TC sends Collection Agency after me

rule911 · Post by **rule911** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:46 pm

I've been talking to TC Medical office about this... and they have been very helpful and nice...

I wrote a letter to Collectcorp. With it my proof of payment from 6 months prior. I faxed it to them so they have it in writing. Their fax number is 416-961-2037.

After they had all my paper work, I've been calling, their number is 416-961-9622. The number on the letter they send out does nothing.

I have not got an answer from them yet, so I will continue with my daily calls.

I encourage all, in writing, to contact Collectcorp with your issues.

Best of luck!

trey kule · Post by **trey kule** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:55 pm

I encourage anyone who has already paid NOT to contact the collection agency. contact your MP or the minister of transport and let them contact the collection agency.

It is the only way change will really happen.

niss · Post by **niss** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:08 pm

PLEASE PEOPLE! EVERYTIME YOU PAY A LITTLE OF TREY KULE DIES!!!

sorry.....lol

trey kule · Post by **trey kule** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:15 pm

Way to go Niss. Now the money will start pouring in.

dash8dave · Post by **dash8dave** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:28 pm

Hey I got one too. I thought I was special until I read this thread. Now that I am over 40 I "forgot" to pay the first one of the year.

I paid the next one however. Too bad I never received from TC a notice that I was in arrears (sp?) I phoned Mr. Heenan at 1 866 648-6161 but he never returned my call. Too busy trying to collect from all you other Av Canada deadbeats.

Meathead · Post by **Meathead** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:27 pm

I haven't recived any return email from the Minister of Transport, I was Chatting with a Flight Engineer that I used to work with. Letting him know that I got this letter and that if he hasn't paid his yet that he should expect his letter soon too. To that He said What $55.00 I have never had to Pay 55.00 for my medical after the fact. I looked more into It and he was right Flight Engineers that Need a Cat.1 Medical dont have to Pay this 55.00 fee, It is only pilots Im not sure but I think ATC need to have a CAT 1 Medical. If one is one here could you confirm this or not and if so do you need to Pay this 55.00 fee.

If the 55.00 fee is truly for "Medical Prosessing" or whatever the f#$% it is called then shouldn't every one that requires a Transort Canada
Medical have to pay this, lets say even Train Engineers and Ship Captains and the list could go on. Im am looking further into this whole Medical Prosessing Fee and why it seems at this point only Pilots are dinged with it.

CD · Post by CD » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:03 pm

Meathead wrote:Im not sure but I think ATC need to have a CAT 1 Medical. If one is one here could you confirm this or not and if so do you need to Pay this 55.00 fee.

ATC requires either a CAT 1 or a CAT 2:

CAR 404.10 - Medical Certificate Requirements for Personnel Licences

As you indicated, no medical processing fee for controllers:

CAR 104 Schedule IV Personnel Licensing and Training

CD · Post by CD » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:10 pm

Or, you could also get them on a technicality...

CAR 104.06(a) refers to the, "...processing of medical certificates referred to in item 20 of Schedule IV to this Subpart..."

CAR 104.06 - Payment

However, item 20 of Schedule IV actually refers to the fee associated with the approval of an aircraft maintenance engineer training course. It is item 21 that is the medical processing fee, and has been since items 1 and 2 were amended in September of 2004...

CAR 104 Schedule IV Personnel Licensing and Training

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:38 pm

send them hugs and kisses, kill them with love

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:43 pm

Meathead wrote: If the 55.00 fee is truly for "Medical Prosessing" or whatever the f#$% it is called then shouldn't every one that requires a Transort Canada
Medical have to pay this, lets say even Train Engineers and Ship Captains and the list could go on. Im am looking further into this whole Medical Prosessing Fee and why it seems at this point only Pilots are dinged with it.

As you indicated, no medical processing fee for controllers:

wow..... TC the low-lifes... So no wonder we pay so much, we have to be able to pay for NavCanada's employees, we have to pay for FE's and we have to pay for TC employees...

Wow.. I'm amazed, this is disgusting...

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:48 pm

I wonder if they put the collection agency out to tender or if it was a buddy of Merlin Preuss? Maybe we should find out how they chose this outfit - can you spell 'sponsorship?'

I'm with you guys, tell 'em to pound sand and send your fax to the Minister and Harper if you're going to make the effort.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:01 pm

" I wonder if they put the collection agency out to tender or if it was a buddy of Merlin Preuss? Maybe we should find out how they chose this outfit - can you spell 'sponsorship?' "

When you have someone in the position of power that Merlin Preuss holds who is arrogant enough to write a letter to someone who is only asking for due process and his answer is dishonesty by people at the level of Regional Director Civil Aviation is quite satisfactory and he fully supports it anything is possible.

My question is how does he get away with condoning wrongdoing?

So no I wouldn't be in the least suprised to see someone getting a little graft in these cozy little deals.

flyincanuck · Post by **flyincanuck** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:36 pm

In addition to writing my MP, I have also elected to e-mail Kevin Psutka, President of Canadian Owners and Pilots Association...the largest advocate organization for GA in Canada.

I encourage everyone that has received the letter to e-mail Kevin as well:

kpsutka@copanational.org

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:38 pm

$55.00 x 9600 = $528,000

If you ask me thats more then enouph to pay for a lawyer....If Pilots are the only ones who have to pay this $55 fee its NOT fair!....also not fair to send pilots to the collections agency when they HAVE already paid this unfair tax....I think we should all pay our $55 BUT NOT to TC...we should pay it to a lawyer & take TC to court!!!

