mailing out solicitations disguised as new credit offers.

Capital One offered to give consumers one dollar of new credit only if they transfer the whole balance of a charged off account to the new credit card. This meant that Capital One would be able to re-age debts to get around the statute of limitations, which would start anew.

According to the case, Capital One issued cards with limits as low as 200 dollars for low-income consumers with bad credit histories. The cards carried membership fees of up to 59 dollars per year. Generally, the annual fees were billed on the consumer’s second monthly statement, leaving the consumer with just 141 dollars of credit when they believed they had 200 dollars. Then, if the consumer went over the limit mistakenly, they could incurr over the limit fees of up to 29 dollars.

In recent months, McGraw’s office has gone after collection businesses as part of his plan to protect West Virginia’s consumers. In November his office sued two payday lending firms and four collection companies.

As members of the collection industry, we may scratch our heads and wonder why, in an economy that is doing poorly and where debt is running rampant, we cannot retrieve the money that people owe. Authorities in the business allege that with unemployment rates running so high, it is impossible for consumers to repay their debts. But bad business practices are not going to help the situation either. It may be a knee jerk reaction to try to con consumers out of money, but it is just that. A knee jerk reaction.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution, a third party debt collection agency. Trying to deal with accounts receivable? A good debt collection agency can help. This article, Bank Accused Of Bad Business has free reprint rights.

In the first three parts of this series I wrote about collections accounts, described how sending unpaid accounts out to an agency helps out a creditor, and described the practice of selling an old debt to a third party collection agency. I spoke about the type of information that a collection company will obtain to utilize in their efforts, and the type of laws that third party collection agencies must follow. I described illegal and legal tactics that debt collection agencies use to collect.

I reminded you that most debt collectors realize that it is imperative to collect on your accounts as soon as possible. Many will ask you why you can’t pay today, and many will attempt to manipulate your emotions or insinuate that you are fiscally irresponsible to upset you into agreeing on a payment.

Another strong arm method utilized by collection agents is to upset a consumer by manipulating their emotions, and then transfer them to an agency supervisor. By this time the debtor might be angry or frustrated and it will be more probable that they would agree to something easier simply to get off the phone. If you find yourself in this situation, try to remain calm throughout the conversation.

Keep in mind that you aren’t talking about a mortgage payment; the debt collector can’t take your house away if you can’t make the payments that they are specifically requesting. Don’t let the collection agency manipulate you into agreeing to something that you cannot afford at the moment or intimidate you into doing what you don’t want to do.

Do your best to remain firm and stick to the terms that both parties agreed on. After working out a payment plan, as with ANY financial decision, confirm your agreement in writing by sending a written plan by certified mail, return receipt requested to ensure delivery and proof that the agency received it.

Rapid Recovery Solution does commercial debt collections and writes articles on medical collection companies. Free reprint avaialable from: Collection Agency Basics Part Four: Tactics A Debt Collector Uses And What To Do After You Have Paid.

Despite the fact that we are in the middle of a recession, and a lot of you are in debt, there is no reason that you can’t throw a really great Super Bowl Party.

Focus on not overdoing it. Make just one extravagant dish and play the rest off of that. A vat of chili, if seasoned correctly can serve twelve people for twenty dollars. Chicken wings are very inexpensive and easy to make. Coils of kielbasa, priced around five bucks are a cheap and delicious snack.

Due to the fact that the Super Bowl is a special occasion, go for hot food. Ordering big trays of Chinese takeout are less expensive and time consuming than cooking your own food.

Children at Superbowl parties can be hard to keep happy. Vegetables, juice, chips, and a carvel football shaped ice cream cake priced at $22.99 will keep them at bay.

Drinks? The best choice for shoppers on a budget is beer and wine. A keg will save you about 40% according to experts. The wine doesn’t have to be fancy – a five liter boxed wine will be more than acceptable. If you encounter the troublesome guest who insists on liquor, get discount vodka, a half gallon for just fourteen dollars. Its cheap, and blends with about anything.

Even in tough times, it is a requirement to make the most of your game-viewing experience. A medium to large flatscreen is completely necessary. But if you don’t own one, rent one. Websites list 42 inch TVs for as low as $26.99 a week.

And then those pesky people who don’t watch football. A pool for small gifts like a store certificate or CD might inspire people who aren’t the least bit interested in football at all if a prize is awarded at the end of every quarter. Try to have experienced fans explain what is going on. Then, sit back, and enjoy your game.

Mallory Megan works for a debt collection agency. Also she writes stories on business, finance, consumer spending and collection agencies.