TC sends Collection Agency after me

rsandor · Post by **rsandor** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 11:45 pm

I understand the point you are getting at, Cat, however, by NOT paying, you are NOT actually making any sort of point, other than perhaps appearing to be too lazy to pay your bills.

Of those 9600 bills in arears, how many are from pilots who do not fly for a living and just think their licence will expire if they don't pay? How many are from pilots who just plain forgot? My guess is, that is the majority.

I would say only some are from pilots who truely cannot afford to pay, and even fewer still from gentlemen like yourself who want to make a point.

If you want to make a point, you have to do it in a different way. I guess I can't really say I understand your frustration with Transport cuz I've never been in your position, but I also do not see a problem with them charging us.

We as pilots do require a lot of services that the general public never uses and should not have to pay for. I don't see a problem with paying $55 or even $110 a year.

ICBC charges you $75! to renew your BC driver's licence. And what do you get out of it, besides a new licence? Sweet phuck all. But if you don't pay, you don't drive.

Be happy you can "forgot" to pay your fees and still fly without getting a nasty ticket from the cops!

mellow_pilot · Post by **mellow_pilot** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 11:54 pm

I wasn't joking, I seriously think this is a scam. I know for a fact that I didn't pay, and was warned it's coming off taxes by Revenue. Why am I so special? No collection agent for m_p cause he's pretty? I think not people!!!

Something doesn't add up. The gov has their own collection agency, Revenue Canada!!!! Seriously, until I get a notice on official TC letterhead, or see a web page (I'm not looking for it either, the have to notify me by email or something) telling me they've gone this route, I'm not buyin' it. I still think it's bogus, it just doesn't add up. Some priest in Nigeria whose brother's dead cousing owned a multi-million dollar company and now wants to transfer the company to my name so that we can split the profits has more of a chance of getting money out of me than some dude claiming to be collecting for TC.

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 12:09 am

I pay $110 a year for some moron to file my paperwork. I think its a scam and I've sent my letter to the standing committee to ask them to stop applying the fee. Not only is it money for nothing, the Doc does all the work and really issues your license, but we are also discriminated against because of age.

I already support TC through my taxes.

$75 for a driver's license is a have too, but at least its not $550.

Even a passport isn't that much and you get a little book with your photo in it.

Baaa, baaaaaa, baaaaaaaaaa.

glorifiedtaxidriver · Post by **glorifiedtaxidriver** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:24 am

I got the letter in the mail today as well. funny thing is, and i shit you not, i only got the bill earlier this week and the bill is dated the 24th of Feb, but the collection notice is dated the 23rd of Feb. Go figure!

Ludacris · Post by **Ludacris** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:03 am

This is a topic I've been following with interest. I remember years ago when i first applied for my Cat 1 medical which was years before I was going to start training for my CPL, just to ensure I would qualify.

At the same time, the doctor saw my Cat 3 medical was going to expire so he stamped that one to extend it too.

My Cat 1 medical came through but sure enough i got 2 bills from Transport wanting $110. I called them and tried to explain the situation that my Cat 1 medical was above my Cat 3 medical but to no avail...In the end I ended up paying the $55 twice just to stay on their good side....

Oh how things have changed...See my previous threads on debt collectors and why I got out of aviation...

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... highlight=

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... highlight=

I want to thank everyone for their advice on the debt collectors thread. I've already got one bank to dramatically reduce the debt, as well as another bank betweeen a rock and a hard place due to illegal information they have given me which has been recorded. I will post again when everything is settled...

complexintentions · Post by **complexintentions** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:20 am

rsandor wrote:I understand the point you are getting at, Cat, however, by NOT paying, you are NOT actually making any sort of point, other than perhaps appearing to be too lazy to pay your bills.

Of those 9600 bills in arears, how many are from pilots who do not fly for a living and just think their licence will expire if they don't pay? How many are from pilots who just plain forgot? My guess is, that is the majority.

I would say only some are from pilots who truely cannot afford to pay, and even fewer still from gentlemen like yourself who want to make a point.

If you want to make a point, you have to do it in a different way. I guess I can't really say I understand your frustration with Transport cuz I've never been in your position, but I also do not see a problem with them charging us.

