Critics Claim Capital One's New Contract Too Close For Comfort
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Some cardholders are up in arms about Capital One's new contract, which allows for in-person visits to collect on debts.
"I was horrified," Capital One cardholder Richard Rofman said.
The contract says, "We may contact you in any manner we choose...by mail, telephone, email, fax, recorded message, text message, or personal visit."
"They can knock on your door at home. They can visit you at work. I said, 'Who gives them the right to do this?'" Rofman said.
And Capital One may play phone tricks on you when they call.
The contract states, "Unless the law says we cannot, we may modify or suppress caller ID and similar services and identify ourselves on those services in any manner we choose."
Rofman points out that event the Internal Revenue Service has restrictions on how, when and where they contact people.
"When an agent from the IRS comes to your door you're in trouble. They won't phone you, they won't visit you until they've gone through six or eight months of procedures," Rofman said.
CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Dave Bryan could not get in touch with a Capital One representative.
A Capital One representative did tell the Los Angeles Times it doesn't, in practical terms, send debt collectors to people's homes or workplaces.