Where is COPA on this issue?

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:51 pm

Kick a pilot in the cacajuates and he goes meh.
Kick a pilot in the wallet and he goes um, uh, waitaminute.... meh.

Cod Father · Post by **Cod Father** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:15 pm

ski_bum wrote:I don't know if you can just fax it in without talking to them, but I don't really care. Fax# 1-877-766-7693. Giver! If they won't answer the phone, have shitty hours and don't return messages this may be the best way to get it in.

Hehehe, anyone got one of the fax machines you can rig up with an infinite loop of the same PFO message?

FlyYukon · Post by **FlyYukon** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:19 pm

Well, got my letter today. the only things that make it official seem to be my account number (made up from the invoice from TC), the amount oweing, and my name/address. funny thing is, I have all the supporting docs to prove payment. I will not call Collectcorp Inc. to solve this, I will make it Transport Canada's problem to fix, as it was their error.

Edit to add:

The main reason I am putting this in Transport's hands, is due to how many people in this small concetration of active Avcanada'ers have paid, and still recieved the letter. As well, with lack of warning from Transport Canada, and un-official looking document(s), I am not too trusting of this collectcorp with any more information from myself.

CD · Post by CD » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:14 am

xsbank wrote:I wonder if they put the collection agency out to tender ...

See the links on Page 2 of this thread...

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:45 am

It is interesting reading through the tons of words in these government spin productions.

I chose this tidbit as an example of the wording used in these blurbs to explain how things work.

" 10.5 Selection
10.5.1 Requirements should be defined and specifications and estimates established before bids are solicited and contracts let, so that all prospective contractors are treated equally. In acquiring complex capital equipment, construction or services, other procedures may help control time, cost and performance. Some of these are described below. The procurement method chosen should be indicated, with supporting justification, when contract approval is sought, whether within a department or agency or from the Treasury Board. Adequate specification details should be available to all interested or qualified firms. "

The use of the word " should " leaves lots of room for the purpose of selective decision making on who gets these plumb contracts.....ask Shelia Fraser she understands the system.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:50 am

delete

sprucemonkey · Post by **sprucemonkey** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:52 am

Transport Canada (TC) issues private and commercial pilot licenses to individuals who have completed the required training and who have passed an initial medical evaluation. While the license is issued for an indefinite period, the pilot must maintain its currency by undergoing periodic medical evaluations at prescribed frequencies. The Recurring Pilot Fee (RPF) is applied each time a pilot passes the required medical assessment as evidenced by the issuance or endorsement of a medical certificate. The Department issues approximately 40,000 medical certificates annually and generates approximately $2.2M from the provision of this service.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/corporate-services/ ... 3/menu.htm

The Civil Aviation Medical Examiners, private doctors who perform the pilot medical assessments, refuse to collect the fee on the Department's behalf. In addition, TC does not have a sound legal basis to suspend a pilot's license due to non-payment of the fee. Consequently, the Department has little leverage to enforce the timely payment of these charges, a situation that has resulted in a significant number of overdue accounts and the expenditure of considerable collection effort. The Department's response to the above-mentioned circumstances has been to undertake periodic intensive collection "blitzs". The first such exercise, which occurred in March 1999, involved the distribution of approximately 9,000 collection letters. A further 7,000 letters were issued in October 1999. In December 1999, approximately 4,000 accounts, totaling $390,000, were sent to Revenue Canada for possible off-set against any refund owing to the pilot. While the impact of this action, in terms of successful recovery of amounts due, cannot yet be evaluated, the relatively high level of non-payment increases the cost of administering the fee and is indicative of serious resistance by the pilot community to the recovery of costs associated with the RPF. There is also a risk that inaccurate account information, passed to Revenue Canada, may prove embarrassing to the Department should refunds be withheld for accounts that have been settled.

Are the REALLY embarassed?

LH · Post by LH » Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:34 am

My credit rating is excellent. My letter from TC has been passed-on to my lawyer who specializes in things "aviation" and he's also an ATPL himself.

I've been advised that anyone having an excellent credit rating will not be damaged at all over a report filed for not paying/late payment of a $55 bill. They "protest too much" in Ottawa about my late payment on my $55 bill. Would they care to name another agency or corporation in Canada that has the legislated Right to deduct monies from my Income Tax refund........and only have to wait 1 year maximum to do it.

Perhaps while the collection agency folks are tapping their fingers and waiting for my incoming $55 they might like to run on over to the Taxation Dept. and give them'all a hand to get their computers running again. I mean, I hate to see people sitting around waiting on me and wasting their time.

sky's the limit · Post by **sky's the limit** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:43 am

Anyone notice how this damn thing is signed???

"Govern Yourself Accordingly,

Mr. HEENAN"

WTF is with that?? If I am to "Govern Myself Accordingly," why the @#$! am I paying $55????

They can garnish my tax return, I've been on hold 15mins and still can't get anyone - @#$! em.

What a country.

STL

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:52 am

Keep in mind that we the people are here to serve the government.

It is clearly NOT the other way 'round.

sky's the limit · Post by **sky's the limit** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:11 pm

Just doing some math:

Medical: $105.00

ECG: $30 and change

THE FEE: $55.00

TOTAL: $190 for my privilege to fly in Canada this year...

And I'm not even 40.... yet.

STL