We as pilots do require a lot of services that the general public never uses and should not have to pay for. I don't see a problem with paying $55 or even $110 a year.

ICBC charges you $75! to renew your BC driver's licence. And what do you get out of it, besides a new licence? Sweet phuck all. But if you don't pay, you don't drive.

Be happy you can "forgot" to pay your fees and still fly without getting a nasty ticket from the cops!

First of all...the BCDL renewal is $75 for a five year renewal. $15/yr. Not $55/110 a year as per the aviation medical "tax". Let's try and make a valid comparison here. A 40-something individual pays $550 in five years for the medical fee vs. $75 for the driver's license.

Secondly. For the exorbitant fee Transport Canada charges, it does not issue a new, photo id, security-featured hologrammed plastic card like a BC Driver's license. It issues a plain, laser-printed piece of paper....every two or four years depending on how often you have a medical! But then, that's not the stated reason for this fee...it's for the AIP we no longer receive. Perhaps it really does cost the government $55 to process a medical. Hell, I'm sure it costs more. But is that a problem with the fee...or the f&*king inefficient bureacracy? Believe me, wander into 800 Burrard Street and you won't exactly feel like the place is on fire with efficiency.

Thirdly. The topic of this thread: being very, very quick to refer non-payment to collection agencies. This is an incredibly heavy-handed tactic considering that Transport (criminally, to my mind - I did not elect a single Transport employee) has access to collection through withholding federal tax refunds. Weighing it against the possibility of credit history damage, it really is infuriating. And let's consider the pilot population as a whole. Most of it is very transient, and as such it is very easy for notices and paper mailouts to be "overtaken by events". I'll bet there are a ton of pilots working away in the boonies that have no idea there is a TC/collection agency snot-o-gram sitting at their crappy apartment in Winnipeg or Hamilton or wherever while they do a rotation in Rankin. Nice work, Transport. Lace up those jackboots.

I miss friends and family in Canada. I do not miss the industry one iota, and Transport is one of the major reasons.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:24 am

srandor said:

"I understand the point you are getting at, Cat, however, by NOT paying, you are NOT actually making any sort of point, other than perhaps appearing to be too lazy to pay your bills.

I have no idea who your are srandor, but I am asking you to get in touch with me personally and tell me to my face I'm too lazy to pay my bills, you are either some wet behind the years young pup without a clue about life or an adult moron to accuse me of being lazy.

Of those 9600 bills in arears, how many are from pilots who do not fly for a living and just think their licence will expire if they don't pay? How many are from pilots who just plain forgot? My guess is, that is the majority.

I would say only some are from pilots who truely cannot afford to pay, and even fewer still from gentlemen like yourself who want to make a point.

If you want to make a point, you have to do it in a different way. I guess I can't really say I understand your frustration with Transport cuz I've never been in your position, but I also do not see a problem with them charging us.

It's people like you that meekly get robbed that support the overblown disfunctional monster that is government....

We as pilots do require a lot of services that the general public never uses and should not have to pay for. I don't see a problem with paying $55 or even $110 a year.

Don't include me in your "we as pilots " srandor because you and I are eons apart in that catagory, I wouldn't let you wash my airplane let alone fly it with the lack of understanding you are displaying regarding what pilots are.

ICBC charges you $75! to renew your BC driver's licence. And what do you get out of it, besides a new licence? Sweet phuck all. But if you don't pay, you don't drive.

Be happy you can "forgot" to pay your fees and still fly without getting a nasty ticket from the cops!

I would like to find a word to describe that moronic thought process but am unable to think of one.

rsandor · Post by **rsandor** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:10 pm

Cat, PM sent.

sprucemonkey · Post by **sprucemonkey** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:31 pm

I got one today too. Damn.

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:56 am

OK....I just got my Collections letter today....Interesting part being that I Paid my $55 bullSh*t tax; it wasn't even late, I paid it 2 days after I got the invoice....& then a few weeks later I get this?...#)(*%#)%*@$@$

The Kid · Post by **The Kid** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:19 am

Received my default and recovery letter from COLLECTCORP today dated Feb 23. Still waiting for the transport notice. Anyone have a different date?

