I was contacted today by an employee of MJ Hecker and Associates. They were trying to collect on a debt that I was unaware was still outstanding. I confirmed my birthdate and name for the employee, and requested a tangible statement of the debt be mailed to me...indicating that this must be a medical bill that slipped through the cracks...and I would take are of the debt immediately upon receipt of that statement. I did not deny that the debt was mine, nor did I refuse to pay at any time during the conversation.

Mr. Hecker's employee, who spoke so fast that I did not catch his name, refused to send me a statement and demanded my banking information. I explained that I do not give out my banking information over the phone, and again requested a printed statement of the debt. Mr. Hecker's employee again refused and said "we're not a billing company". Then he stated that they had sent a letter to me. Since this was the first time I had ever heard of MF Hecker and Associates, and had never received any piece of mail from them, I requested AGAIN that they reissue the request and I would be more than happy to send them a check. Mr Hecker's employee said it was not his problem that I did not receive his letter, and AGAIN demanded my personal banking information.

This employee was rude, aggressive and threatened to begin court proceedings and damage my credit standings if I was refusing to settle the debt. I restated that I was more than willing to pay the amount owed...if he would provide me with a statement, mentioning that I would like to have tangible evidence should I need to present it to my lawyer or my accountant. At this point Mr. Hecker's employee said "Oh, you have a lawyer. Should we talk directly to him?" I indicated that in this day and age everyone has a lawyer, and that I would prefer to settle the debt without involving attorney's fees. Then we ended up back in the endless loop of him requesting my banking information, and me explaining that I will not give out that sensitive information over the phone and to please send me a statement. He talked over me, interrupted me and raised his voice in a most unprofessional manner, implying that I was stupid to not give him the information he requested.

When Mr. Hecker's employee finally stopped ranting I aked him "Are you finished?" and again requested a statement, and quoted the Fair Debt Collection Act. I then asked for the physical mailing address for MJ Heckler and Associates, and the account number that they listed this debt under. Mr. Heckler's employee gave me this information, and when I said "I will have a check in the mail to you today" he stated that I shouldn't bother, as they would simply return it to me. I said, "Are you refusing to accept payment?" This is when Mr. Hecker's employee said something to the effect of "We're done here" and hung up on me.

If you have had a like experience with MJ Hecker and Associates, do yourself a favor and call The Attorney Regulation Counsel 303-866-6400. They were very helpful and professional, and seemed to know all too well of this firm. They will take your statement, assign you a case number and give you the name of the attorney who will be handling the case.

MJ Hecker and Associates is a law firm, so calling the Collection Agency Consumer Complaints and Info line (303-866-5304), who were also very nice and very professional, won't get much done as they have no jurisdiction over MJ Heckler. The person I spoke to there DID indicate that I was 100% in the right to not give out my personal banking information over the phone EVER. But if you are just feeling froggy a call to them as well might not hurt ;-) The squeaky wheel and all that ;-)

I also left a message on MJ (Marty) Hecker's voicemail, which evidently does ring at his desk (303-561-4305) indicating my disapproval of his employee's behavior and requesting a statement of my account to be sent to me immediately. I left my name and phone number...so we'll see if he, or one of his flunkies, even bothers to return the call.

Funny, I've never had such a difficult time getting someone to take my money.

KL Pinson
Orlando, FL

This collection agency pretends to be a lawfirm, but the only want your money. The have big named clients like Exempla. If any Exempla hospital or establishment really looks into how this agency treats people, they would never use them. When MJ Hecker is trying to get a client they tell their employees that there is a client coming in today and to be on the phones smiling and dialing, and PLEASE DO NOT BE MEAN ON THE PHONE.You can only be mean once they are gone.I was employed there and they wanted me to have the patients ask for money from friends and relatives if they didnt have the money. The agency uses a system called Acxiom that can locate any person in the USA. This system is a great system to locate people but it gives information out about if you own your home and how much you paid, your ssn#, relatives and possible phone numbers, it even can tell someone you bank accounts and what type of car you drive. So this is how they find you. I am sure many collection agencies use this system, so this is how you are found. If the patient you are trying to reach is deceased, MJ Hecker will ask the relative that answers the phone, to pay the debt. This agency has no morals AT ALL. Jacqueline Morales is one of the agencies "supervisors" but she is as flaky as they come with her fat belly and alcoholic breathe. And Devon Valverde the other "supervisor" is her drinking buddy, but he does his tabacco chewing on the job so he doest have to drink and chew. Steve Blair is the collections Manager, but is screwing Jessica the bookkeeper, who is now pregnanat, but I guess she fell for his flirting, because the whole time I was employed there Steve could help himself to look at my body.I you are 16 and need a job for a quick 2weeks, this is the place to be.But if you are serious and need a job that will last for a long time, dont fall for this job.
They dont do a drug screening either "weed smokers" so this might be the job for you too.EXEMPLA...PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE PATIENTS THAT YOU SEND OVER TO THIS AGENCY.CALL THE PATIENS UP AND ASK THEM HOW THEY WERE TREATED.MJ HECKER AND ASSOCIATES (THE ASSOCIATES ARE THE DRUNKS THEY HAVE CALLING PATIENTS) ALWAYS
TOLD THEIR EMPLOYEES THAT THERE BIGGEST CLIENT IS EXEMPLA, THEY DONT WONT TO LOSE THAT BUISNESS, BUT EXEMPLA, Pretend to call in as a patient, and say that you received a call from them, give them a name that is common and once they pull a name up, act as if you are that patient. Say that you have no money and cant pay right now.Watch how they start to treat you and what their suggestions are on how you should get the money.If they say it will go to legal, that just means on the other side of the wall of cubicles.They have accounts that are so old that they will never get paid, but they keep harrassing Exempla patients.So as a former employee, I seen how patients were being harrassed and didnt agree with it at all.Another thing before I go, half of the staff smokes weeds on breaks, so Exempla, come in and do a drug screen on the WHOLE ENTIRE MJ HECKER STAFF, before you decide to bring them more buisness.