HSBC payment proection plan is a scam. Being sued. What do i do in representing myself?
Paid for credit card protection insurance with HSBC. I had cancer in 2008 and was disabled. I notified HSBC, but now I am being sued after paying to have card protection. Credit card is charged off. Law firm has made threats and has even contacted me telling me that they were the law.
What do i do in representing myself against this HSBC credit card that should have been covered by payment protection plan?
—Mark
Short answer
Deal with how that law firm presented itself before you get to representing yourself. A collector that implies law enforcement is involved has stepped over the line, and that changes what you should do next.
Key points on this page
- HSBC stopped actively selling its payment protection plans a couple of years ago
- Class action lawsuits have been filed against HSBC over misrepresentation of that payment insurance product, though it is unclear whether they were resolved
- A firm that suggests it is law enforcement, or that law enforcement could get involved, is the more serious problem here, not the charge off
- That behavior points to an unscrupulous debt collector, and there are specific steps to pursue when that is what happened
- What matters next is whether you were served a summons and complaint and on what date, who is named as plaintiff, and the name of the law firm
- The balance when you stopped paying, the balance now alleged, and whether anyone tried to collect before this firm all shape the answer
HSBC stopped actively selling their payment protection plans a couple years ago. Before we get into the charge off of the credit card and the alleged law firm trying to collect on it, I have some questions for you.
When did you start with the payment protection plan?
Have you made no payments on the account since 2008?
Were there collection attempts on this account prior to the current firm?
What was the balance owed when you stopped paying? What is the balance being alleged that you owe now?
There have been class action lawsuits filed against HSBC for their misrepresentation of their payment insurance product in the last couple years. I don’t know how, or if, they have been resolved.
What is equally, and perhaps more concerning, is how I am interpreting the rest of what you wrote. You appear to be saying that a law firm has sued you and represented themselves in some way that implied they are law enforcement. Before I can provide more feedback, please answer the following questions in a comment reply below.
Have your been served a summons/complaint? If so, what was the date you were served?
Who is listed as plaintiff in the lawsuit?
What is the name of the law firm?
What was said to you that led you to think they were implying they were law enforcement, or that law enforcement would some how get involved?
My concern here is that you are dealing with an unscrupulous debt collector who steps over the line to collect a buck. If this is indeed the case, I would have some recommendations for you to pursue.
I am looking forward to hearing more from you on this. Then we can talk about the need to represent yourself.
Readers with similar concerns are welcome to post questions and comments below.
About Michael BoveeMichael started CRN in 2004 with a mission to provide people in need with detailed debt and credit help and education. Michael has participated as an expert panelist in federal consumer protection rule making, collaborated on state law changes governing debt consolidation, has worked as an expert witness in court matters related to the debt relief industry. He is available to speak with you about your financial struggle and helps people resolve their debt problems daily.
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