The Kid

U/S · Post by **U/S** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:21 am

Mine arrived today too! Must be crackin' down I guess. Oh well, its not worth the hassle to just let it go. I'm sending a cheque.

trey kule · Post by **trey kule** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:30 am

Yep, send the cheque. That will convince them their plan is not working.
And I fully understand it is just so much hassle to try and get the message across to them to stop this.

And dont worry, Your give in attitude wont result in them figuring they can increase fees will it?

Help us all out here. dont pay the collection agency.

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:40 am

Suggestion: send a cheque for an incorrect amount. For example, $52.97 instead of $55. For those of you flush with cash from the oil patch, I might suggest slightly overpaying.

Better yet, send cash. Nickels preferred. Better yet, pennies.

Yeah, why don't we all mail in our stash of pennies? They can't legitimately refuse legal currency of our country, now can they?

truedude · Post by **truedude** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:32 pm

Have not posted in a long time, but this one really bugs me. If there are 9700 pilots or have not paid the fee for printing a piece of paper perhaps whe should as a GROUP pull our resources. Perhaps instead of paying or fee we should all spend the $55.00 on hiring a lawyer. If even half support this we would have 266,750.00 that buys a bit of lawyering. We could have this tied up in courts for years, and the goverment would have to justify to the public what they are defending, and we would finally get an answer as to just what the 55.00 bucks goes towards. I dunno just my opinion....

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:44 pm

I had a long talk with my bank manager this A.M. about this issue.

Here is what I was told.

If you are young and do not have a credit history to look at a you will be very damaged by a collection agency if they choose to put you on the bad credit list.

If you have a credit history for decades that is good and you have ony this problem on your credit history a bank will listen to why you refused to pay this money and it will not affect your credit with the bank......

......credit cards are another issue, if you are not in arrears in making your payments on your credit card it would be unlikely to affect your credit with them.

Bottom line here is it is a slipery slope for all of us to refuse to pay these strong arm collectors.

But it will really affect those of you who are just starting out in life.

Bullies always prey on the weak.

So next time you have to deal with TC remember how they operate and bear in mind you are in far more danger dealing with TC than if you were dealing with street criminals.....if for no other reason than you can choose not to deal with street criminals.

Cat

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:11 pm

truedude wrote:Have not posted in a long time, but this one really bugs me. If there are 9700 pilots or have not paid the fee for printing a piece of paper perhaps whe should as a GROUP pull our resources. Perhaps instead of paying or fee we should all spend the $55.00 on hiring a lawyer. If even half support this we would have 266,750.00 that buys a bit of lawyering. We could have this tied up in courts for years, and the goverment would have to justify to the public what they are defending, and we would finally get an answer as to just what the 55.00 bucks goes towards. I dunno just my opinion....

BUT thats just it....quite a number of us (my self included) DID pay our $55 blood tax; & on time....but we STILL got sent to collections

Meathead · Post by **Meathead** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:25 pm

I looked into mine, It was stated to me that Mine was from 2004, which I paid in 2005 when I got the Invoice, I then Got a letter from Revenue Canada or {whatever they are called now } last year and the sum was taken off of my Taxes from last year. This is absolute BS I cannot stand being backed into a corner by these cock suckers. My only option from this point on is to go into transport myself every year and get the stupid fat ignorant broads their to gimmie a fucking recipt every year and keep it for god knows how long! Mother Fuckers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

trey kule · Post by **trey kule** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:33 pm

To all those who either paid AND then got a collection letter, or,
Paid and then had a garnishee on their taxes (ie paid twice)

PLEASE: Do us all a favor. Take a few minutes and email your MP in Ottawa and the Minister of Transport and give them the facts and your opinion of TC's tactics. It will do us all a great favor. For those who have just not paid...it is already in the collection folks hands. And will be there even after you pay it. I dont think Cats banker mentioned that in their conversation.
And you can bet that TC will take the high road with us deadbeats, but their is no excuse for collecting twice or going to collections if it was paid.

The Minsters email is mintc@tc.gc.ca

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:39 pm

Transport Canada wrote:"Ottawa has sent 9,600 over due accounts to CollectCorp, a private collection agency, therefore we could be receiving inquires from clients as soon as the 1st week of Feb.

So here are a few Guidelines if you are contacted by clients regarding their account being sent to CollectCorp:

You are to request the client call the CollectCorp number on the letter they received

If the client wishes to pay in full we will accept and process payment same as usual

If the client wishes to make payment arrangements or partial payments they MUST call the CollectCorp number on the letter they received

If the client claims the outstanding amount was already paid or was to be cancelled, then we research it in the same as always.

So forward their request and the information to support their request to Regional Office:- Yolanda Triana 604-666-5517 or Ana Mendoza 604-666-5810

If there are letters of complaint we will be forwarding them on to Ottawa as well."

So...I call'd the above numbers & talk'd to Ana. Even though she is list'd as a person to contact she said that they have not realy been told whats going on. She's almost as confused as the rest of us. However she did ask me if I was over 40...the reason she said is that they sent people to the collections agency if they had only paid for their 1st medical & not both. To this I respond'd "Why would we have to pay the $55 processing fee BEFORE our medical exam? However I'm under 40 so that doesn't apply to me." I didn't press the question becuase A I'm under 40 & B as she didn't realy know what was going on I doubt she would have been able to answer the question. She WAS however able to confirm that I HAD paid them the $55 & on time. She was NOT however able to promise me that the collections agency would not continue to harrass me as their system is not set up in a way that they can directly inform them (collect corp) that I don't owe anything & so they should PISS OFF

Yep thats our Tax $'s at work alright....well our Tax $'s plus our $55

PS if I remember correctly there is about 50,000 pilots in Canada right?....with the vast majority of those being private/recreational. So howcome they sent out 9,600 letters. CollectCorp is processing 1 in 5 pilots. Am I the only one that thinks that's a very high ratio?...Guess pilots REALY don't agree with that $55 bullsh*t fee.....that & I wonder just how many of that 9,600 DID pay & were STILL sent a letter?

trey kule · Post by **trey kule** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:55 pm

and....please write the minister and your MP,

the ministers email address is mintc@tc.gc.ca

You can bet the Minister has no idea what is going on here. It wont take more than about 50 or so emails to get the message accross.
So how about it folks...lets send him a few hundred and actually get some change instead of just bitching

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:31 pm

Trey K....

I would love to send in my complaint to the minister, but I haven't got a letter from CollectCorp yet.

Can someone ask the Minister how many collection agencies were given the opportunity to bid on this neat little contract?

Be interesting to see if someone in TC has some connection with CollectCorp?

trey kule · Post by **trey kule** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:37 pm

Cat:

Neither have I . I am chomping at the bit to get mine but I am not sure a $100.00 phone bill to collect $55.00 is worth it. and I do plan to put them on hold for a while if they ever call. I also expect my letter will arrive in the near future.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:51 pm

" She WAS however able to confirm that I HAD paid them the $55 & on time. She was NOT however able to promise me that the collections agency would not continue to harrass me as their system is not set up in a way that they can directly inform them (collect corp) that I don't owe anything & so they should PISS OFF

Yep thats our Tax $'s at work alright....well our Tax $'s plus our $55 "

This is incredible, a government department so intent on extorting money out of Canadian citizens that they are willing to ruin your credit rating even if you have done nothing wrong...

.......amazing simply amazing.

The lesson to be learned here is even if you pay that is no guarantee that you are not going to be screwed over by these idiots who are running TCCA......

trey kule · Post by **trey kule** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:01 pm

Cat wrote:

This is incredible, a government department so intent on extorting money out of Canadian citizens that they are willing to ruin your credit rating even if you have done nothing wrong...

And why not? what seems to me to be more incredible is that those who have been wrongfully dealt with seem, for the most part, to just accept it, and the others, just to pay it.

I hate to say this, but if the FAA tried a stunt like this, everyone who was wrongfully contacted would be suing their ass off, and the others demanding court orders before they pay.

We may not like our southern neighbours alot, but when it comes to individual rights they have the backbone to stand up for them.

Which, I am hoping, will inspire a few here to take some action. The minister is not immune, and even TC management cant hide it from him if he gets enough emails on this.